Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Al-miqdadiyah Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Al-miqdadiyah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Erbil versus $867 in Al-miqdadiyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,522 in Erbil versus $1,334 in Al-miqdadiyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,010 in Erbil versus $1,800 in Al-miqdadiyah.

Living in Erbil is roughly 19% more expensive than in Al-miqdadiyah, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Erbil 23% lower, Al-miqdadiyah 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

$7.74 IQD 10.1K

-0.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.64 IQD 29.6K

$23.30 IQD 30.5K

-2.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.88 IQD 11.6K

$8.61 IQD 11.3K

3.14%

Cappuccino

$3.20 IQD 4,189

$3.15 IQD 4,123

1.59%

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

$0.48 IQD 630

$0.52 IQD 683

-7.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 262

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 IQD 2,523

$1.94 IQD 2,535

-0.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,803

$2.04 IQD 2,670

4.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,719

$1.32 IQD 1,726

-0.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 IQD 1,108

$0.80 IQD 1,046

6.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 IQD 2,439

$1.80 IQD 2,362

3.33%

Eggs

$1.98 IQD 2,590

$1.91 IQD 2,506

3.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.23 IQD 9,474

$7.50 IQD 9,820

-3.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.72 IQD 6,184

$4.81 IQD 6,297

-1.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.24 IQD 18.7K

$13.95 IQD 18.3K

2.08%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,563

$1.20 IQD 1,575

-0.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,505

$1.14 IQD 1,497

0.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,502

$1.18 IQD 1,541

-2.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,057

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 888

$0.72 IQD 948

-5.56%

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 980

$0.71 IQD 932

5.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 IQD 952

$0.72 IQD 942

1.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 IQD 742

$0.52 IQD 682

9.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.62 IQD 3,428

$2.70 IQD 3,535

-2.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.19 IQD 16.0K

$12.57 IQD 16.5K

-3.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 IQD 1,824

$1.37 IQD 1,794

1.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 IQD 2,579

$2.03 IQD 2,655

-2.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 776

$0.37 IQD 480

59.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.14 IQD 46.0K

$30.79 IQD 40.3K

14.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,942

$2.24 IQD 2,937

0.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 IQD 3,052

$2.33 IQD 3,047

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.75 IQD 8,845

$7.08 IQD 9,270

-4.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 IQD 849

$0.69 IQD 899

-5.80%

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

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

$18.9K IQD 24.7M

2.86%

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

$20.8K IQD 27.3M

$20.9K IQD 27.3M

-0.21%

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

$102 IQD 133.2K

$103 IQD 134.5K

-0.98%

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

$17.42 IQD 22.8K

$17.78 IQD 23.3K

-2.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.58 IQD 38.7K

$29.62 IQD 38.8K

-0.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.8 IQD 96.6K

$36.50 IQD 47.8K

102.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.55 IQD 15.1K

$16.77 IQD 22.0K

-31.13%

Cinema Ticket

$11.41 IQD 14.9K

$11.63 IQD 15.2K

-1.89%

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

$263 IQD 343.7K

$269 IQD 352.6K

-2.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,250 IQD 4.3M

$3,226 IQD 4.2M

0.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.46 IQD 43.8K

$32.94 IQD 43.1K

1.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

$49.23 IQD 64.5K

0.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 IQD 106.2K

$83.8 IQD 109.7K

-3.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.5 IQD 100.2K

$77.3 IQD 101.2K

-1.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$429 IQD 562.2K

$240 IQD 313.9K

79.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$275 IQD 360.3K

$182 IQD 238.1K

51.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$732 IQD 958.5K

$588 IQD 769.4K

24.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$495 IQD 647.8K

$346 IQD 452.7K

43.10%

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-miqdadiyah: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $429 in Erbil and $240 in Al-miqdadiyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $23.00 in Erbil vs $23.00 in Al-miqdadiyah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $195 vs $195 per month, with Erbil 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-miqdadiyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Erbil and Al-miqdadiyah differ by about 19% in total monthly costs ($1,034 vs $867 including rent). Al-miqdadiyah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,551 in Erbil and $1,301 in Al-miqdadiyah 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 $240 in Al-miqdadiyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $263 in Erbil versus $269 in Al-miqdadiyah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Erbil. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Al-miqdadiyah 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-miqdadiyah 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-miqdadiyah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.