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 $1,101 per month in Erbil vs $273 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,630 per month in Erbil vs $294 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,158 per month in Erbil vs $316 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

Erbil costs about 304% more than Al-'amarah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Erbil and Al-'amarah are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 19% lower, Al-'amarah 80% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

$1.89 IQD 2,477

306.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.38 IQD 58.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.42 IQD 11.0K

$4.49 IQD 5,883

87.53%

Cappuccino

$3.84 IQD 5,027

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

$1.03 IQD 1,353

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 IQD 580

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 IQD 7,920

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.71 IQD 6,166

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 IQD 1,657

$2.72 IQD 3,567

-53.31%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,083

$0.74 IQD 965

12.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 IQD 2,197

$0.93 IQD 1,214

80.65%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,345

$1.49 IQD 1,945

20.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.06 IQD 10.6K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.78 IQD 7,574

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.84 IQD 19.4K

Apples (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,483

$0.75 IQD 978

50.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 IQD 1,443

$1.16 IQD 1,519

-5.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,612

$0.79 IQD 1,029

55.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.82 IQD 1,068

$0.26 IQD 340

215.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 911

$0.79 IQD 1,029

-11.39%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 905

$0.40 IQD 519

72.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 IQD 969

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 723

$0.56 IQD 733

-1.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.52 IQD 3,294

Wine (Bottle)

$12.54 IQD 16.4K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 IQD 2,217

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 IQD 2,735

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

$2.31 IQD 3,030

-16.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 IQD 2,381

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.56 IQD 8,588

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 882

$0.33 IQD 431

103.03%

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

$18.3K IQD 24.0M

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

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

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

$128 IQD 167.0K

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

$13.95 IQD 18.3K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.49 IQD 37.3K

$26.98 IQD 35.3K

5.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.0 IQD 86.4K

$30.44 IQD 39.9K

116.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.62 IQD 19.1K

Cinema Ticket

$11.67 IQD 15.3K

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

$309 IQD 405.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,144 IQD 4.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.32 IQD 41.0K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.84 IQD 58.7K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.3 IQD 90.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.4 IQD 88.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$460 IQD 602.5K

$152 IQD 198.5K

203.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$297 IQD 389.4K

$115 IQD 150.3K

159.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$740 IQD 969.5K

$195 IQD 254.9K

280.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$432 IQD 566.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,092 IQD 1.4M

$578 IQD 757.5K

88.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$665 IQD 870.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$614 IQD 803.9K

$501 IQD 655.6K

22.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.53

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

Last update for Erbil: September 14, 2026

Last update for Al-'amarah: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $460 in Erbil versus $152 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 23% higher in Erbil, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 304%, 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 $409 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,101 in Erbil and $273 in Al-'amarah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 195% 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 Al-'amarah, where all-in costs run around $273, than in Erbil at $1,101. 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.