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 $1,034 per month in Erbil vs $1,281 in Abraq Khaitan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,548 per month in Erbil vs $2,065 in Abraq Khaitan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,061 per month in Erbil vs $2,850 in Abraq Khaitan, rent included.

Erbil is about 19% cheaper than Abraq Khaitan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Erbil and Abraq Khaitan are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 23% lower, Abraq Khaitan 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.72 IQD 10.1K

$9.76 KWD 2.99

-20.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.83 IQD 29.9K

$82.4 KWD 25.27

-72.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.98 IQD 11.8K

$9.13 KWD 2.80

-1.64%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.50 KWD 0.77

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 KWD 1.12

Cappuccino

$3.13 IQD 4,096

$6.05 KWD 1.86

-48.26%

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

$0.49 IQD 640

$0.69 KWD 0.21

-28.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 261

$0.38 KWD 0.12

-47.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.00 IQD 2,624

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,797

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,730

$1.01 KWD 0.31

30.69%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 IQD 1,103

$0.63 KWD 0.19

33.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 IQD 2,355

$1.30 KWD 0.40

38.46%

Eggs

$1.98 IQD 2,599

$2.09 KWD 0.64

-5.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.54 IQD 9,879

$4.95 KWD 1.52

52.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.80 IQD 6,282

$6.41 KWD 1.97

-25.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 IQD 18.7K

$8.25 KWD 2.53

73.21%

Apples (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,491

$2.33 KWD 0.72

-51.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.20 IQD 1,567

$1.59 KWD 0.49

-24.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,561

$1.30 KWD 0.40

-8.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 994

$1.30 KWD 0.40

-41.54%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 918

$1.22 KWD 0.37

-42.62%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 IQD 938

$0.68 KWD 0.21

5.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,018

$1.02 KWD 0.31

-23.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 688

$0.32 KWD 0.10

65.63%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.01 KWD 0.31

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 KWD 0.29

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 KWD 0.40

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.63 IQD 3,449

$2.98 KWD 0.91

-11.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.55 IQD 16.4K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 IQD 1,899

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 IQD 2,633

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 IQD 709

$0.87 KWD 0.27

-37.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.09 IQD 44.6K

$49.15 KWD 15.08

-30.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 IQD 3,084

$3.32 KWD 1.02

-29.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 IQD 2,885

$3.22 KWD 0.99

-31.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.87 IQD 8,999

$16.06 KWD 4.93

-57.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 IQD 911

$0.36 KWD 0.11

94.44%

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

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

$16.6K KWD 5,102

14.82%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

$16.1K KWD 4,930

28.72%

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

$102 IQD 134.1K

$62.6 KWD 19.19

63.69%

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

$17.93 IQD 23.5K

$18.34 KWD 5.62

-2.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.33 IQD 38.4K

$26.22 KWD 8.04

11.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.7 IQD 95.2K

$83.2 KWD 25.51

-12.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.77 IQD 15.4K

$42.94 KWD 13.17

-72.59%

Cinema Ticket

$11.62 IQD 15.2K

$9.63 KWD 2.95

20.66%

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

$269 IQD 352.1K

$162 KWD 49.69

65.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,278 IQD 4.3M

$3,333 KWD 1,022

-1.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.74 IQD 42.9K

$41.39 KWD 12.70

-20.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.36 IQD 63.3K

$32.46 KWD 9.95

48.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.0 IQD 106.0K

$82.5 KWD 25.30

-1.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.8 IQD 100.5K

$66.4 KWD 20.38

15.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$426 IQD 557.6K

$761 KWD 233

-44.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$278 IQD 364.4K

$580 KWD 178

-52.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$726 IQD 951.1K

$1,197 KWD 367

-39.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$485 IQD 635.3K

$1,016 KWD 312

-52.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,123 IQD 1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$658 IQD 862.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$584 IQD 765.0K

$3,651 KWD 1,120

-84.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.33

7.14

100.70%

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

Last update for Erbil: May 31, 2026

Last update for Abraq Khaitan: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $426 in Erbil versus $761 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 525% 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 $23.00 in Erbil versus $82.0 in Abraq Khaitan. Groceries tell a different story – $197 in Erbil vs $148 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 24% more than Erbil, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,551 per month in Erbil and $1,922 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 $269 per month in Erbil and $162 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 34% 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 $1,034, than in Abraq Khaitan at $1,281. 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.