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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,101 per month in Erbil vs $791 in Al Hillah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,630 per month in Erbil vs $1,214 in Al Hillah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,158 per month in Erbil vs $1,636 in Al Hillah, rent included.

Erbil costs about 39% more than Al Hillah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Erbil and Al Hillah are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 19% lower, Al Hillah 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

$4.86 IQD 6,367

58.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.38 IQD 58.1K

$30.43 IQD 39.8K

45.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.42 IQD 11.0K

$5.95 IQD 7,788

41.51%

Cappuccino

$3.84 IQD 5,027

$3.05 IQD 3,993

25.90%

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

$1.03 IQD 1,353

$0.37 IQD 480

178.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 IQD 580

$0.22 IQD 289

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 IQD 7,920

$2.83 IQD 3,705

113.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.71 IQD 6,166

$3.93 IQD 5,144

19.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 IQD 1,657

$1.09 IQD 1,426

16.51%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,083

$0.78 IQD 1,018

6.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 IQD 2,197

$1.53 IQD 2,009

9.80%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,345

$1.81 IQD 2,368

-1.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.06 IQD 10.6K

$3.97 IQD 5,203

103.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.78 IQD 7,574

$4.74 IQD 6,202

21.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.84 IQD 19.4K

$14.24 IQD 18.6K

4.21%

Apples (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,483

$1.18 IQD 1,549

-4.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 IQD 1,443

$1.08 IQD 1,412

1.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,612

$1.06 IQD 1,393

16.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.82 IQD 1,068

$0.78 IQD 1,017

5.13%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 911

$0.66 IQD 866

6.06%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 905

$0.64 IQD 835

7.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 IQD 969

$0.56 IQD 730

32.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 723

$0.59 IQD 768

-6.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.52 IQD 3,294

$1.83 IQD 2,400

37.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.54 IQD 16.4K

$13.64 IQD 17.9K

-8.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 IQD 2,217

$2.24 IQD 2,937

-24.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 IQD 2,735

$2.20 IQD 2,875

-5.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 772

$0.39 IQD 513

51.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.81 IQD 57.4K

$64.3 IQD 84.2K

-31.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 IQD 2,544

$2.26 IQD 2,960

-14.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 IQD 2,381

$1.52 IQD 1,988

19.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.56 IQD 8,588

$3.46 IQD 4,532

89.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 882

$0.57 IQD 749

17.54%

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

$18.3K IQD 24.0M

$17.1K IQD 22.4M

6.98%

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

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

5.72%

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

$128 IQD 167.0K

$76.2 IQD 99.8K

67.25%

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

$13.95 IQD 18.3K

$15.14 IQD 19.8K

-7.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.49 IQD 37.3K

$38.51 IQD 50.4K

-26.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.0 IQD 86.4K

$22.95 IQD 30.1K

187.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.62 IQD 19.1K

$19.40 IQD 25.4K

-24.64%

Cinema Ticket

$11.67 IQD 15.3K

$7.55 IQD 9,889

54.57%

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

$309 IQD 405.1K

$94.9 IQD 124.3K

225.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,144 IQD 4.1M

$766 IQD 1.0M

310.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.32 IQD 41.0K

$22.31 IQD 29.2K

40.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.84 IQD 58.7K

$24.74 IQD 32.4K

81.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.3 IQD 90.7K

$67.1 IQD 87.8K

3.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.4 IQD 88.3K

$47.37 IQD 62.0K

42.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$460 IQD 602.5K

$281 IQD 368.6K

63.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$297 IQD 389.4K

$180 IQD 235.5K

65.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$740 IQD 969.5K

$495 IQD 648.4K

49.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$432 IQD 566.1K

$291 IQD 380.8K

48.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,092 IQD 1.4M

$1,717 IQD 2.2M

-36.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$665 IQD 870.8K

$555 IQD 726.2K

19.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$614 IQD 803.9K

$514 IQD 673.3K

19.39%

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 14, 2026

Last update for Al Hillah: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $460 in Erbil versus $281 in Al Hillah. 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 19% 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 $44.00 in Erbil versus $30.00 in Al Hillah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $204 vs $186 – making Al Hillah the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Hillah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Erbil is pricier by about 39%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,652 per month in Erbil and $1,187 in Al Hillah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Al Hillah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 47% less in Al Hillah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Erbil and $94.9 in Al Hillah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al Hillah, where all-in costs run around $791, than in Erbil at $1,101. In Al Hillah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Erbil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Al Hillah – 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 Hillah. 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.