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 $1,019 per month in Erbil vs $621 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,524 per month in Erbil vs $872 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,029 per month in Erbil vs $1,123 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

Erbil costs about 64% more than Ad Diwaniyah, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Erbil and Ad Diwaniyah are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 24% lower, Ad Diwaniyah 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$3.04 IQD 3,984

155.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.99 IQD 30.1K

$11.37 IQD 14.9K

102.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.97 IQD 11.7K

$5.31 IQD 6,963

68.93%

Cappuccino

$3.25 IQD 4,252

$1.49 IQD 1,948

118.12%

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

$0.48 IQD 630

$0.40 IQD 521

20.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 289

$0.19 IQD 249

15.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 IQD 2,633

$2.97 IQD 3,886

-32.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 IQD 2,671

$2.81 IQD 3,678

-27.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,727

$1.36 IQD 1,785

-2.94%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 IQD 1,115

$0.75 IQD 983

13.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.81 IQD 2,368

$1.35 IQD 1,768

34.07%

Eggs

$1.98 IQD 2,590

$1.74 IQD 2,284

13.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.44 IQD 9,745

$4.40 IQD 5,762

69.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.75 IQD 6,229

$5.05 IQD 6,621

-5.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.99 IQD 18.3K

$10.21 IQD 13.4K

37.02%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,509

$0.81 IQD 1,067

41.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,514

$0.92 IQD 1,201

26.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,483

$0.89 IQD 1,172

26.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,061

$0.60 IQD 787

35.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 936

$0.64 IQD 844

10.94%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 997

$0.62 IQD 816

22.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 IQD 1,002

$0.45 IQD 586

68.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 690

$0.66 IQD 859

-19.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.76 IQD 3,610

$1.96 IQD 2,565

40.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.29 IQD 16.1K

$7.02 IQD 9,199

75.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 IQD 1,862

$1.82 IQD 2,389

-21.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 IQD 2,627

$2.15 IQD 2,820

-6.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 IQD 728

$0.36 IQD 474

55.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.51 IQD 45.2K

$30.64 IQD 40.1K

12.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.28 IQD 2,992

$1.94 IQD 2,542

17.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.29 IQD 2,997

$1.25 IQD 1,632

83.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.92 IQD 9,060

$7.87 IQD 10.3K

-12.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 IQD 911

$0.38 IQD 498

84.21%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

$9,902 IQD 13.0M

92.28%

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

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

$17.9K IQD 23.4M

16.07%

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

$100 IQD 131.3K

$37.55 IQD 49.2K

166.90%

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

$17.57 IQD 23.0K

$17.19 IQD 22.5K

2.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.61 IQD 38.8K

$38.47 IQD 50.4K

-23.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.2 IQD 97.2K

$17.10 IQD 22.4K

333.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.82 IQD 15.5K

$8.85 IQD 11.6K

33.56%

Cinema Ticket

$11.57 IQD 15.2K

$5.62 IQD 7,364

105.87%

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

$264 IQD 345.7K

$92.9 IQD 121.7K

184.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,284 IQD 4.3M

$738 IQD 966.2K

345.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.96 IQD 43.2K

$20.20 IQD 26.5K

63.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.58 IQD 65.0K

$30.87 IQD 40.4K

60.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.8 IQD 109.7K

$20.14 IQD 26.4K

315.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 IQD 100.5K

$25.08 IQD 32.9K

205.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 IQD 562.8K

$138 IQD 180.2K

212.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$281 IQD 367.7K

$181 IQD 237.2K

55.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$716 IQD 938.5K

$241 IQD 315.1K

197.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$486 IQD 637.2K

$199 IQD 261.0K

144.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,111 IQD 1.5M

$757 IQD 991.2K

46.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$652 IQD 854.1K

$302 IQD 395.4K

116.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$576 IQD 754.2K

$481 IQD 630.1K

19.70%

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Ad Diwaniyah: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Erbil versus $138 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 20% 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 $11.00 in Ad Diwaniyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $195 vs $159 – 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 64%, 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 $1,528 per month in Erbil and $931 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 $264 per month in Erbil and $92.9 in Ad Diwaniyah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 23% 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 $621, than in Erbil at $1,019. 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.