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 $1,043 per month in Erbil vs $720 in Ar Ramadi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,545 per month in Erbil vs $1,096 in Ar Ramadi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,046 per month in Erbil vs $1,471 in Ar Ramadi, rent included.

Erbil costs about 45% more than Ar Ramadi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Erbil and Ar Ramadi are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 22% lower, Ar Ramadi 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

$4.16 IQD 5,453

88.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.11 IQD 30.3K

$25.12 IQD 32.9K

-8.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.01 IQD 11.8K

$6.80 IQD 8,910

32.50%

Cappuccino

$3.24 IQD 4,240

$2.65 IQD 3,466

22.26%

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

$0.49 IQD 640

$0.37 IQD 484

32.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 288

$0.21 IQD 278

4.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 IQD 2,562

$2.88 IQD 3,776

-31.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 IQD 2,824

$2.86 IQD 3,745

-24.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,718

$0.84 IQD 1,101

55.95%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,034

$0.83 IQD 1,081

-4.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 IQD 2,450

$1.72 IQD 2,255

8.72%

Eggs

$1.95 IQD 2,557

$1.88 IQD 2,466

3.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.26 IQD 9,502

$3.80 IQD 4,971

91.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 IQD 6,144

$2.37 IQD 3,098

97.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.08 IQD 18.4K

$10.26 IQD 13.4K

37.23%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,502

$1.04 IQD 1,359

10.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,547

$1.09 IQD 1,424

8.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,480

$1.04 IQD 1,367

8.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 982

$0.61 IQD 793

22.95%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 IQD 948

$0.56 IQD 735

28.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 990

$0.42 IQD 549

80.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 IQD 1,001

$0.66 IQD 866

15.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 738

$0.46 IQD 604

21.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.66 IQD 3,486

$1.90 IQD 2,485

40.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.28 IQD 16.1K

$3.93 IQD 5,151

212.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 IQD 1,880

$1.71 IQD 2,237

-15.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 IQD 2,538

$2.10 IQD 2,751

-7.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 767

$0.36 IQD 476

63.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.79 IQD 45.6K

$30.82 IQD 40.4K

12.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.27 IQD 2,971

$2.25 IQD 2,941

0.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.32 IQD 3,033

$1.48 IQD 1,934

56.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.05 IQD 9,233

$5.86 IQD 7,680

20.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 IQD 837

$0.57 IQD 748

12.28%

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

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

-0.14%

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

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

$19.5K IQD 25.6M

5.32%

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

$101 IQD 132.5K

$77.6 IQD 101.6K

30.45%

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

$17.79 IQD 23.3K

$17.83 IQD 23.3K

-0.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.56 IQD 38.7K

$34.81 IQD 45.6K

-15.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.8 IQD 96.7K

$37.21 IQD 48.7K

98.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.76 IQD 15.4K

$16.64 IQD 21.8K

-29.33%

Cinema Ticket

$11.25 IQD 14.7K

$7.67 IQD 10.0K

46.68%

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

$269 IQD 351.6K

$152 IQD 198.7K

76.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,330 IQD 4.4M

$3,255 IQD 4.3M

2.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.93 IQD 43.1K

$26.82 IQD 35.1K

22.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.13 IQD 64.3K

$24.78 IQD 32.4K

98.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 IQD 105.7K

$61.8 IQD 81.0K

30.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 IQD 102.0K

$41.96 IQD 54.9K

85.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$436 IQD 571.5K

$238 IQD 311.2K

83.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$275 IQD 360.4K

$179 IQD 234.7K

53.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$739 IQD 968.0K

$578 IQD 757.5K

27.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$496 IQD 649.8K

$340 IQD 444.7K

46.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,089 IQD 1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$653 IQD 855.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$580 IQD 759.9K

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 27, 2026

Last update for Ar Ramadi: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $436 in Erbil versus $238 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 – $194 in Erbil vs $135 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 45% 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 $1,565 per month in Erbil and $1,080 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 $1,043 in Erbil and $720 in Ar Ramadi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 13% 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 $720, than in Erbil at $1,043. 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.