Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Ar Ramadi Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Ar Ramadi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Erbil vs $711 in Ar Ramadi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,518 per month in Erbil vs $1,104 in Ar Ramadi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,019 per month in Erbil vs $1,497 in Ar Ramadi, rent included.

Erbil costs about 43% more than Ar Ramadi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Erbil and Ar Ramadi are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 24% lower, Ar Ramadi 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.59 IQD 9,938

$4.09 IQD 5,359

85.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.90 IQD 30.0K

$25.30 IQD 33.1K

-9.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.65 IQD 11.3K

$6.82 IQD 8,925

26.83%

Cappuccino

$3.25 IQD 4,260

$2.59 IQD 3,392

25.48%

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

$0.52 IQD 676

$0.39 IQD 511

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 261

$0.20 IQD 265

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 IQD 2,555

$2.92 IQD 3,829

-33.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 IQD 2,675

$2.80 IQD 3,670

-27.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,725

$0.92 IQD 1,198

43.48%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 IQD 1,062

$0.78 IQD 1,027

3.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 IQD 2,357

$1.72 IQD 2,254

4.65%

Eggs

$1.91 IQD 2,506

$1.89 IQD 2,471

1.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.50 IQD 9,816

$3.83 IQD 5,012

95.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.82 IQD 6,315

$2.33 IQD 3,048

106.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.10 IQD 18.5K

$10.16 IQD 13.3K

38.78%

Apples (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,551

$1.06 IQD 1,388

11.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,500

$1.09 IQD 1,422

5.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,494

$1.09 IQD 1,422

4.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.80 IQD 1,045

$0.60 IQD 788

33.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 863

$0.52 IQD 680

26.92%

Onion (1kg)

$0.77 IQD 1,002

$0.46 IQD 603

67.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 IQD 1,008

$0.72 IQD 948

6.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 721

$0.47 IQD 615

17.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.74 IQD 3,594

$1.94 IQD 2,535

41.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.38 IQD 16.2K

$3.80 IQD 4,978

225.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 IQD 1,794

$1.74 IQD 2,275

-21.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 IQD 2,619

$2.08 IQD 2,722

-3.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 768

$0.37 IQD 478

59.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.99 IQD 45.8K

$31.23 IQD 40.9K

12.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,942

$2.33 IQD 3,051

-3.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.29 IQD 2,993

$1.55 IQD 2,023

47.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.85 IQD 8,966

$6.13 IQD 8,022

11.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 IQD 839

$0.54 IQD 701

18.52%

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

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

1.18%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.2M

$19.6K IQD 25.7M

5.87%

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

$101 IQD 132.2K

$76.5 IQD 100.2K

31.94%

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

$17.35 IQD 22.7K

$17.78 IQD 23.3K

-2.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.25 IQD 39.6K

$33.97 IQD 44.5K

-10.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.1 IQD 94.4K

$37.25 IQD 48.8K

93.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.54 IQD 15.1K

$16.95 IQD 22.2K

-31.92%

Cinema Ticket

$11.28 IQD 14.8K

$7.87 IQD 10.3K

43.33%

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

$271 IQD 354.5K

$151 IQD 197.6K

79.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,274 IQD 4.3M

$3,215 IQD 4.2M

1.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.30 IQD 42.3K

$26.84 IQD 35.2K

20.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

$25.00 IQD 32.7K

98.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 IQD 106.1K

$60.9 IQD 79.7K

33.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.2 IQD 101.0K

$41.08 IQD 53.8K

87.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$425 IQD 556.0K

$243 IQD 317.7K

75.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$279 IQD 365.3K

$180 IQD 235.1K

55.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$740 IQD 969.0K

$583 IQD 763.8K

26.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$491 IQD 643.3K

$348 IQD 455.4K

41.27%

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

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 Ar Ramadi: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $425 in Erbil versus $243 in Ar Ramadi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Erbil versus $25.00 in Ar Ramadi. Groceries tell a different story – $195 in Erbil vs $136 in Ar Ramadi – so Ar Ramadi 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 Ar Ramadi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Erbil costs about 43% more than Ar Ramadi, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Erbil and $1,066 in Ar Ramadi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ar Ramadi, 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 $1,017 in Erbil and $711 in Ar Ramadi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 12% less in Ar Ramadi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ar Ramadi, where all-in costs run around $711, than in Erbil at $1,017. In Ar Ramadi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Erbil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ar Ramadi – 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 Ar Ramadi. 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.