Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Ad Diwaniyah Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Ad Diwaniyah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,101 per month in Erbil vs $574 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,630 per month in Erbil vs $882 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,158 per month in Erbil vs $1,189 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

Erbil costs about 92% more than Ad Diwaniyah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Erbil and Ad Diwaniyah are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 19% lower, Ad Diwaniyah 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

$3.32 IQD 4,342

131.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.38 IQD 58.1K

$11.67 IQD 15.3K

280.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.42 IQD 11.0K

$5.38 IQD 7,041

56.51%

Cappuccino

$3.84 IQD 5,027

$1.95 IQD 2,559

96.92%

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

$1.03 IQD 1,353

$0.37 IQD 481

178.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 IQD 580

$0.26 IQD 343

69.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 IQD 7,920

$3.91 IQD 5,121

54.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.71 IQD 6,166

$3.84 IQD 5,024

22.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 IQD 1,657

$1.04 IQD 1,368

22.12%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,083

$0.75 IQD 981

10.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 IQD 2,197

$1.37 IQD 1,796

22.63%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,345

$1.91 IQD 2,495

-6.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.06 IQD 10.6K

$3.93 IQD 5,152

105.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.78 IQD 7,574

$3.73 IQD 4,882

54.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.84 IQD 19.4K

$11.42 IQD 14.9K

29.95%

Apples (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,483

$0.73 IQD 958

54.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 IQD 1,443

$0.78 IQD 1,020

41.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,612

$0.79 IQD 1,037

55.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.82 IQD 1,068

$0.78 IQD 1,027

5.13%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 911

$0.70 IQD 922

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 905

$0.64 IQD 838

7.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 IQD 969

$0.39 IQD 514

89.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 723

$0.65 IQD 854

-15.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.52 IQD 3,294

$1.80 IQD 2,356

40.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.54 IQD 16.4K

$3.79 IQD 4,966

230.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 IQD 2,217

$2.14 IQD 2,798

-21.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 IQD 2,735

$2.17 IQD 2,841

-3.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 772

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.81 IQD 57.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 IQD 2,544

$2.35 IQD 3,083

-17.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 IQD 2,381

$1.00 IQD 1,306

82.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.56 IQD 8,588

$7.58 IQD 9,930

-13.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 882

$0.33 IQD 430

103.03%

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

$18.3K IQD 24.0M

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

-3.20%

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

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

$18.9K IQD 24.7M

6.66%

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

$128 IQD 167.0K

$37.82 IQD 49.5K

237.15%

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

$13.95 IQD 18.3K

$17.08 IQD 22.4K

-18.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.49 IQD 37.3K

$38.02 IQD 49.8K

-25.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.0 IQD 86.4K

$18.73 IQD 24.5K

252.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.62 IQD 19.1K

$7.76 IQD 10.2K

88.40%

Cinema Ticket

$11.67 IQD 15.3K

$7.56 IQD 9,897

54.37%

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

$309 IQD 405.1K

$74.9 IQD 98.1K

312.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,144 IQD 4.1M

$3,527 IQD 4.6M

-10.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.32 IQD 41.0K

$29.14 IQD 38.2K

7.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.84 IQD 58.7K

$37.50 IQD 49.1K

19.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.3 IQD 90.7K

$72.8 IQD 95.3K

-4.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.4 IQD 88.3K

$47.48 IQD 62.2K

41.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$460 IQD 602.5K

$76.5 IQD 100.2K

501.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$297 IQD 389.4K

$114 IQD 149.8K

159.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$740 IQD 969.5K

$154 IQD 201.7K

380.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$432 IQD 566.1K

$226 IQD 295.9K

91.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,092 IQD 1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$665 IQD 870.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$614 IQD 803.9K

$387 IQD 507.4K

58.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.53

4.12

-38.59%

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

Last update for Erbil: September 14, 2026

Last update for Ad Diwaniyah: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $460 in Erbil versus $76.5 in Ad Diwaniyah. 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 58% higher in Erbil, 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 $44.00 in Erbil versus $12.00 in Ad Diwaniyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $204 vs $147 – making Ad Diwaniyah the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Ad Diwaniyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Erbil is pricier by about 92%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,652 per month in Erbil and $862 in Ad Diwaniyah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,101 in Erbil and $574 in Ad Diwaniyah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Erbil and $74.9 in Ad Diwaniyah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ad Diwaniyah, where all-in costs run around $574, than in Erbil at $1,101. In Ad Diwaniyah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Erbil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ad Diwaniyah – 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 Ad Diwaniyah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Erbil makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.