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 $723 in Al Kazimiyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,522 in Erbil versus $1,154 in Al Kazimiyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,010 in Erbil versus $1,585 in Al Kazimiyah.

Living in Erbil is roughly 43% more expensive than in Al Kazimiyah, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Erbil 23% lower, Al Kazimiyah 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

$3.94 IQD 5,161

95.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.64 IQD 29.6K

$24.95 IQD 32.7K

-9.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.88 IQD 11.6K

$6.91 IQD 9,055

28.51%

Cappuccino

$3.20 IQD 4,189

$2.55 IQD 3,337

25.49%

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

$0.48 IQD 630

$0.37 IQD 483

29.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 262

$0.16 IQD 214

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 IQD 2,523

$2.99 IQD 3,917

-35.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,803

$2.86 IQD 3,741

-25.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,719

$1.37 IQD 1,788

-4.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 IQD 1,108

$0.84 IQD 1,100

1.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 IQD 2,439

$1.64 IQD 2,146

13.41%

Eggs

$1.98 IQD 2,590

$1.80 IQD 2,357

10.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.23 IQD 9,474

$4.42 IQD 5,790

63.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.72 IQD 6,184

$4.78 IQD 6,259

-1.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.24 IQD 18.7K

$13.42 IQD 17.6K

6.11%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,563

$1.20 IQD 1,578

-0.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,505

$1.21 IQD 1,585

-4.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,502

$1.00 IQD 1,313

15.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,057

$0.73 IQD 961

10.96%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 888

$0.64 IQD 841

6.25%

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 980

$0.62 IQD 814

20.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 IQD 952

$0.63 IQD 829

15.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 IQD 742

$0.56 IQD 737

1.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.62 IQD 3,428

$1.88 IQD 2,457

39.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.19 IQD 16.0K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 IQD 1,824

$1.84 IQD 2,416

-24.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 IQD 2,579

$2.15 IQD 2,822

-8.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 776

$0.40 IQD 518

47.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.14 IQD 46.0K

$31.10 IQD 40.7K

12.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,942

$2.33 IQD 3,048

-3.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 IQD 3,052

$1.53 IQD 2,007

52.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.75 IQD 8,845

$5.96 IQD 7,801

13.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 IQD 849

$0.57 IQD 752

14.04%

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

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

3.12%

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

$20.8K IQD 27.3M

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

4.58%

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

$102 IQD 133.2K

$76.3 IQD 99.9K

33.26%

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

$17.42 IQD 22.8K

$17.47 IQD 22.9K

-0.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.58 IQD 38.7K

$34.12 IQD 44.7K

-13.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.8 IQD 96.6K

$36.07 IQD 47.2K

104.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.55 IQD 15.1K

$16.91 IQD 22.1K

-31.70%

Cinema Ticket

$11.41 IQD 14.9K

$7.73 IQD 10.1K

47.61%

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

$263 IQD 343.7K

$151 IQD 197.3K

74.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,250 IQD 4.3M

$3,327 IQD 4.4M

-2.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.46 IQD 43.8K

$27.55 IQD 36.1K

21.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

$25.18 IQD 33.0K

97.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 IQD 106.2K

$62.0 IQD 81.2K

30.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.5 IQD 100.2K

$40.64 IQD 53.2K

88.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$429 IQD 562.2K

$241 IQD 315.8K

78.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$275 IQD 360.3K

$179 IQD 234.1K

53.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$732 IQD 958.5K

$580 IQD 759.4K

26.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$495 IQD 647.8K

$348 IQD 456.2K

42.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,130 IQD 1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$660 IQD 864.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$581 IQD 760.9K

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Al Kazimiyah: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $429 in Erbil and $241 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 $195 vs $160, 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 43% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,551 in Erbil and $1,084 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: $429 in Erbil versus $241 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 $723 in Al Kazimiyah – a 43% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Al Kazimiyah gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 43% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.