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 $688 in An Najaf, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,522 per month in Erbil vs $1,013 in An Najaf, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,010 per month in Erbil vs $1,338 in An Najaf, rent included.

Erbil costs about 50% 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 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

$4.06 IQD 5,317

89.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.64 IQD 29.6K

$23.20 IQD 30.4K

-2.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.88 IQD 11.6K

$4.88 IQD 6,384

81.97%

Cappuccino

$3.20 IQD 4,189

$2.75 IQD 3,600

16.36%

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

$0.48 IQD 630

$0.37 IQD 484

29.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 262

$0.17 IQD 226

17.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 IQD 2,523

$3.37 IQD 4,411

-42.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,803

$2.86 IQD 3,739

-25.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,719

$1.31 IQD 1,716

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 IQD 1,108

$0.84 IQD 1,103

1.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 IQD 2,439

$1.58 IQD 2,071

17.72%

Eggs

$1.98 IQD 2,590

$1.78 IQD 2,337

11.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.23 IQD 9,474

$2.40 IQD 3,140

201.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.72 IQD 6,184

$4.81 IQD 6,300

-1.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.24 IQD 18.7K

$10.78 IQD 14.1K

32.10%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,563

$1.27 IQD 1,665

-6.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,505

$1.17 IQD 1,528

-1.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,502

$1.00 IQD 1,313

15.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,057

$0.74 IQD 966

9.46%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 888

$0.64 IQD 838

6.25%

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 980

$0.64 IQD 832

17.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 IQD 952

$0.66 IQD 863

10.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 IQD 742

$0.40 IQD 518

42.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.62 IQD 3,428

$1.49 IQD 1,954

75.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.19 IQD 16.0K

$13.54 IQD 17.7K

-9.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 IQD 1,824

$1.86 IQD 2,437

-25.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 IQD 2,579

$2.19 IQD 2,871

-10.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 776

$0.37 IQD 483

59.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.14 IQD 46.0K

$34.61 IQD 45.3K

1.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,942

$1.97 IQD 2,575

14.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 IQD 3,052

$1.52 IQD 1,993

53.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.75 IQD 8,845

$4.92 IQD 6,448

37.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 IQD 849

$0.45 IQD 586

44.44%

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

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

$11.5K IQD 15.1M

68.59%

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

$20.8K IQD 27.3M

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

5.78%

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

$102 IQD 133.2K

$58.8 IQD 77.0K

73.00%

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

$17.42 IQD 22.8K

$23.18 IQD 30.3K

-24.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.58 IQD 38.7K

$34.93 IQD 45.7K

-15.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.8 IQD 96.6K

$29.32 IQD 38.4K

151.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.55 IQD 15.1K

$14.81 IQD 19.4K

-22.01%

Cinema Ticket

$11.41 IQD 14.9K

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

46.66%

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

$263 IQD 343.7K

$164 IQD 214.2K

60.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,250 IQD 4.3M

$918 IQD 1.2M

253.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.46 IQD 43.8K

$16.28 IQD 21.3K

105.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

$24.95 IQD 32.7K

98.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 IQD 106.2K

$65.8 IQD 86.2K

23.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.5 IQD 100.2K

$43.72 IQD 57.2K

74.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$429 IQD 562.2K

$243 IQD 318.4K

76.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$275 IQD 360.3K

$133 IQD 173.9K

107.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$732 IQD 958.5K

$388 IQD 508.7K

88.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$495 IQD 647.8K

$152 IQD 198.6K

226.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,130 IQD 1.5M

$1,274 IQD 1.7M

-11.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$660 IQD 864.4K

$479 IQD 627.0K

37.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$581 IQD 760.9K

$736 IQD 964.4K

-21.11%

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 An Najaf: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $429 in Erbil versus $243 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 27% 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 – $195 in Erbil vs $171 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 50% 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 $1,031 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 $688 in An Najaf. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 2% less in An Najaf. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,034 in Erbil and $688 in An Najaf, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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.