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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Erbil versus $732 in Al Kazimiyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,548 in Erbil versus $1,160 in Al Kazimiyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,061 in Erbil versus $1,589 in Al Kazimiyah.

Living in Erbil is roughly 41% more expensive than Al Kazimiyah, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Erbil 23% lower, Al Kazimiyah 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.72 IQD 10.1K

$3.99 IQD 5,226

93.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.83 IQD 29.9K

$24.69 IQD 32.3K

-7.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.98 IQD 11.8K

$6.81 IQD 8,912

31.86%

Cappuccino

$3.13 IQD 4,096

$2.64 IQD 3,455

18.56%

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

$0.49 IQD 640

$0.37 IQD 483

32.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 261

$0.21 IQD 280

-4.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.00 IQD 2,624

$2.89 IQD 3,779

-30.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,797

$2.81 IQD 3,683

-23.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,730

$1.33 IQD 1,741

-0.75%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 IQD 1,103

$0.78 IQD 1,015

7.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 IQD 2,355

$1.58 IQD 2,064

13.92%

Eggs

$1.98 IQD 2,599

$1.72 IQD 2,258

15.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.54 IQD 9,879

$4.48 IQD 5,860

68.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.80 IQD 6,282

$4.64 IQD 6,082

3.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 IQD 18.7K

$13.08 IQD 17.1K

9.25%

Apples (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,491

$1.15 IQD 1,510

-0.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.20 IQD 1,567

$1.15 IQD 1,505

4.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,561

$1.05 IQD 1,380

13.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 994

$0.75 IQD 979

1.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 918

$0.68 IQD 892

2.94%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 IQD 938

$0.67 IQD 875

7.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,018

$0.68 IQD 884

14.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 688

$0.55 IQD 720

-3.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.63 IQD 3,449

$1.88 IQD 2,460

39.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.55 IQD 16.4K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 IQD 1,899

$1.86 IQD 2,438

-22.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 IQD 2,633

$2.07 IQD 2,714

-2.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 IQD 709

$0.40 IQD 518

35.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.09 IQD 44.6K

$31.41 IQD 41.1K

8.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 IQD 3,084

$2.34 IQD 3,069

0.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 IQD 2,885

$1.50 IQD 1,960

46.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.87 IQD 8,999

$5.86 IQD 7,678

17.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 IQD 911

$0.54 IQD 704

29.63%

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

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

1.86%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

4.74%

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

$102 IQD 134.1K

$76.2 IQD 99.8K

34.38%

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

$17.93 IQD 23.5K

$17.58 IQD 23.0K

1.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.33 IQD 38.4K

$34.07 IQD 44.6K

-13.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.7 IQD 95.2K

$37.20 IQD 48.7K

95.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.77 IQD 15.4K

$16.68 IQD 21.8K

-29.44%

Cinema Ticket

$11.62 IQD 15.2K

$7.56 IQD 9,905

53.70%

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

$269 IQD 352.1K

$152 IQD 199.3K

76.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,278 IQD 4.3M

$3,248 IQD 4.3M

0.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.74 IQD 42.9K

$26.60 IQD 34.8K

23.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.36 IQD 63.3K

$25.38 IQD 33.2K

90.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.0 IQD 106.0K

$60.1 IQD 78.7K

34.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.8 IQD 100.5K

$41.64 IQD 54.5K

84.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$426 IQD 557.6K

$247 IQD 322.9K

72.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$278 IQD 364.4K

$177 IQD 232.4K

56.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$726 IQD 951.1K

$572 IQD 748.4K

27.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$485 IQD 635.3K

$350 IQD 458.5K

38.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,123 IQD 1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$658 IQD 862.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$584 IQD 765.0K

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Al Kazimiyah: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $426 in Erbil and $247 in Al Kazimiyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $23.00 in Erbil vs $25.00 in Al Kazimiyah. Groceries flip the comparison at $197 vs $157, with Al Kazimiyah 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 Kazimiyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al Kazimiyah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 41% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,551 in Erbil and $1,098 in Al Kazimiyah 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: $426 in Erbil versus $247 in Al Kazimiyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Al Kazimiyah – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $23.00 in Erbil. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,034 per month in Erbil versus $732 in Al Kazimiyah – a 41% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $732 in Al Kazimiyah versus $1,034 in Erbil, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al Kazimiyah but tight or insufficient in Erbil. The gap between the two cities makes Al Kazimiyah 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 Kazimiyah 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 Kazimiyah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.