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: $1,019 in Erbil versus $925 in Al Fallujah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,524 in Erbil versus $1,379 in Al Fallujah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,029 in Erbil versus $1,833 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

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$5.50 IQD 7,205

41.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.99 IQD 30.1K

$36.07 IQD 47.2K

-36.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.97 IQD 11.7K

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

16.34%

Cappuccino

$3.25 IQD 4,251

$2.98 IQD 3,903

9.06%

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

$0.48 IQD 630

$0.39 IQD 514

23.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 289

$0.16 IQD 214

37.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 IQD 2,632

$3.46 IQD 4,526

-41.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 IQD 2,671

$2.81 IQD 3,685

-27.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,726

$1.32 IQD 1,729

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 IQD 1,115

$0.77 IQD 1,008

10.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.81 IQD 2,368

$1.64 IQD 2,154

10.37%

Eggs

$1.98 IQD 2,589

$1.80 IQD 2,361

10.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.44 IQD 9,743

$4.49 IQD 5,878

65.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.75 IQD 6,228

$4.80 IQD 6,281

-1.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.99 IQD 18.3K

$13.86 IQD 18.2K

0.94%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,509

$1.26 IQD 1,656

-8.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,513

$1.21 IQD 1,580

-4.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,482

$1.01 IQD 1,326

11.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,061

$0.74 IQD 964

9.46%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 935

$0.68 IQD 893

4.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 996

$0.64 IQD 838

18.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 IQD 1,001

$0.68 IQD 887

11.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 690

$0.65 IQD 852

-18.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.76 IQD 3,609

$2.08 IQD 2,723

32.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.29 IQD 16.1K

$13.34 IQD 17.5K

-7.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 IQD 1,862

$1.82 IQD 2,384

-21.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 IQD 2,626

$2.15 IQD 2,813

-6.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 IQD 727

$0.36 IQD 473

55.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.51 IQD 45.2K

$30.93 IQD 40.5K

11.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.28 IQD 2,991

$3.76 IQD 4,927

-39.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.29 IQD 2,996

$1.55 IQD 2,028

47.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.92 IQD 9,058

$7.45 IQD 9,762

-7.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 IQD 910

$0.53 IQD 693

32.08%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

-4.45%

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

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

$19.6K IQD 25.6M

6.03%

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

$100 IQD 131.3K

$180 IQD 235.4K

-44.23%

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

$17.57 IQD 23.0K

$25.68 IQD 33.6K

-31.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.61 IQD 38.8K

$40.08 IQD 52.5K

-26.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.2 IQD 97.2K

$36.26 IQD 47.5K

104.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.82 IQD 15.5K

$16.68 IQD 21.8K

-29.14%

Cinema Ticket

$11.57 IQD 15.2K

$7.46 IQD 9,774

55.09%

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

$264 IQD 345.6K

$164 IQD 215.2K

60.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,284 IQD 4.3M

$3,582 IQD 4.7M

-8.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.96 IQD 43.2K

$28.67 IQD 37.6K

14.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.58 IQD 64.9K

$30.29 IQD 39.7K

63.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.8 IQD 109.7K

$65.1 IQD 85.3K

28.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 IQD 100.5K

$42.69 IQD 55.9K

79.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 IQD 562.7K

$242 IQD 316.9K

77.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$281 IQD 367.6K

$177 IQD 232.3K

58.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$716 IQD 938.3K

$587 IQD 769.2K

21.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$486 IQD 637.1K

$338 IQD 443.1K

43.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,111 IQD 1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$652 IQD 853.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$576 IQD 754.0K

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 Fallujah: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $430 in Erbil and $242 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 $189, 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 $1,528 in Erbil and $1,387 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: $430 in Erbil versus $242 in Al Fallujah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $264 in Erbil versus $164 in Al Fallujah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Erbil. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $925 in Al Fallujah versus $1,019 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.