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: $1,034 in Erbil versus $777 in Al-Rumaitha.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,522 in Erbil versus $1,176 in Al-Rumaitha.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,010 in Erbil versus $1,574 in Al-Rumaitha.

Living in Erbil is roughly 33% more expensive than in Al-Rumaitha, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Erbil 23% lower, Al-Rumaitha 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

$4.00 IQD 5,239

92.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.64 IQD 29.6K

$25.15 IQD 32.9K

-9.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.88 IQD 11.6K

$6.71 IQD 8,785

32.34%

Cappuccino

$3.20 IQD 4,189

$2.60 IQD 3,408

23.08%

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

$0.20 IQD 265

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 IQD 2,523

$2.86 IQD 3,745

-32.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,803

$2.91 IQD 3,809

-26.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,719

$1.33 IQD 1,738

-1.50%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 IQD 1,108

$0.79 IQD 1,031

7.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 IQD 2,439

$1.66 IQD 2,168

12.05%

Eggs

$1.98 IQD 2,590

$1.74 IQD 2,274

13.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.23 IQD 9,474

$4.37 IQD 5,727

65.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.72 IQD 6,184

$4.61 IQD 6,039

2.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.24 IQD 18.7K

$13.31 IQD 17.4K

6.99%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,563

$1.20 IQD 1,570

-0.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,505

$1.15 IQD 1,507

Oranges (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,502

$1.02 IQD 1,330

12.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,057

$0.74 IQD 964

9.46%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 888

$0.65 IQD 845

4.62%

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 980

$0.67 IQD 872

11.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 IQD 952

$0.62 IQD 813

17.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 IQD 742

$0.55 IQD 722

3.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.62 IQD 3,428

$1.89 IQD 2,479

38.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.19 IQD 16.0K

$12.90 IQD 16.9K

-5.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 IQD 1,824

$1.85 IQD 2,421

-24.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 IQD 2,579

$2.08 IQD 2,727

-5.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 776

$0.36 IQD 478

63.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.14 IQD 46.0K

$31.29 IQD 41.0K

12.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,942

$2.33 IQD 3,054

-3.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 IQD 3,052

$1.49 IQD 1,957

56.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.75 IQD 8,845

$5.92 IQD 7,756

14.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 IQD 849

$0.57 IQD 751

14.04%

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

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

$19.2K IQD 25.2M

0.89%

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

$20.8K IQD 27.3M

$19.6K IQD 25.7M

6.33%

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

$102 IQD 133.2K

$78.1 IQD 102.3K

30.17%

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

$17.42 IQD 22.8K

$17.49 IQD 22.9K

-0.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.58 IQD 38.7K

$34.43 IQD 45.1K

-14.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.8 IQD 96.6K

$36.84 IQD 48.2K

100.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.55 IQD 15.1K

$17.12 IQD 22.4K

-32.54%

Cinema Ticket

$11.41 IQD 14.9K

$7.63 IQD 9,995

49.54%

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

$263 IQD 343.7K

$153 IQD 200.1K

71.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,250 IQD 4.3M

$3,328 IQD 4.4M

-2.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.46 IQD 43.8K

$26.81 IQD 35.1K

24.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

$25.05 IQD 32.8K

98.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 IQD 106.2K

$62.3 IQD 81.5K

30.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.5 IQD 100.2K

$40.45 IQD 53.0K

89.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$429 IQD 562.2K

$239 IQD 313.3K

79.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$275 IQD 360.3K

$179 IQD 234.9K

53.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$732 IQD 958.5K

$584 IQD 764.6K

25.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$495 IQD 647.8K

$338 IQD 442.7K

46.34%

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-Rumaitha: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $429 in Erbil and $239 in Al-Rumaitha. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $23.00 in Erbil vs $25.00 in Al-Rumaitha. Groceries flip the comparison at $195 vs $183, with Al-Rumaitha 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-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 33% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,551 in Erbil and $1,165 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: $429 in Erbil versus $239 in Al-Rumaitha. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,034 per month in Erbil versus $777 in Al-Rumaitha – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Al-Rumaitha runs roughly 12% less than in Erbil. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Al-Rumaitha 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-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 33% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.