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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A couple spends around $1,624 per month in Erbil vs $885 in An Nasiriyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,173 per month in Erbil vs $1,125 in An Nasiriyah, rent included.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.80 IQD 10.2K

$3.31 IQD 4,336

135.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.48 IQD 56.9K

$12.35 IQD 16.2K

252.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.20 IQD 10.7K

$7.02 IQD 9,194

16.81%

Cappuccino

$3.65 IQD 4,784

$2.66 IQD 3,478

37.22%

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

$1.04 IQD 1,362

$0.37 IQD 484

181.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 585

$0.17 IQD 228

164.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.96 IQD 7,810

$3.90 IQD 5,107

52.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 IQD 5,839

$3.79 IQD 4,963

17.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 IQD 1,665

$0.98 IQD 1,282

29.59%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 IQD 1,073

$0.79 IQD 1,029

3.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 IQD 2,187

$1.04 IQD 1,364

60.58%

Eggs

$1.85 IQD 2,418

$1.82 IQD 2,378

1.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.38 IQD 11.0K

$2.93 IQD 3,836

186.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.72 IQD 7,485

$4.51 IQD 5,903

26.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.89 IQD 19.5K

$9.62 IQD 12.6K

54.78%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,502

$1.12 IQD 1,469

2.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,521

$1.08 IQD 1,414

7.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,544

$0.82 IQD 1,068

43.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 979

$0.47 IQD 613

59.57%

Potato (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 997

$0.36 IQD 477

111.11%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 892

$0.59 IQD 775

15.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 IQD 961

$0.56 IQD 732

30.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 IQD 764

$0.50 IQD 650

16.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.52 IQD 3,305

$1.48 IQD 1,945

70.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.27 IQD 16.1K

$13.76 IQD 18.0K

-10.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 IQD 2,160

$2.16 IQD 2,830

-23.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 IQD 2,783

$2.22 IQD 2,901

-4.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 719

$0.28 IQD 361

96.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.38 IQD 58.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 IQD 2,561

$2.35 IQD 3,073

-16.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 IQD 2,379

$1.54 IQD 2,021

18.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.52 IQD 8,533

$2.35 IQD 3,072

177.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.66 IQD 866

$0.61 IQD 798

8.20%

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

$17.8K IQD 23.3M

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

-7.70%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.0M

$18.7K IQD 24.4M

6.45%

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

$128 IQD 167.5K

$216 IQD 283.0K

-40.82%

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

$13.86 IQD 18.1K

$21.76 IQD 28.5K

-36.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.91 IQD 36.6K

$42.42 IQD 55.5K

-34.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.8 IQD 84.8K

$18.86 IQD 24.7K

243.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.65 IQD 19.2K

Cinema Ticket

$11.58 IQD 15.2K

$10.60 IQD 13.9K

9.25%

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

$314 IQD 411.2K

$170 IQD 222.4K

84.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,082 IQD 4.0M

$3,508 IQD 4.6M

-12.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.66 IQD 40.2K

$11.35 IQD 14.9K

170.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.68 IQD 59.8K

$37.87 IQD 49.6K

20.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.9 IQD 89.0K

$26.51 IQD 34.7K

156.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.8 IQD 90.1K

$38.23 IQD 50.1K

80.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$470 IQD 616.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$294 IQD 385.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$728 IQD 953.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$434 IQD 568.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,096 IQD 1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$646 IQD 846.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$608 IQD 796.3K

$770 IQD 1.0M

-21.00%

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 Nasiriyah: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 27% higher in An Nasiriyah, 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 $12.00 in An Nasiriyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $160 – making An Nasiriyah 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 Nasiriyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,074 in Erbil, $645 in An Nasiriyah – roughly 67% apart. Erbil costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

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

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

Kindergarten costs $314 per month in Erbil and $170 in An Nasiriyah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in An Nasiriyah, where all-in costs run around $645, than in Erbil at $1,074. In An Nasiriyah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Erbil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward An Nasiriyah – 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 Nasiriyah. 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.