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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,101 per month in Erbil vs $391 in Al Kut, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,630 per month in Erbil vs $601 in Al Kut, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,158 per month in Erbil vs $811 in Al Kut, rent included.

Erbil costs about 182% more than Al Kut, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Erbil and Al Kut are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 19% lower, Al Kut 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

$1.75 IQD 2,287

339.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.38 IQD 58.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.42 IQD 11.0K

Cappuccino

$3.84 IQD 5,027

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

$1.03 IQD 1,353

$0.31 IQD 411

232.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 IQD 580

$0.14 IQD 177

214.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 IQD 7,920

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.71 IQD 6,166

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 IQD 1,657

$1.12 IQD 1,464

13.39%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,083

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 IQD 2,197

$1.48 IQD 1,937

13.51%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,345

$1.58 IQD 2,067

13.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.06 IQD 10.6K

$2.22 IQD 2,910

263.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.78 IQD 7,574

$3.57 IQD 4,670

61.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.84 IQD 19.4K

$9.24 IQD 12.1K

60.61%

Apples (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,483

$0.84 IQD 1,100

34.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 IQD 1,443

$1.06 IQD 1,382

3.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,612

$0.85 IQD 1,112

44.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.82 IQD 1,068

$0.49 IQD 640

67.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 911

$0.43 IQD 564

62.79%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 905

$0.43 IQD 560

60.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 IQD 969

$0.39 IQD 509

89.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 723

$0.29 IQD 378

89.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.52 IQD 3,294

$1.02 IQD 1,334

147.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.54 IQD 16.4K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 IQD 2,217

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 IQD 2,735

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 772

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.81 IQD 57.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 IQD 2,544

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 IQD 2,381

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.56 IQD 8,589

$10.06 IQD 13.2K

-34.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 882

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

$18.3K IQD 24.0M

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

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

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

$128 IQD 167.0K

$170 IQD 222.7K

-25.01%

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

$13.95 IQD 18.3K

$15.04 IQD 19.7K

-7.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.49 IQD 37.3K

$24.76 IQD 32.4K

15.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.0 IQD 86.4K

$16.76 IQD 21.9K

293.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.62 IQD 19.1K

Cinema Ticket

$11.67 IQD 15.3K

$5.09 IQD 6,662

129.27%

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

$309 IQD 405.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,144 IQD 4.1M

$1,400 IQD 1.8M

124.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.32 IQD 41.0K

$20.36 IQD 26.7K

53.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.84 IQD 58.7K

$25.17 IQD 33.0K

78.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.3 IQD 90.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.4 IQD 88.3K

$30.23 IQD 39.6K

122.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$460 IQD 602.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$297 IQD 389.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$740 IQD 969.5K

$255 IQD 333.4K

190.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$432 IQD 566.2K

$170 IQD 223.2K

153.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,092 IQD 1.4M

$1,015 IQD 1.3M

7.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$665 IQD 870.8K

$495 IQD 647.9K

34.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$614 IQD 803.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.53

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Erbil: September 14, 2026

Last update for Al Kut: September 14, 2026

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 Kut: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,101 in Erbil, $391 in Al Kut – roughly 182% apart. Erbil costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,652 per month in Erbil and $586 in Al Kut. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,101 in Erbil and $391 in Al Kut. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 106% more in Erbil, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Al Kut, where all-in costs run around $391, than in Erbil at $1,101. In Al Kut it covers expenses comfortably, while in Erbil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Al Kut – 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 Kut. 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.