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: $1,074 in Erbil versus $715 in Al Fallujah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,624 in Erbil versus $1,059 in Al Fallujah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,173 in Erbil versus $1,404 in Al Fallujah.

Living in Erbil is roughly 50% more expensive than in Al Fallujah, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Erbil 22% lower, Al Fallujah 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.80 IQD 10.2K

$4.89 IQD 6,398

59.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.48 IQD 56.9K

$33.81 IQD 44.3K

28.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.20 IQD 10.7K

$7.65 IQD 10.0K

7.19%

Cappuccino

$3.65 IQD 4,784

$3.05 IQD 3,994

19.67%

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

$1.04 IQD 1,362

$0.40 IQD 518

160.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 585

$0.24 IQD 314

87.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.96 IQD 7,810

$3.88 IQD 5,080

53.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 IQD 5,839

$3.77 IQD 4,940

18.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 IQD 1,665

$1.03 IQD 1,348

23.30%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 IQD 1,073

$0.84 IQD 1,095

-2.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 IQD 2,187

$1.57 IQD 2,050

6.37%

Eggs

$1.85 IQD 2,418

$1.82 IQD 2,388

1.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.38 IQD 11.0K

$3.89 IQD 5,100

115.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.72 IQD 7,485

$4.80 IQD 6,281

19.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.89 IQD 19.5K

$14.31 IQD 18.7K

4.05%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,502

$1.13 IQD 1,473

1.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,521

$1.06 IQD 1,387

9.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,544

$1.06 IQD 1,387

11.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 979

$0.74 IQD 972

1.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 997

$0.71 IQD 930

7.04%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 892

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 IQD 961

$0.62 IQD 809

17.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 IQD 764

$0.66 IQD 859

-12.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.52 IQD 3,305

$1.78 IQD 2,332

41.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.27 IQD 16.1K

$13.47 IQD 17.6K

-8.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 IQD 2,160

$2.22 IQD 2,909

-25.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 IQD 2,783

$2.29 IQD 2,994

-6.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 719

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.38 IQD 58.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 IQD 2,561

$2.23 IQD 2,922

-12.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 IQD 2,379

$1.56 IQD 2,045

16.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.52 IQD 8,533

$7.43 IQD 9,736

-12.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.66 IQD 866

$0.61 IQD 797

8.20%

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

$17.8K IQD 23.3M

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

-5.25%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.0M

$19.6K IQD 25.6M

1.60%

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

$128 IQD 167.5K

$211 IQD 276.8K

-39.49%

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

$13.86 IQD 18.1K

$21.33 IQD 27.9K

-35.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.91 IQD 36.6K

$41.87 IQD 54.8K

-33.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.8 IQD 84.8K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.65 IQD 19.2K

Cinema Ticket

$11.58 IQD 15.2K

$10.63 IQD 13.9K

8.94%

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

$314 IQD 411.2K

$170 IQD 222.5K

84.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,082 IQD 4.0M

$3,470 IQD 4.5M

-11.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.66 IQD 40.2K

$29.30 IQD 38.4K

4.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.68 IQD 59.8K

$37.81 IQD 49.5K

20.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.9 IQD 89.0K

$73.9 IQD 96.8K

-8.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.8 IQD 90.1K

$48.27 IQD 63.2K

42.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$470 IQD 616.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$294 IQD 385.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$728 IQD 953.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$434 IQD 568.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,096 IQD 1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$646 IQD 846.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$608 IQD 796.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.53

4.12

-38.59%

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

Last update for Erbil: September 6, 2026

Last update for Al Fallujah: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $43.00 in Erbil vs $34.00 in Al Fallujah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $187 per month, with Al Fallujah cheaper across the board.

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 50% 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 $1,612 in Erbil and $1,072 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.

Childcare runs $314 in Erbil versus $170 in Al Fallujah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Al Fallujah – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $43.00 in Erbil. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $715 in Al Fallujah versus $1,074 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 50% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.