Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Al Fallujah Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Al Fallujah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,017 in Erbil versus $928 in Al Fallujah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,518 in Erbil versus $1,408 in Al Fallujah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,019 in Erbil versus $1,889 in Al Fallujah.

Living in Erbil is roughly 10% more expensive than Al Fallujah, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Erbil 24% lower, Al Fallujah 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.59 IQD 9,938

$5.35 IQD 7,001

41.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.90 IQD 30.0K

$35.88 IQD 47.0K

-36.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.65 IQD 11.3K

$7.61 IQD 9,966

13.67%

Cappuccino

$3.25 IQD 4,260

$3.07 IQD 4,020

5.86%

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

$0.52 IQD 676

$0.36 IQD 477

44.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 261

$0.19 IQD 246

5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 IQD 2,555

$3.39 IQD 4,445

-42.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 IQD 2,675

$2.85 IQD 3,729

-28.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,725

$1.36 IQD 1,785

-2.94%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 IQD 1,062

$0.80 IQD 1,043

1.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 IQD 2,357

$1.66 IQD 2,175

8.43%

Eggs

$1.91 IQD 2,505

$1.78 IQD 2,336

7.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.50 IQD 9,816

$4.54 IQD 5,947

65.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.82 IQD 6,315

$4.90 IQD 6,422

-1.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.10 IQD 18.5K

$14.26 IQD 18.7K

-1.12%

Apples (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,551

$1.23 IQD 1,608

-4.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,500

$1.17 IQD 1,530

-1.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,494

$1.06 IQD 1,388

7.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.80 IQD 1,045

$0.73 IQD 956

9.59%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 863

$0.64 IQD 836

3.13%

Onion (1kg)

$0.77 IQD 1,002

$0.67 IQD 878

14.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 IQD 1,008

$0.68 IQD 884

13.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 721

$0.67 IQD 878

-17.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.74 IQD 3,594

$2.13 IQD 2,789

28.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.38 IQD 16.2K

$13.46 IQD 17.6K

-8.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 IQD 1,794

$1.86 IQD 2,434

-26.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 IQD 2,619

$2.17 IQD 2,843

-7.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 768

$0.36 IQD 474

63.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.99 IQD 45.8K

$31.19 IQD 40.8K

12.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,942

$3.75 IQD 4,913

-40.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.29 IQD 2,993

$1.55 IQD 2,029

47.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.85 IQD 8,966

$7.74 IQD 10.1K

-11.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 IQD 839

$0.53 IQD 689

20.75%

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

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

-1.92%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.2M

$20.3K IQD 26.5M

2.44%

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

$101 IQD 132.2K

$179 IQD 234.3K

-43.57%

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

$17.35 IQD 22.7K

$26.20 IQD 34.3K

-33.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.25 IQD 39.6K

$40.33 IQD 52.8K

-24.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.1 IQD 94.4K

$37.46 IQD 49.1K

92.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.54 IQD 15.1K

$16.70 IQD 21.9K

-30.90%

Cinema Ticket

$11.28 IQD 14.8K

$7.70 IQD 10.1K

46.49%

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

$271 IQD 354.5K

$167 IQD 218.7K

62.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,274 IQD 4.3M

$3,548 IQD 4.6M

-7.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.30 IQD 42.3K

$28.50 IQD 37.3K

13.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

$30.82 IQD 40.4K

60.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 IQD 106.1K

$65.0 IQD 85.1K

24.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.2 IQD 101.0K

$43.45 IQD 56.9K

77.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$425 IQD 556.0K

$247 IQD 323.5K

71.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$279 IQD 365.3K

$177 IQD 231.1K

58.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$740 IQD 969.0K

$574 IQD 751.7K

28.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$491 IQD 643.3K

$347 IQD 454.4K

41.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,098 IQD 1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$646 IQD 845.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 IQD 773.3K

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 Fallujah: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $425 in Erbil and $247 in Al Fallujah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $23.00 in Erbil vs $36.00 in Al Fallujah. Groceries flip the comparison at $195 vs $192, with Al Fallujah cheaper for home cooking.

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 Fallujah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al Fallujah wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Erbil. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Al Fallujah the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,525 in Erbil and $1,391 in Al Fallujah to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $425 in Erbil versus $247 in Al Fallujah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $271 in Erbil versus $167 in Al Fallujah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Erbil. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $928 in Al Fallujah versus $1,017 in Erbil, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Al Fallujah but tight or insufficient in Erbil. The gap between the two cities makes Al Fallujah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Erbil and Al Fallujah are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Al Fallujah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.