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 $1,034 per month in Erbil vs $673 in An Najaf, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,548 per month in Erbil vs $993 in An Najaf, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,061 per month in Erbil vs $1,313 in An Najaf, rent included.

Erbil costs about 54% more than An Najaf, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Erbil and An Najaf are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 23% lower, An Najaf 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.72 IQD 10.1K

$4.17 IQD 5,458

85.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.83 IQD 29.9K

$22.52 IQD 29.5K

1.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.98 IQD 11.8K

$4.87 IQD 6,383

84.39%

Cappuccino

$3.13 IQD 4,096

$2.72 IQD 3,565

15.07%

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

$0.49 IQD 640

$0.37 IQD 481

32.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 261

$0.18 IQD 232

11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.00 IQD 2,624

$3.48 IQD 4,562

-42.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,797

$2.78 IQD 3,646

-23.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,730

$1.33 IQD 1,735

-0.75%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 IQD 1,103

$0.79 IQD 1,040

6.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 IQD 2,355

$1.61 IQD 2,107

11.80%

Eggs

$1.98 IQD 2,599

$1.80 IQD 2,358

10.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.54 IQD 9,879

$2.32 IQD 3,042

225.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.80 IQD 6,282

$4.91 IQD 6,436

-2.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 IQD 18.7K

$10.51 IQD 13.8K

35.97%

Apples (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,491

$1.24 IQD 1,617

-8.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.20 IQD 1,567

$1.15 IQD 1,511

4.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,561

$1.06 IQD 1,386

12.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 994

$0.75 IQD 986

1.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 918

$0.65 IQD 849

7.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 IQD 938

$0.68 IQD 890

5.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,018

$0.66 IQD 862

18.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 688

$0.40 IQD 521

32.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.63 IQD 3,449

$1.50 IQD 1,966

75.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.55 IQD 16.4K

$13.34 IQD 17.5K

-5.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 IQD 1,899

$1.84 IQD 2,410

-21.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 IQD 2,633

$2.07 IQD 2,708

-2.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 IQD 710

$0.36 IQD 478

50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.09 IQD 44.6K

$33.76 IQD 44.2K

0.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 IQD 3,084

$1.94 IQD 2,544

21.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 IQD 2,885

$1.54 IQD 2,012

42.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.87 IQD 8,999

$5.02 IQD 6,572

36.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 IQD 911

$0.44 IQD 579

59.09%

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

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

$11.6K IQD 15.2M

64.92%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

3.17%

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

$102 IQD 134.1K

$59.9 IQD 78.4K

71.02%

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

$17.93 IQD 23.5K

$22.72 IQD 29.8K

-21.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.33 IQD 38.4K

$34.90 IQD 45.7K

-15.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.7 IQD 95.2K

$29.23 IQD 38.3K

148.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.77 IQD 15.4K

$14.76 IQD 19.3K

-20.26%

Cinema Ticket

$11.62 IQD 15.2K

$7.68 IQD 10.1K

51.30%

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

$269 IQD 352.1K

$164 IQD 215.1K

63.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,278 IQD 4.3M

$923 IQD 1.2M

254.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.74 IQD 42.9K

$16.28 IQD 21.3K

101.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.36 IQD 63.3K

$24.86 IQD 32.6K

94.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.0 IQD 106.0K

$64.8 IQD 84.8K

25.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.8 IQD 100.5K

$42.67 IQD 55.9K

79.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$426 IQD 557.6K

$240 IQD 314.8K

77.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$278 IQD 364.4K

$134 IQD 175.4K

107.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$726 IQD 951.1K

$386 IQD 505.3K

88.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$485 IQD 635.3K

$150 IQD 196.6K

223.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,123 IQD 1.5M

$1,232 IQD 1.6M

-8.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$658 IQD 862.3K

$481 IQD 630.0K

36.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$584 IQD 765.0K

$748 IQD 979.0K

-21.86%

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 An Najaf: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $426 in Erbil versus $240 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 28% 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 $23.00 in Erbil versus $23.00 in An Najaf. Groceries tell a different story – $197 in Erbil vs $170 in An Najaf – so An Najaf wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 54% more than An Najaf, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,551 per month in Erbil and $1,009 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 $1,034 in Erbil and $673 in An Najaf. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 1% less in An Najaf. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in An Najaf, where all-in costs run around $673, than in Erbil at $1,034. 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.