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 $1,034 per month in Erbil vs $819 in Al Hillah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,548 per month in Erbil vs $1,263 in Al Hillah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,061 per month in Erbil vs $1,708 in Al Hillah, rent included.

Erbil costs about 26% more than Al Hillah, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Erbil and Al Hillah are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 23% lower, Al Hillah 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.72 IQD 10.1K

$5.28 IQD 6,917

46.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.83 IQD 29.9K

$30.53 IQD 40.0K

-25.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.98 IQD 11.8K

$6.00 IQD 7,851

49.67%

Cappuccino

$3.13 IQD 4,096

$3.11 IQD 4,073

0.64%

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

$0.49 IQD 640

$0.40 IQD 518

22.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 261

$0.20 IQD 265

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.00 IQD 2,624

$2.97 IQD 3,896

-32.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,797

$2.83 IQD 3,706

-24.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,730

$1.31 IQD 1,713

0.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 IQD 1,103

$0.74 IQD 967

13.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 IQD 2,355

$1.64 IQD 2,151

9.76%

Eggs

$1.98 IQD 2,599

$1.74 IQD 2,280

13.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.54 IQD 9,879

$4.38 IQD 5,733

72.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.80 IQD 6,282

$5.06 IQD 6,623

-5.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 IQD 18.7K

$13.96 IQD 18.3K

2.36%

Apples (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,491

$1.28 IQD 1,673

-10.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.20 IQD 1,567

$1.16 IQD 1,516

3.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,561

$1.06 IQD 1,385

12.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 994

$0.70 IQD 920

8.57%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 918

$0.66 IQD 862

6.06%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 IQD 938

$0.68 IQD 890

5.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,018

$0.55 IQD 720

41.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 688

$0.55 IQD 722

-3.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.63 IQD 3,449

$1.95 IQD 2,552

34.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.55 IQD 16.4K

$13.56 IQD 17.8K

-7.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 IQD 1,899

$1.76 IQD 2,300

-17.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 IQD 2,633

$2.19 IQD 2,863

-8.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 IQD 709

$0.40 IQD 522

35.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.09 IQD 44.6K

$63.8 IQD 83.6K

-46.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 IQD 3,084

$2.26 IQD 2,957

3.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 IQD 2,885

$1.54 IQD 2,016

42.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.87 IQD 8,999

$3.33 IQD 4,358

106.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 IQD 911

$0.53 IQD 689

32.08%

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

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

$17.0K IQD 22.2M

12.46%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

3.11%

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

$102 IQD 134.1K

$76.0 IQD 99.6K

34.74%

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

$17.93 IQD 23.5K

$15.24 IQD 20.0K

17.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.33 IQD 38.4K

$37.99 IQD 49.8K

-22.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.7 IQD 95.2K

$23.35 IQD 30.6K

211.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.77 IQD 15.4K

$19.37 IQD 25.4K

-39.24%

Cinema Ticket

$11.62 IQD 15.2K

$7.55 IQD 9,883

53.91%

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

$269 IQD 352.1K

$96.5 IQD 126.4K

178.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,278 IQD 4.3M

$754 IQD 986.7K

335.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.74 IQD 42.9K

$27.29 IQD 35.7K

19.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.36 IQD 63.3K

$27.83 IQD 36.4K

73.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.0 IQD 106.0K

$61.2 IQD 80.1K

32.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.8 IQD 100.5K

$43.90 IQD 57.5K

74.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$426 IQD 557.6K

$378 IQD 494.8K

12.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$278 IQD 364.4K

$191 IQD 249.6K

46.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$726 IQD 951.1K

$662 IQD 867.5K

9.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$485 IQD 635.3K

$322 IQD 422.1K

50.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,123 IQD 1.5M

$1,702 IQD 2.2M

-34.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$658 IQD 862.2K

$562 IQD 736.0K

17.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$584 IQD 765.0K

$515 IQD 674.7K

13.37%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Al Hillah: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $426 in Erbil versus $378 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 13% 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 $31.00 in Al Hillah. Groceries tell a different story – $197 in Erbil vs $188 in Al Hillah – so Al Hillah 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 Hillah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Erbil is pricier by about 26%, 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 $1,551 per month in Erbil and $1,228 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 87% less in Al Hillah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $269 per month in Erbil and $96.5 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 $819, than in Erbil at $1,034. 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.