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 $1,019 per month in Erbil vs $681 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,524 per month in Erbil vs $1,090 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,029 per month in Erbil vs $1,499 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

Erbil costs about 50% 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 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$3.95 IQD 5,175

96.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.99 IQD 30.1K

$24.93 IQD 32.7K

-7.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.97 IQD 11.7K

$6.95 IQD 9,106

29.06%

Cappuccino

$3.25 IQD 4,252

$2.57 IQD 3,369

26.46%

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

$0.48 IQD 630

$0.37 IQD 481

29.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 289

$0.19 IQD 250

15.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 IQD 2,633

$2.87 IQD 3,756

-29.97%

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

$1.86 IQD 2,442

-29.03%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 IQD 1,115

$0.75 IQD 979

13.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.81 IQD 2,368

$1.09 IQD 1,427

66.06%

Eggs

$1.98 IQD 2,590

$1.50 IQD 1,963

32.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.44 IQD 9,745

$4.41 IQD 5,774

68.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.75 IQD 6,229

$4.69 IQD 6,150

1.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.99 IQD 18.3K

$13.07 IQD 17.1K

7.04%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,509

$0.86 IQD 1,122

33.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,514

$1.08 IQD 1,415

7.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,483

$0.89 IQD 1,168

26.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,061

$0.39 IQD 517

107.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 936

$0.74 IQD 971

-4.05%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 997

$0.34 IQD 450

123.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 IQD 1,002

$0.62 IQD 817

22.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 690

$0.47 IQD 618

12.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.76 IQD 3,610

$1.85 IQD 2,430

49.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.29 IQD 16.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 IQD 1,862

$1.82 IQD 2,385

-21.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 IQD 2,627

$2.10 IQD 2,752

-4.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 IQD 728

$0.37 IQD 479

51.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.51 IQD 45.2K

$30.84 IQD 40.4K

11.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.28 IQD 2,992

$1.69 IQD 2,214

34.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.29 IQD 2,997

$1.55 IQD 2,025

47.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.92 IQD 9,060

$6.16 IQD 8,067

12.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 IQD 911

$0.33 IQD 434

112.12%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

$19.3K IQD 25.2M

-1.15%

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

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

3.68%

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

$100 IQD 131.3K

$78.3 IQD 102.6K

28.01%

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

$17.57 IQD 23.0K

$17.40 IQD 22.8K

0.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.61 IQD 38.8K

$34.87 IQD 45.7K

-15.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.2 IQD 97.2K

$22.48 IQD 29.4K

230.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.82 IQD 15.5K

$16.71 IQD 21.9K

-29.26%

Cinema Ticket

$11.57 IQD 15.2K

$7.68 IQD 10.1K

50.65%

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

$264 IQD 345.7K

$150 IQD 196.3K

76.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,284 IQD 4.3M

$3,269 IQD 4.3M

0.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.96 IQD 43.2K

$26.78 IQD 35.1K

23.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.58 IQD 65.0K

$25.37 IQD 33.2K

95.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.8 IQD 109.7K

$61.7 IQD 80.8K

35.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 IQD 100.5K

$40.93 IQD 53.6K

87.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 IQD 562.8K

$320 IQD 419.8K

34.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$281 IQD 367.7K

$130 IQD 170.2K

116.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$716 IQD 938.5K

$446 IQD 584.3K

60.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$486 IQD 637.2K

$343 IQD 449.7K

41.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,111 IQD 1.5M

$574 IQD 752.3K

93.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$652 IQD 854.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$576 IQD 754.2K

$505 IQD 661.2K

14.06%

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 Al-'amarah: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Erbil versus $320 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 14% 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 50%, 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 $1,022 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 $681, than in Erbil at $1,019. 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.