Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Al-'amarah Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Al-'amarah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Erbil vs $671 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,518 per month in Erbil vs $1,086 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,019 per month in Erbil vs $1,501 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

Erbil costs about 52% more than Al-'amarah, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Erbil and Al-'amarah are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 24% lower, Al-'amarah 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.59 IQD 9,938

$4.02 IQD 5,267

88.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.90 IQD 30.0K

$24.90 IQD 32.6K

-8.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.65 IQD 11.3K

$7.02 IQD 9,193

23.22%

Cappuccino

$3.25 IQD 4,260

$2.60 IQD 3,401

25.00%

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

$0.52 IQD 676

$0.40 IQD 521

30.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 261

$0.19 IQD 255

5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 IQD 2,555

$2.85 IQD 3,736

-31.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 IQD 2,675

$2.89 IQD 3,779

-29.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,725

$1.81 IQD 2,364

-27.07%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 IQD 1,062

$0.79 IQD 1,030

2.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 IQD 2,357

$1.12 IQD 1,462

60.71%

Eggs

$1.91 IQD 2,505

$1.55 IQD 2,027

23.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.50 IQD 9,816

$4.54 IQD 5,951

65.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.82 IQD 6,315

$4.64 IQD 6,074

3.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.10 IQD 18.5K

$12.96 IQD 17.0K

8.80%

Apples (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,551

$0.91 IQD 1,197

29.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,500

$1.08 IQD 1,416

6.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,494

$0.87 IQD 1,136

31.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.80 IQD 1,045

$0.39 IQD 514

105.13%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 863

$0.76 IQD 989

-13.16%

Onion (1kg)

$0.77 IQD 1,002

$0.35 IQD 452

120.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 IQD 1,008

$0.63 IQD 827

22.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 721

$0.47 IQD 617

17.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.74 IQD 3,594

$1.97 IQD 2,573

39.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.38 IQD 16.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 IQD 1,794

$1.79 IQD 2,341

-23.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 IQD 2,619

$2.11 IQD 2,769

-5.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 768

$0.37 IQD 484

59.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.99 IQD 45.8K

$31.73 IQD 41.5K

10.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,942

$1.67 IQD 2,188

34.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.29 IQD 2,993

$1.48 IQD 1,936

54.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.85 IQD 8,966

$6.10 IQD 7,988

12.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 IQD 839

$0.31 IQD 404

106.45%

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

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

-0.38%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.2M

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

2.27%

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

$101 IQD 132.2K

$76.1 IQD 99.6K

32.69%

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

$17.35 IQD 22.7K

$17.95 IQD 23.5K

-3.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.25 IQD 39.6K

$34.06 IQD 44.6K

-11.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.1 IQD 94.4K

$22.68 IQD 29.7K

217.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.54 IQD 15.1K

$16.99 IQD 22.2K

-32.08%

Cinema Ticket

$11.28 IQD 14.8K

$7.72 IQD 10.1K

46.11%

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

$271 IQD 354.5K

$154 IQD 201.2K

76.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,274 IQD 4.3M

$3,248 IQD 4.3M

0.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.30 IQD 42.3K

$27.51 IQD 36.0K

17.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

$24.93 IQD 32.6K

99.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 IQD 106.1K

$61.8 IQD 80.9K

31.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.2 IQD 101.0K

$41.10 IQD 53.8K

87.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$425 IQD 556.0K

$331 IQD 434.1K

28.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$279 IQD 365.3K

$132 IQD 173.3K

110.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$740 IQD 969.0K

$441 IQD 578.0K

67.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$491 IQD 643.3K

$346 IQD 452.8K

42.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,098 IQD 1.4M

$581 IQD 760.9K

89.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$646 IQD 845.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 IQD 773.3K

$506 IQD 663.1K

16.62%

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 Al-'amarah: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $425 in Erbil versus $331 in Al-'amarah. 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 17% 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 $25.00 in Al-'amarah. Groceries tell a different story – $195 in Erbil vs $153 in Al-'amarah – so Al-'amarah 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 Al-'amarah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Erbil is pricier by about 52%, 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 $1,006 in Al-'amarah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 28% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Erbil and $25.00 in Al-'amarah. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al-'amarah, where all-in costs run around $671, than in Erbil at $1,017. In Al-'amarah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Erbil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Al-'amarah – 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 Al-'amarah. 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.