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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,074 in Erbil versus $630 in Al Kufah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,624 in Erbil versus $1,038 in Al Kufah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,173 in Erbil versus $1,446 in Al Kufah.

Living in Erbil is roughly 71% more expensive than in Al Kufah, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Erbil 22% lower, Al Kufah 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.80 IQD 10.2K

$4.83 IQD 6,320

61.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.48 IQD 56.9K

$34.07 IQD 44.6K

27.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.20 IQD 10.7K

$7.48 IQD 9,795

9.63%

Cappuccino

$3.65 IQD 4,784

$3.20 IQD 4,191

14.06%

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

$1.04 IQD 1,362

$0.36 IQD 474

188.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 585

$0.24 IQD 312

87.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.96 IQD 7,810

$3.86 IQD 5,055

54.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 IQD 5,839

$3.89 IQD 5,100

14.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 IQD 1,665

$1.03 IQD 1,347

23.30%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 IQD 1,073

$0.79 IQD 1,035

3.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 IQD 2,187

$1.52 IQD 1,993

9.87%

Eggs

$1.85 IQD 2,418

$1.82 IQD 2,390

1.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.38 IQD 11.0K

$2.33 IQD 3,046

259.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.72 IQD 7,485

$4.57 IQD 5,980

25.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.89 IQD 19.5K

$9.29 IQD 12.2K

60.28%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,502

$0.75 IQD 976

53.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,521

$1.05 IQD 1,370

10.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,544

$0.61 IQD 801

93.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 979

$0.56 IQD 739

33.93%

Potato (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 997

$0.51 IQD 668

49.02%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 892

$0.33 IQD 431

106.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 IQD 961

$0.20 IQD 267

265.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 IQD 764

$0.55 IQD 716

5.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.52 IQD 3,305

$1.59 IQD 2,077

58.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.27 IQD 16.1K

$13.80 IQD 18.1K

-11.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 IQD 2,160

$2.22 IQD 2,908

-25.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 IQD 2,783

$2.21 IQD 2,893

-3.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 719

$0.37 IQD 482

48.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.38 IQD 58.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 IQD 2,561

$2.22 IQD 2,909

-11.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 IQD 2,379

$1.55 IQD 2,027

17.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.52 IQD 8,533

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

-15.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.66 IQD 866

$0.58 IQD 762

13.79%

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

$17.8K IQD 23.3M

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

-8.13%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.0M

$19.6K IQD 25.6M

1.52%

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

$128 IQD 167.5K

$218 IQD 285.9K

-41.40%

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

$13.86 IQD 18.1K

$21.02 IQD 27.5K

-34.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.91 IQD 36.6K

$22.69 IQD 29.7K

23.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.8 IQD 84.8K

$15.54 IQD 20.3K

316.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.65 IQD 19.2K

Cinema Ticket

$11.58 IQD 15.2K

$9.96 IQD 13.0K

16.27%

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

$314 IQD 411.2K

$72.7 IQD 95.2K

331.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,082 IQD 4.0M

$2,401 IQD 3.1M

28.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.66 IQD 40.2K

$9.86 IQD 12.9K

210.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.68 IQD 59.8K

$29.84 IQD 39.1K

53.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.9 IQD 89.0K

$20.17 IQD 26.4K

236.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.8 IQD 90.1K

$34.50 IQD 45.2K

99.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$470 IQD 616.0K

$189 IQD 247.3K

149.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$294 IQD 385.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$728 IQD 953.1K

$250 IQD 327.9K

190.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$434 IQD 568.3K

$204 IQD 266.8K

112.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,096 IQD 1.4M

$1,333 IQD 1.7M

-17.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$646 IQD 846.5K

$382 IQD 499.8K

69.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$608 IQD 796.3K

$1,017 IQD 1.3M

-40.20%

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 Kufah: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $470 in Erbil and $189 in Al Kufah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Kufah pays 67% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $43.00 in Erbil vs $34.00 in Al Kufah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $157 per month, with Al Kufah 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 Kufah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al Kufah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 71% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 67% lower in Al Kufah. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $470 in Erbil versus $189 in Al Kufah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 30% higher in Erbil. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,074 per month in Erbil versus $630 in Al Kufah – a 71% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $630 in Al Kufah versus $1,074 in Erbil, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al Kufah but tight or insufficient in Erbil. The gap between the two cities makes Al Kufah 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 Kufah 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 Kufah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.