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 $1,019 per month in Erbil vs $801 in An Nasiriyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,524 per month in Erbil vs $1,157 in An Nasiriyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,029 per month in Erbil vs $1,513 in An Nasiriyah, rent included.

Erbil costs about 27% 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

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$3.33 IQD 4,364

133.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.99 IQD 30.1K

$12.20 IQD 16.0K

88.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.97 IQD 11.7K

$6.69 IQD 8,763

34.08%

Cappuccino

$3.25 IQD 4,252

$2.71 IQD 3,545

19.93%

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

$0.48 IQD 630

$0.40 IQD 520

20.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 289

$0.18 IQD 242

22.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 IQD 2,633

$3.42 IQD 4,483

-41.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 IQD 2,671

$2.93 IQD 3,837

-30.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,727

$0.85 IQD 1,115

55.29%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 IQD 1,115

$0.84 IQD 1,096

1.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.81 IQD 2,368

$1.43 IQD 1,869

26.57%

Eggs

$1.98 IQD 2,590

$1.64 IQD 2,153

20.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.44 IQD 9,745

$3.17 IQD 4,158

134.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.75 IQD 6,229

$3.91 IQD 5,126

21.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.99 IQD 18.3K

$8.56 IQD 11.2K

63.43%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,509

$1.22 IQD 1,597

-5.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,514

$1.15 IQD 1,509

0.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,483

$0.81 IQD 1,062

39.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,061

$0.44 IQD 573

84.09%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 936

$0.38 IQD 492

86.84%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 997

$0.55 IQD 721

38.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 IQD 1,002

$0.55 IQD 727

38.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 690

$0.41 IQD 534

29.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.76 IQD 3,610

$1.54 IQD 2,023

79.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.29 IQD 16.1K

$13.32 IQD 17.4K

-7.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 IQD 1,862

$1.78 IQD 2,337

-20.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 IQD 2,627

$2.12 IQD 2,772

-5.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 IQD 728

$0.21 IQD 275

166.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.51 IQD 45.2K

$30.75 IQD 40.3K

12.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.28 IQD 2,992

$2.34 IQD 3,066

-2.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.29 IQD 2,997

$1.55 IQD 2,028

47.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.92 IQD 9,060

$2.93 IQD 3,841

136.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 IQD 911

$0.57 IQD 753

22.81%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

$19.8K IQD 26.0M

-4.01%

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

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

$14.9K IQD 19.6M

38.92%

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

$100 IQD 131.3K

$179 IQD 234.7K

-44.06%

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

$17.57 IQD 23.0K

$26.25 IQD 34.4K

-33.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.61 IQD 38.8K

$40.73 IQD 53.4K

-27.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.2 IQD 97.2K

$19.38 IQD 25.4K

282.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.82 IQD 15.5K

$17.15 IQD 22.5K

-31.08%

Cinema Ticket

$11.57 IQD 15.2K

$7.67 IQD 10.0K

50.85%

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

$264 IQD 345.7K

$169 IQD 220.8K

56.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,284 IQD 4.3M

$3,528 IQD 4.6M

-6.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.96 IQD 43.2K

$11.66 IQD 15.3K

182.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.58 IQD 65.0K

$31.22 IQD 40.9K

58.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.8 IQD 109.7K

$27.01 IQD 35.4K

210.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 IQD 100.5K

$38.34 IQD 50.2K

100.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 IQD 562.8K

$239 IQD 312.9K

79.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$281 IQD 367.7K

$182 IQD 237.9K

54.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$716 IQD 938.5K

$576 IQD 755.2K

24.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$486 IQD 637.2K

$345 IQD 451.5K

41.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,111 IQD 1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$652 IQD 854.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$576 IQD 754.2K

$754 IQD 987.8K

-23.65%

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for An Nasiriyah: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 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 31% 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 $151 – 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: $1,019 in Erbil, $801 in An Nasiriyah – roughly 27% apart. Erbil costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,528 per month in Erbil and $1,201 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 12% less in An Nasiriyah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $264 per month in Erbil and $169 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 $801, than in Erbil at $1,019. 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.