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 $1,017 per month in Erbil vs $810 in An Nasiriyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,518 per month in Erbil vs $1,145 in An Nasiriyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,019 per month in Erbil vs $1,479 in An Nasiriyah, rent included.

Erbil costs about 26% more than An Nasiriyah, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Erbil and An Nasiriyah are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 24% lower, An Nasiriyah 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.59 IQD 9,938

$3.27 IQD 4,280

132.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.90 IQD 30.0K

$12.09 IQD 15.8K

89.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.65 IQD 11.3K

$6.71 IQD 8,785

28.91%

Cappuccino

$3.25 IQD 4,260

$2.63 IQD 3,446

23.57%

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

$0.52 IQD 676

$0.40 IQD 520

30.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 261

$0.18 IQD 238

11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 IQD 2,555

$3.53 IQD 4,627

-44.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 IQD 2,675

$2.81 IQD 3,684

-27.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,725

$0.87 IQD 1,134

51.72%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 IQD 1,062

$0.80 IQD 1,046

1.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 IQD 2,357

$1.45 IQD 1,894

24.14%

Eggs

$1.91 IQD 2,505

$1.72 IQD 2,251

11.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.50 IQD 9,816

$3.35 IQD 4,382

123.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.82 IQD 6,315

$3.78 IQD 4,943

27.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.10 IQD 18.5K

$8.63 IQD 11.3K

63.38%

Apples (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,551

$1.22 IQD 1,593

-3.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,500

$1.16 IQD 1,515

-0.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,494

$0.82 IQD 1,072

39.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.80 IQD 1,045

$0.41 IQD 534

95.12%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 863

$0.38 IQD 496

73.68%

Onion (1kg)

$0.77 IQD 1,002

$0.55 IQD 716

40.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 IQD 1,008

$0.51 IQD 672

50.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 721

$0.43 IQD 567

27.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.74 IQD 3,594

$1.53 IQD 2,003

79.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.38 IQD 16.2K

$13.37 IQD 17.5K

-7.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 IQD 1,794

$1.79 IQD 2,347

-23.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 IQD 2,619

$2.15 IQD 2,813

-6.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 768

$0.21 IQD 274

180.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.99 IQD 45.8K

$31.65 IQD 41.4K

10.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,942

$2.35 IQD 3,072

-4.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.29 IQD 2,993

$1.48 IQD 1,936

54.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.85 IQD 8,966

$3.10 IQD 4,062

120.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 IQD 839

$0.53 IQD 695

20.75%

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

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

-5.27%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.2M

$15.1K IQD 19.8M

37.05%

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

$101 IQD 132.2K

$182 IQD 237.9K

-44.44%

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

$17.35 IQD 22.7K

$25.93 IQD 34.0K

-33.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.25 IQD 39.6K

$39.73 IQD 52.0K

-23.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.1 IQD 94.4K

$18.95 IQD 24.8K

280.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.54 IQD 15.1K

$17.09 IQD 22.4K

-32.48%

Cinema Ticket

$11.28 IQD 14.8K

$7.75 IQD 10.2K

45.55%

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

$271 IQD 354.5K

$168 IQD 219.4K

61.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,274 IQD 4.3M

$3,540 IQD 4.6M

-7.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.30 IQD 42.3K

$11.69 IQD 15.3K

176.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

$30.58 IQD 40.0K

62.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 IQD 106.1K

$27.03 IQD 35.4K

199.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.2 IQD 101.0K

$37.81 IQD 49.5K

104.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$425 IQD 556.0K

$239 IQD 313.0K

77.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$279 IQD 365.3K

$177 IQD 232.3K

57.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$740 IQD 969.0K

$585 IQD 766.2K

26.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$491 IQD 643.3K

$347 IQD 454.3K

41.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,098 IQD 1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$646 IQD 845.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 IQD 773.3K

$756 IQD 990.0K

-21.89%

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: June 6, 2026

Last update for An Nasiriyah: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $425 in Erbil versus $239 in An Nasiriyah. 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 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 $23.00 in Erbil versus $12.00 in An Nasiriyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $195 vs $152 – 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: $1,017 in Erbil, $810 in An Nasiriyah – roughly 26% apart. Erbil costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Erbil and $1,215 in An Nasiriyah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 11% less in An Nasiriyah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $271 per month in Erbil and $168 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 $810, than in Erbil at $1,017. 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.