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 $1,005 per month in Erbil vs $714 in Al Kut, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,530 per month in Erbil vs $1,135 in Al Kut, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,056 per month in Erbil vs $1,556 in Al Kut, rent included.

Erbil costs about 41% more than Al Kut, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Erbil and Al Kut are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 25% lower, Al Kut 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.79 IQD 10.2K

$4.03 IQD 5,283

93.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.39 IQD 30.6K

$24.86 IQD 32.6K

-5.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.88 IQD 11.6K

$7.00 IQD 9,165

26.86%

Cappuccino

$3.27 IQD 4,279

$2.69 IQD 3,523

21.56%

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

$0.48 IQD 632

$0.39 IQD 514

23.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 261

$0.18 IQD 235

11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 IQD 2,595

$2.94 IQD 3,847

-32.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,809

$2.82 IQD 3,691

-24.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 IQD 1,796

$1.35 IQD 1,769

1.48%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 IQD 1,065

$0.84 IQD 1,098

-3.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.81 IQD 2,366

$1.48 IQD 1,943

22.30%

Eggs

$1.92 IQD 2,520

$1.58 IQD 2,076

21.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.42 IQD 9,716

$4.47 IQD 5,849

66.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.66 IQD 6,102

$3.43 IQD 4,494

35.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.13 IQD 18.5K

$13.20 IQD 17.3K

7.05%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,506

$0.86 IQD 1,121

33.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,550

$1.00 IQD 1,313

18.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,543

$0.81 IQD 1,059

45.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,054

$0.74 IQD 964

9.46%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 929

$0.65 IQD 858

9.23%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 991

$0.67 IQD 877

13.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,020

$0.68 IQD 886

14.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 722

$0.52 IQD 679

5.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.62 IQD 3,432

$1.95 IQD 2,554

34.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.53 IQD 16.4K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 IQD 1,826

$1.86 IQD 2,434

-25.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 IQD 2,549

$2.11 IQD 2,761

-7.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 777

$0.37 IQD 484

59.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.05 IQD 44.6K

$31.66 IQD 41.5K

7.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 IQD 2,937

$2.32 IQD 3,043

-3.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.30 IQD 3,016

$1.53 IQD 2,002

50.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.87 IQD 8,990

$5.96 IQD 7,811

15.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.66 IQD 862

$0.53 IQD 688

24.53%

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

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

$19.3K IQD 25.2M

-1.81%

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

$20.5K IQD 26.8M

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

2.28%

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

$99.4 IQD 130.2K

$76.6 IQD 100.4K

29.74%

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

$17.70 IQD 23.2K

$17.85 IQD 23.4K

-0.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.62 IQD 38.8K

$33.83 IQD 44.3K

-12.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.3 IQD 94.7K

$37.15 IQD 48.6K

94.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.55 IQD 15.1K

$16.94 IQD 22.2K

-31.82%

Cinema Ticket

$11.26 IQD 14.7K

$7.58 IQD 9,926

48.55%

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

$269 IQD 352.0K

$150 IQD 196.7K

78.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,227 IQD 4.2M

$3,329 IQD 4.4M

-3.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.68 IQD 42.8K

$26.57 IQD 34.8K

23.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.30 IQD 63.2K

$25.64 IQD 33.6K

88.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.9 IQD 105.9K

$60.1 IQD 78.7K

34.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.6 IQD 103.0K

$41.07 IQD 53.8K

91.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$439 IQD 575.5K

$243 IQD 318.5K

80.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 IQD 373.2K

$180 IQD 236.0K

58.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$733 IQD 959.5K

$589 IQD 770.7K

24.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$491 IQD 643.4K

$340 IQD 445.6K

44.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,095 IQD 1.4M

$982 IQD 1.3M

11.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$657 IQD 860.2K

$504 IQD 659.4K

30.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$577 IQD 755.6K

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Al Kut: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $439 in Erbil versus $243 in Al Kut. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Erbil versus $25.00 in Al Kut. Groceries tell a different story – $196 in Erbil vs $147 in Al Kut – so Al Kut wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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: $1,005 in Erbil, $714 in Al Kut – roughly 41% apart. Erbil costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,507 per month in Erbil and $1,071 in Al Kut. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Al Kut, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 33% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Erbil and $25.00 in Al Kut. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Al Kut, where all-in costs run around $714, than in Erbil at $1,005. 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.