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 $1,017 per month in Erbil vs $620 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,518 per month in Erbil vs $873 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,019 per month in Erbil vs $1,127 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

$7.59 IQD 9,938

$3.01 IQD 3,943

152.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.90 IQD 30.0K

$11.58 IQD 15.2K

97.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.65 IQD 11.3K

$5.04 IQD 6,602

71.63%

Cappuccino

$3.25 IQD 4,260

$1.47 IQD 1,926

121.09%

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

$0.52 IQD 676

$0.37 IQD 484

40.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 261

$0.19 IQD 245

5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 IQD 2,555

$2.87 IQD 3,756

-32.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 IQD 2,675

$2.95 IQD 3,867

-30.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,725

$1.37 IQD 1,796

-3.65%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 IQD 1,062

$0.74 IQD 975

9.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 IQD 2,357

$1.35 IQD 1,774

33.33%

Eggs

$1.91 IQD 2,505

$1.73 IQD 2,265

10.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.50 IQD 9,816

$4.59 IQD 6,009

63.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.82 IQD 6,315

$5.00 IQD 6,546

-3.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.10 IQD 18.5K

$10.40 IQD 13.6K

35.58%

Apples (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,551

$0.80 IQD 1,048

47.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,500

$0.97 IQD 1,266

18.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,494

$0.90 IQD 1,184

26.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.80 IQD 1,045

$0.56 IQD 727

42.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 863

$0.65 IQD 857

1.54%

Onion (1kg)

$0.77 IQD 1,002

$0.66 IQD 868

16.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 IQD 1,008

$0.49 IQD 643

57.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 721

$0.62 IQD 811

-11.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.74 IQD 3,594

$1.93 IQD 2,534

41.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.38 IQD 16.2K

$7.09 IQD 9,290

74.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 IQD 1,794

$1.79 IQD 2,338

-23.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 IQD 2,619

$2.18 IQD 2,859

-8.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 768

$0.40 IQD 519

47.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.99 IQD 45.8K

$30.85 IQD 40.4K

13.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,942

$1.96 IQD 2,567

14.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.29 IQD 2,993

$1.24 IQD 1,630

84.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.85 IQD 8,966

$7.80 IQD 10.2K

-12.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 IQD 839

$0.38 IQD 504

68.42%

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

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

$9,802 IQD 12.8M

97.15%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.2M

$18.2K IQD 23.8M

14.00%

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

$101 IQD 132.2K

$38.14 IQD 49.9K

164.68%

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

$17.35 IQD 22.7K

$17.12 IQD 22.4K

1.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.25 IQD 39.6K

$38.65 IQD 50.6K

-21.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.1 IQD 94.4K

$17.24 IQD 22.6K

318.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.54 IQD 15.1K

$9.01 IQD 11.8K

28.08%

Cinema Ticket

$11.28 IQD 14.8K

$5.51 IQD 7,219

104.72%

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

$271 IQD 354.5K

$91.8 IQD 120.1K

195.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,274 IQD 4.3M

$756 IQD 989.9K

333.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.30 IQD 42.3K

$19.63 IQD 25.7K

64.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

$30.39 IQD 39.8K

63.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 IQD 106.1K

$19.73 IQD 25.8K

310.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.2 IQD 101.0K

$24.74 IQD 32.4K

211.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$425 IQD 556.0K

$138 IQD 180.1K

208.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$279 IQD 365.3K

$181 IQD 237.3K

53.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$740 IQD 969.0K

$237 IQD 310.8K

211.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$491 IQD 643.3K

$196 IQD 256.5K

150.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,098 IQD 1.4M

$743 IQD 972.5K

47.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$646 IQD 845.4K

$298 IQD 389.6K

117.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 IQD 773.3K

$482 IQD 631.3K

22.51%

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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Ad Diwaniyah: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $425 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 23% 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: $195 vs $160 – 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 $1,525 per month in Erbil and $930 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 $271 per month in Erbil and $91.8 in Ad Diwaniyah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 22% 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 $620, than in Erbil at $1,017. 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.