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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,095 in Erbil versus $388 in Al-Rumaitha.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,654 in Erbil versus $1,246 in Al-Rumaitha.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,213 in Erbil versus $2,105 in Al-Rumaitha.

Living in Erbil is roughly 182% more expensive than in Al-Rumaitha, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Erbil 20% lower, Al-Rumaitha 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.67 IQD 10.0K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.94 IQD 58.8K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.21 IQD 10.7K

Cappuccino

$3.78 IQD 4,955

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

$1.02 IQD 1,338

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 IQD 541

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.97 IQD 7,823

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 IQD 5,829

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 IQD 1,669

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,033

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 IQD 2,227

$0.78 IQD 1,015

117.95%

Eggs

$1.76 IQD 2,307

$1.80 IQD 2,355

-2.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.29 IQD 10.9K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.54 IQD 7,252

$1.95 IQD 2,549

184.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.68 IQD 19.2K

$10.57 IQD 13.8K

38.88%

Apples (1kg)

$1.10 IQD 1,446

$0.75 IQD 982

46.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,503

$0.78 IQD 1,027

47.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.22 IQD 1,599

$0.77 IQD 1,011

58.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,061

$0.36 IQD 476

125.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 974

$0.40 IQD 520

85.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 901

$0.39 IQD 515

76.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 IQD 1,034

$0.39 IQD 512

102.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 IQD 761

$0.39 IQD 512

48.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.51 IQD 3,293

$1.50 IQD 1,965

67.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.64 IQD 16.5K

$12.76 IQD 16.7K

-0.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 IQD 2,196

$1.55 IQD 2,027

8.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 IQD 2,693

$2.31 IQD 3,031

-10.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 IQD 781

$0.36 IQD 475

66.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.88 IQD 57.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.93 IQD 2,533

$2.32 IQD 3,040

-16.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.74 IQD 2,279

$0.77 IQD 1,009

125.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.51 IQD 8,521

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 876

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

$17.9K IQD 23.5M

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

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

$9,188 IQD 12.0M

114.45%

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

$130 IQD 170.4K

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

$14.06 IQD 18.4K

$75.0 IQD 98.3K

-81.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.92 IQD 36.6K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.5 IQD 84.5K

$26.91 IQD 35.2K

139.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.50 IQD 19.0K

$3.87 IQD 5,073

274.68%

Cinema Ticket

$11.23 IQD 14.7K

$11.47 IQD 15.0K

-2.09%

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

$312 IQD 409.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,080 IQD 4.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.09 IQD 40.7K

$11.28 IQD 14.8K

175.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.06 IQD 59.0K

$14.99 IQD 19.6K

200.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.2 IQD 89.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.0 IQD 89.0K

$22.81 IQD 29.9K

198.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$473 IQD 619.0K

$150 IQD 196.8K

214.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 IQD 375.6K

$114 IQD 149.6K

151.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$732 IQD 958.7K

$229 IQD 300.4K

219.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$426 IQD 558.4K

$1,537 IQD 2.0M

-72.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,115 IQD 1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$643 IQD 841.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$613 IQD 803.3K

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 1, 2026

Last update for Al-Rumaitha: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $473 in Erbil and $150 in Al-Rumaitha. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

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-Rumaitha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al-Rumaitha is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 182% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,643 in Erbil and $582 in Al-Rumaitha 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: $473 in Erbil versus $150 in Al-Rumaitha. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 83% higher in Erbil. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,095 per month in Erbil versus $388 in Al-Rumaitha – a 182% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $388 in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,095 in Erbil, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al-Rumaitha but tight or insufficient in Erbil. The gap between the two cities makes Al-Rumaitha 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-Rumaitha 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-Rumaitha gentler on the wallet – expenses run 182% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.