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 $1,043 per month in Erbil vs $674 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,545 per month in Erbil vs $1,091 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,046 per month in Erbil vs $1,508 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

Erbil costs about 55% more than Al-'amarah, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Erbil and Al-'amarah are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 22% lower, Al-'amarah 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

$3.98 IQD 5,211

97.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.11 IQD 30.3K

$24.68 IQD 32.3K

-6.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.01 IQD 11.8K

$7.02 IQD 9,188

28.35%

Cappuccino

$3.24 IQD 4,240

$2.58 IQD 3,374

25.58%

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

$0.49 IQD 640

$0.40 IQD 519

22.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 288

$0.21 IQD 274

4.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 IQD 2,562

$2.99 IQD 3,917

-34.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 IQD 2,824

$2.82 IQD 3,693

-23.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,718

$1.81 IQD 2,374

-27.62%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,034

$0.79 IQD 1,029

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 IQD 2,450

$1.08 IQD 1,408

73.15%

Eggs

$1.95 IQD 2,557

$1.51 IQD 1,977

29.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.26 IQD 9,502

$4.58 IQD 5,995

58.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 IQD 6,144

$4.64 IQD 6,071

1.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.08 IQD 18.4K

$12.96 IQD 17.0K

8.64%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,502

$0.87 IQD 1,136

32.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,547

$1.10 IQD 1,442

7.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,480

$0.91 IQD 1,189

24.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 982

$0.36 IQD 477

108.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 IQD 948

$0.75 IQD 987

-4.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 990

$0.34 IQD 451

123.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 IQD 1,001

$0.68 IQD 893

11.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 738

$0.43 IQD 564

30.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.66 IQD 3,486

$1.97 IQD 2,575

35.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.28 IQD 16.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 IQD 1,880

$1.86 IQD 2,432

-22.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 IQD 2,538

$2.14 IQD 2,803

-9.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 767

$0.40 IQD 521

47.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.79 IQD 45.6K

$30.59 IQD 40.1K

13.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.27 IQD 2,971

$1.61 IQD 2,105

40.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.32 IQD 3,033

$1.53 IQD 2,007

51.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.05 IQD 9,233

$5.83 IQD 7,633

20.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 IQD 837

$0.31 IQD 399

106.45%

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

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

0.82%

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

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

2.59%

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

$101 IQD 132.5K

$76.2 IQD 99.7K

32.90%

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

$17.79 IQD 23.3K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.56 IQD 38.7K

$34.10 IQD 44.6K

-13.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.8 IQD 96.7K

$22.64 IQD 29.6K

226.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.76 IQD 15.4K

$16.61 IQD 21.7K

-29.20%

Cinema Ticket

$11.25 IQD 14.7K

$7.46 IQD 9,772

50.80%

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

$269 IQD 351.6K

$152 IQD 198.4K

77.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,330 IQD 4.4M

$3,223 IQD 4.2M

3.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.93 IQD 43.1K

$27.00 IQD 35.4K

21.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.13 IQD 64.3K

$25.67 IQD 33.6K

91.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 IQD 105.7K

$60.1 IQD 78.7K

34.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 IQD 102.0K

$41.26 IQD 54.0K

88.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$436 IQD 571.5K

$322 IQD 421.1K

35.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$275 IQD 360.4K

$134 IQD 175.5K

105.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$739 IQD 968.0K

$447 IQD 585.4K

65.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$496 IQD 649.8K

$347 IQD 454.1K

43.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,089 IQD 1.4M

$564 IQD 738.9K

93.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$653 IQD 855.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$580 IQD 759.9K

$506 IQD 662.0K

14.79%

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 Al-'amarah: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $436 in Erbil versus $322 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 15% 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 – $194 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 55%, 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 $1,010 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 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 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 $674, than in Erbil at $1,043. 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.