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 $766 in Al-Rumaitha.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,548 in Erbil versus $1,181 in Al-Rumaitha.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,061 in Erbil versus $1,596 in Al-Rumaitha.

Living in Erbil is roughly 35% more expensive than Al-Rumaitha, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Erbil 23% lower, Al-Rumaitha 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.72 IQD 10.1K

$4.07 IQD 5,330

89.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.83 IQD 29.9K

$24.66 IQD 32.3K

-7.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.98 IQD 11.8K

$6.94 IQD 9,087

29.39%

Cappuccino

$3.13 IQD 4,096

$2.57 IQD 3,369

21.79%

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

$0.49 IQD 640

$0.39 IQD 516

25.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 261

$0.16 IQD 216

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.00 IQD 2,624

$2.86 IQD 3,743

-30.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,797

$2.95 IQD 3,869

-27.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,730

$1.33 IQD 1,736

-0.75%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 IQD 1,103

$0.85 IQD 1,112

-1.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 IQD 2,355

$1.57 IQD 2,060

14.65%

Eggs

$1.98 IQD 2,599

$1.78 IQD 2,329

11.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.54 IQD 9,879

$4.38 IQD 5,740

72.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.80 IQD 6,282

$4.73 IQD 6,192

1.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 IQD 18.7K

$12.99 IQD 17.0K

10.01%

Apples (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,491

$1.20 IQD 1,577

-5.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.20 IQD 1,567

$1.15 IQD 1,500

4.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,561

$1.06 IQD 1,383

12.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 994

$0.70 IQD 918

8.57%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 918

$0.70 IQD 920

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 IQD 938

$0.63 IQD 830

14.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,018

$0.64 IQD 835

21.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 688

$0.55 IQD 722

-3.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.63 IQD 3,449

$1.94 IQD 2,546

35.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.55 IQD 16.4K

$13.18 IQD 17.3K

-4.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 IQD 1,899

$1.84 IQD 2,414

-21.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 IQD 2,633

$2.14 IQD 2,806

-6.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 IQD 709

$0.37 IQD 483

45.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.09 IQD 44.6K

$31.62 IQD 41.4K

7.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 IQD 3,084

$2.34 IQD 3,070

0.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 IQD 2,885

$1.48 IQD 1,935

48.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.87 IQD 8,999

$6.14 IQD 8,044

11.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 IQD 911

$0.54 IQD 703

29.63%

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

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

1.82%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

3.61%

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

$102 IQD 134.1K

$76.9 IQD 100.7K

33.23%

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

$17.93 IQD 23.5K

$17.44 IQD 22.8K

2.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.33 IQD 38.4K

$34.89 IQD 45.7K

-15.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.7 IQD 95.2K

$36.96 IQD 48.4K

96.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.77 IQD 15.4K

$16.50 IQD 21.6K

-28.67%

Cinema Ticket

$11.62 IQD 15.2K

$7.64 IQD 10.0K

52.09%

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

$269 IQD 352.1K

$150 IQD 196.0K

79.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,278 IQD 4.3M

$3,219 IQD 4.2M

1.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.74 IQD 42.9K

$27.34 IQD 35.8K

19.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.36 IQD 63.3K

$25.62 IQD 33.6K

88.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.0 IQD 106.0K

$62.5 IQD 81.9K

29.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.8 IQD 100.5K

$40.65 IQD 53.2K

88.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$426 IQD 557.6K

$244 IQD 319.4K

74.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$278 IQD 364.4K

$176 IQD 229.9K

58.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$726 IQD 951.1K

$570 IQD 746.9K

27.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$485 IQD 635.3K

$343 IQD 449.5K

41.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,123 IQD 1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$658 IQD 862.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$584 IQD 765.0K

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Al-Rumaitha: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $426 in Erbil and $244 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 $197 vs $184, 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 35% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,551 in Erbil and $1,150 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: $426 in Erbil versus $244 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 $766 in Al-Rumaitha – a 35% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Al-Rumaitha runs roughly 8% less than in Erbil. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $766 in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,034 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 35% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.