Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and An Najaf Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and An Najaf

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,074 per month in Erbil vs $645 in An Najaf, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,624 per month in Erbil vs $976 in An Najaf, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,173 per month in Erbil vs $1,306 in An Najaf, rent included.

Erbil costs about 67% more than An Najaf, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Erbil and An Najaf are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 22% lower, An Najaf 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.80 IQD 10.2K

$4.64 IQD 6,078

68.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.48 IQD 56.9K

$22.62 IQD 29.6K

92.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.20 IQD 10.7K

$4.85 IQD 6,350

69.07%

Cappuccino

$3.65 IQD 4,784

$2.48 IQD 3,251

47.18%

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

$1.04 IQD 1,362

$0.37 IQD 482

181.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 585

$0.26 IQD 343

73.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.96 IQD 7,810

$3.91 IQD 5,120

52.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 IQD 5,839

$1.97 IQD 2,586

126.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 IQD 1,665

$1.03 IQD 1,346

23.30%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 IQD 1,073

$0.82 IQD 1,077

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 IQD 2,187

$1.57 IQD 2,052

6.37%

Eggs

$1.85 IQD 2,418

$1.65 IQD 2,160

12.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.38 IQD 11.0K

$3.71 IQD 4,853

125.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.72 IQD 7,485

$4.73 IQD 6,201

20.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.89 IQD 19.5K

$10.73 IQD 14.1K

38.77%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,502

$1.18 IQD 1,546

-2.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,521

$1.07 IQD 1,399

8.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,544

$1.01 IQD 1,324

16.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 979

$0.73 IQD 963

2.74%

Potato (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 997

$0.65 IQD 850

16.92%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 892

$0.64 IQD 835

6.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 IQD 961

$0.67 IQD 875

8.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 IQD 764

$0.53 IQD 696

9.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.52 IQD 3,305

$1.69 IQD 2,219

49.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.27 IQD 16.1K

$13.64 IQD 17.9K

-10.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 IQD 2,160

$2.23 IQD 2,924

-26.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 IQD 2,783

$2.25 IQD 2,948

-5.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 719

$0.33 IQD 428

66.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.38 IQD 58.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 IQD 2,561

$1.54 IQD 2,018

27.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 IQD 2,379

$1.49 IQD 1,951

22.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.52 IQD 8,533

$5.31 IQD 6,958

22.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.66 IQD 866

$0.45 IQD 588

46.67%

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

$17.8K IQD 23.3M

$11.8K IQD 15.5M

50.67%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.0M

$18.0K IQD 23.6M

10.28%

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

$128 IQD 167.5K

$38.16 IQD 50.0K

235.19%

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

$13.86 IQD 18.1K

$16.66 IQD 21.8K

-16.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.91 IQD 36.6K

$37.30 IQD 48.8K

-25.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.8 IQD 84.8K

$28.91 IQD 37.9K

124.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.65 IQD 19.2K

Cinema Ticket

$11.58 IQD 15.2K

$9.36 IQD 12.3K

23.72%

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

$314 IQD 411.2K

$168 IQD 219.9K

86.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,082 IQD 4.0M

$917 IQD 1.2M

236.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.66 IQD 40.2K

$16.14 IQD 21.1K

89.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.68 IQD 59.8K

$27.01 IQD 35.4K

69.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.9 IQD 89.0K

$71.2 IQD 93.2K

-4.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.8 IQD 90.1K

$47.90 IQD 62.7K

43.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$470 IQD 616.0K

$258 IQD 337.8K

82.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$294 IQD 385.1K

$140 IQD 183.4K

109.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$728 IQD 953.1K

$335 IQD 438.1K

117.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$434 IQD 568.3K

$204 IQD 266.7K

113.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,096 IQD 1.4M

$1,263 IQD 1.7M

-13.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$646 IQD 846.5K

$488 IQD 638.5K

32.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$608 IQD 796.3K

$729 IQD 954.1K

-16.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.53

4.12

-38.59%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Erbil: September 6, 2026

Last update for An Najaf: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $470 in Erbil versus $258 in An Najaf. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 20% higher in An Najaf, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Erbil versus $23.00 in An Najaf. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $174 – making An Najaf the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 An Najaf: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Erbil costs about 67% more than An Najaf, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,612 per month in Erbil and $968 in An Najaf. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,074 in Erbil and $645 in An Najaf. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $314 per month in Erbil and $168 in An Najaf. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in An Najaf, where all-in costs run around $645, than in Erbil at $1,074. In An Najaf it covers expenses comfortably, while in Erbil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward An Najaf – 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 An Najaf. 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.