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: $1,034 in Erbil versus $677 in Al Kufah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,522 in Erbil versus $1,056 in Al Kufah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,010 in Erbil versus $1,434 in Al Kufah.

Living in Erbil is roughly 53% more expensive than in Al Kufah, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Erbil 23% lower, Al Kufah 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

$5.24 IQD 6,865

47.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.64 IQD 29.6K

$36.37 IQD 47.6K

-37.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.88 IQD 11.6K

$7.74 IQD 10.1K

14.73%

Cappuccino

$3.20 IQD 4,189

$2.99 IQD 3,919

7.02%

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

$0.48 IQD 630

$0.39 IQD 515

23.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 262

$0.21 IQD 276

-4.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 IQD 2,523

$3.47 IQD 4,539

-44.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,803

$2.95 IQD 3,858

-27.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,719

$1.08 IQD 1,416

21.30%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 IQD 1,108

$0.61 IQD 801

39.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 IQD 2,439

$1.57 IQD 2,058

18.47%

Eggs

$1.98 IQD 2,590

$1.73 IQD 2,262

14.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.23 IQD 9,474

$2.24 IQD 2,932

222.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.72 IQD 6,184

$2.93 IQD 3,836

61.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.24 IQD 18.7K

$9.66 IQD 12.6K

47.41%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,563

$0.52 IQD 674

128.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,505

$0.97 IQD 1,267

18.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,502

$0.73 IQD 952

57.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,057

$0.49 IQD 645

65.31%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 888

$0.38 IQD 495

78.95%

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 980

$0.31 IQD 402

141.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 IQD 952

$0.68 IQD 890

7.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 IQD 742

$0.45 IQD 587

26.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.62 IQD 3,428

$1.95 IQD 2,555

34.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.19 IQD 16.0K

$13.76 IQD 18.0K

-11.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 IQD 1,824

$1.80 IQD 2,355

-22.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 IQD 2,579

$2.09 IQD 2,733

-5.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 776

$0.35 IQD 454

68.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.14 IQD 46.0K

$30.86 IQD 40.4K

13.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,942

$2.32 IQD 3,036

-3.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 IQD 3,052

$1.53 IQD 2,005

52.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.75 IQD 8,845

$7.75 IQD 10.1K

-12.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 IQD 849

$0.54 IQD 704

20.37%

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

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

-2.78%

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

$20.8K IQD 27.3M

$20.2K IQD 26.4M

3.23%

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

$102 IQD 133.2K

$39.68 IQD 52.0K

156.28%

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

$17.42 IQD 22.8K

$25.46 IQD 33.3K

-31.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.58 IQD 38.7K

$22.60 IQD 29.6K

30.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.8 IQD 96.6K

$25.81 IQD 33.8K

185.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.55 IQD 15.1K

$16.52 IQD 21.6K

-30.08%

Cinema Ticket

$11.41 IQD 14.9K

$7.46 IQD 9,765

52.95%

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

$263 IQD 343.7K

$86.1 IQD 112.8K

204.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,250 IQD 4.3M

$2,377 IQD 3.1M

36.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.46 IQD 43.8K

$20.91 IQD 27.4K

60.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

$29.43 IQD 38.5K

68.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 IQD 106.2K

$19.98 IQD 26.2K

305.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.5 IQD 100.2K

$27.57 IQD 36.1K

177.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$429 IQD 562.2K

$213 IQD 279.0K

101.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$275 IQD 360.3K

$181 IQD 237.0K

52.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$732 IQD 958.5K

$427 IQD 558.5K

71.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$495 IQD 647.8K

$296 IQD 387.1K

67.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,130 IQD 1.5M

$1,335 IQD 1.7M

-15.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$660 IQD 864.4K

$380 IQD 497.8K

73.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$581 IQD 760.9K

$1,014 IQD 1.3M

-42.70%

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 Kufah: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $429 in Erbil and $213 in Al Kufah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Kufah pays 75% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $23.00 in Erbil vs $36.00 in Al Kufah. Groceries flip the comparison at $195 vs $145, with Al Kufah 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 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 53% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 75% 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: $429 in Erbil versus $213 in Al Kufah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Al Kufah – a meal for two runs $36.00 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 $677 in Al Kufah – a 53% 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 Kufah 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 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 53% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.