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 $1,043 per month in Erbil vs $606 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,545 per month in Erbil vs $860 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,046 per month in Erbil vs $1,114 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

Erbil costs about 72% more than Ad Diwaniyah, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Erbil and Ad Diwaniyah are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 22% lower, Ad Diwaniyah 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

$3.07 IQD 4,024

155.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.11 IQD 30.3K

$11.59 IQD 15.2K

99.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.01 IQD 11.8K

$5.08 IQD 6,651

77.36%

Cappuccino

$3.24 IQD 4,240

$1.47 IQD 1,930

120.41%

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

$0.49 IQD 640

$0.40 IQD 522

22.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 288

$0.20 IQD 260

10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 IQD 2,562

$2.96 IQD 3,875

-33.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 IQD 2,824

$2.95 IQD 3,868

-26.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,718

$1.32 IQD 1,735

-0.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,034

$0.76 IQD 1,001

3.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 IQD 2,450

$1.34 IQD 1,759

39.55%

Eggs

$1.95 IQD 2,557

$1.81 IQD 2,367

7.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.26 IQD 9,502

$4.52 IQD 5,913

60.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 IQD 6,144

$4.90 IQD 6,414

-4.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.08 IQD 18.4K

$10.43 IQD 13.7K

35.00%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,502

$0.76 IQD 999

51.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,547

$0.89 IQD 1,169

32.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,480

$0.97 IQD 1,270

16.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 982

$0.60 IQD 780

25.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 IQD 948

$0.65 IQD 846

10.77%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 990

$0.64 IQD 836

18.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 IQD 1,001

$0.49 IQD 640

55.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 738

$0.66 IQD 871

-15.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.66 IQD 3,486

$1.87 IQD 2,443

42.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.28 IQD 16.1K

$3.72 IQD 4,870

230.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 IQD 1,880

$1.76 IQD 2,308

-18.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 IQD 2,538

$2.07 IQD 2,715

-6.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 767

$0.39 IQD 515

51.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.79 IQD 45.6K

$30.61 IQD 40.1K

13.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.27 IQD 2,971

$1.98 IQD 2,589

14.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.32 IQD 3,033

$1.19 IQD 1,559

94.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.05 IQD 9,233

$7.63 IQD 9,993

-7.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 IQD 837

$0.39 IQD 506

64.10%

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

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

$9,833 IQD 12.9M

92.35%

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

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

$18.2K IQD 23.8M

13.32%

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

$101 IQD 132.5K

$38.45 IQD 50.4K

163.25%

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

$17.79 IQD 23.3K

$17.23 IQD 22.6K

3.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.56 IQD 38.7K

$38.07 IQD 49.8K

-22.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.8 IQD 96.7K

$16.81 IQD 22.0K

339.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.76 IQD 15.4K

$8.99 IQD 11.8K

30.81%

Cinema Ticket

$11.25 IQD 14.7K

$5.47 IQD 7,167

105.67%

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

$269 IQD 351.6K

$92.0 IQD 120.5K

191.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,330 IQD 4.4M

$743 IQD 973.4K

347.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.93 IQD 43.1K

$19.82 IQD 26.0K

66.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.13 IQD 64.3K

$30.71 IQD 40.2K

59.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 IQD 105.7K

$20.23 IQD 26.5K

298.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 IQD 102.0K

$25.24 IQD 33.1K

208.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$436 IQD 571.5K

$140 IQD 183.4K

211.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$275 IQD 360.4K

$177 IQD 231.9K

55.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$739 IQD 968.0K

$241 IQD 315.3K

206.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$496 IQD 649.8K

$203 IQD 266.1K

144.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,089 IQD 1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$653 IQD 855.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$580 IQD 759.9K

$389 IQD 509.3K

49.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.33

5.67

152.73%

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

Last update for Erbil: July 27, 2026

Last update for Ad Diwaniyah: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $436 in Erbil versus $140 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 49% 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 $23.00 in Erbil versus $12.00 in Ad Diwaniyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $194 vs $152 – 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 72%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,565 per month in Erbil and $909 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.

Kindergarten costs $269 per month in Erbil and $92.0 in Ad Diwaniyah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 27% more in Erbil, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ad Diwaniyah, where all-in costs run around $606, than in Erbil at $1,043. 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.