Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Abraq Khaitan Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Abraq Khaitan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,095 per month in Erbil vs $1,192 in Abraq Khaitan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,654 per month in Erbil vs $1,955 in Abraq Khaitan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,213 per month in Erbil vs $2,718 in Abraq Khaitan, rent included.

Erbil is about 8% cheaper than Abraq Khaitan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Erbil and Abraq Khaitan are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 20% lower, Abraq Khaitan 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.67 IQD 10.0K

$3.18 KWD 0.98

141.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.94 IQD 58.8K

$64.0 KWD 19.76

-29.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.21 IQD 10.7K

$7.73 KWD 2.39

6.21%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.28 KWD 0.40

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.83 KWD 1.49

Cappuccino

$3.78 IQD 4,955

$4.12 KWD 1.27

-8.25%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 IQD 1,338

$0.33 KWD 0.10

209.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 IQD 541

$0.15 KWD 0.05

173.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.97 IQD 7,823

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 IQD 5,829

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 IQD 1,669

$0.95 KWD 0.29

33.68%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,033

$0.67 KWD 0.21

17.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 IQD 2,227

$1.27 KWD 0.39

33.86%

Eggs

$1.76 IQD 2,307

$2.08 KWD 0.64

-15.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.29 IQD 10.9K

$4.48 KWD 1.38

85.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.54 IQD 7,252

$6.42 KWD 1.98

-13.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.68 IQD 19.2K

$7.96 KWD 2.46

84.42%

Apples (1kg)

$1.10 IQD 1,446

$2.33 KWD 0.72

-52.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,503

$1.61 KWD 0.50

-28.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.22 IQD 1,599

$1.31 KWD 0.40

-6.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,061

$1.26 KWD 0.39

-35.71%

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 974

$1.29 KWD 0.40

-42.64%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 901

$0.64 KWD 0.20

7.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 IQD 1,034

$0.99 KWD 0.31

-20.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 IQD 761

$0.31 KWD 0.09

87.10%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.00 KWD 0.31

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 KWD 0.31

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 KWD 0.43

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.51 IQD 3,293

$2.72 KWD 0.84

-7.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.64 IQD 16.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 IQD 2,196

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 IQD 2,693

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 IQD 781

$0.84 KWD 0.26

-28.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.88 IQD 57.5K

$48.35 KWD 14.93

-9.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.93 IQD 2,533

$4.74 KWD 1.46

-59.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.74 IQD 2,279

$3.32 KWD 1.03

-47.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.51 IQD 8,521

$16.37 KWD 5.06

-60.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 876

$0.30 KWD 0.09

123.33%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.9K IQD 23.5M

$16.0K KWD 4,948

12.01%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

$15.9K KWD 4,921

23.69%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$130 IQD 170.4K

$67.0 KWD 20.70

94.21%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.06 IQD 18.4K

$18.03 KWD 5.57

-22.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.92 IQD 36.6K

$30.16 KWD 9.32

-7.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.5 IQD 84.5K

$57.1 KWD 17.65

12.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.50 IQD 19.0K

$16.38 KWD 5.06

-11.48%

Cinema Ticket

$11.23 IQD 14.7K

$9.89 KWD 3.05

13.55%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$312 IQD 409.1K

$163 KWD 50.3

91.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,080 IQD 4.0M

$3,236 KWD 1,000

-4.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.09 IQD 40.7K

$38.07 KWD 11.76

-18.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.06 IQD 59.0K

$32.88 KWD 10.16

37.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.2 IQD 89.3K

$82.1 KWD 25.36

-16.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.0 IQD 89.0K

$65.7 KWD 20.30

3.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$473 IQD 619.0K

$726 KWD 224

-34.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 IQD 375.5K

$575 KWD 178

-50.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$732 IQD 958.7K

$1,331 KWD 411

-44.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$426 IQD 558.4K

$1,147 KWD 354

-62.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,115 IQD 1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$643 IQD 841.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$613 IQD 803.3K

$3,464 KWD 1,070

-82.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.53

-49.40%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Erbil: September 1, 2026

Last update for Abraq Khaitan: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $473 in Erbil versus $726 in Abraq Khaitan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 465% higher in Abraq Khaitan, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Erbil versus $64.0 in Abraq Khaitan. Groceries tell a different story – $204 in Erbil vs $145 in Abraq Khaitan – so Abraq Khaitan wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Erbil vs Abraq Khaitan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Abraq Khaitan costs about 9% more than Erbil, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,643 per month in Erbil and $1,789 in Abraq Khaitan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Erbil, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $312 per month in Erbil and $163 in Abraq Khaitan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 41% cheaper in Abraq Khaitan – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Erbil, where all-in costs run around $1,095, than in Abraq Khaitan at $1,192. In Erbil it covers expenses comfortably, while in Abraq Khaitan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Erbil – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Erbil. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Abraq Khaitan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.