Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and As Samawah Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and As Samawah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,101 in Erbil versus $675 in As Samawah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,630 in Erbil versus $969 in As Samawah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,158 in Erbil versus $1,263 in As Samawah.

Living in Erbil is roughly 63% more expensive than in As Samawah, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Erbil 19% lower, As Samawah 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

$4.84 IQD 6,334

58.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.38 IQD 58.0K

$34.74 IQD 45.4K

27.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.42 IQD 11.0K

$7.56 IQD 9,889

11.38%

Cappuccino

$3.84 IQD 5,021

$3.08 IQD 4,031

24.68%

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

$1.03 IQD 1,352

$0.40 IQD 521

157.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 IQD 579

$0.19 IQD 254

131.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 IQD 7,911

$3.72 IQD 4,872

62.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.71 IQD 6,159

$3.73 IQD 4,877

26.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 IQD 1,655

$1.08 IQD 1,408

17.59%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,082

$0.77 IQD 1,012

7.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 IQD 2,195

$1.51 IQD 1,976

11.26%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,342

$1.75 IQD 2,295

2.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.06 IQD 10.5K

$1.51 IQD 1,974

433.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.78 IQD 7,566

$4.83 IQD 6,313

19.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.84 IQD 19.4K

$13.91 IQD 18.2K

6.69%

Apples (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,481

$1.09 IQD 1,429

3.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 IQD 1,442

$1.08 IQD 1,416

1.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,610

$0.94 IQD 1,235

30.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.82 IQD 1,067

$0.42 IQD 547

95.24%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 910

$0.55 IQD 718

27.27%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 904

$0.67 IQD 873

2.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 IQD 968

$0.67 IQD 883

10.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 722

$0.68 IQD 892

-19.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.52 IQD 3,290

$1.85 IQD 2,418

36.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.54 IQD 16.4K

$7.48 IQD 9,782

67.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 IQD 2,215

$2.22 IQD 2,907

-23.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 IQD 2,732

$2.26 IQD 2,960

-7.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 771

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.81 IQD 57.3K

$22.50 IQD 29.4K

94.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 IQD 2,541

$2.24 IQD 2,926

-13.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 IQD 2,378

$1.49 IQD 1,944

22.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.56 IQD 8,579

$3.13 IQD 4,092

109.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 881

$0.62 IQD 810

8.06%

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

$18.3K IQD 24.0M

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

-2.56%

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

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

7.01%

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

$128 IQD 166.8K

$82.3 IQD 107.7K

54.91%

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

$13.95 IQD 18.2K

$19.13 IQD 25.0K

-27.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.49 IQD 37.3K

$19.37 IQD 25.3K

47.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.0 IQD 86.3K

$7.80 IQD 10.2K

745.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.62 IQD 19.1K

$19.36 IQD 25.3K

-24.48%

Cinema Ticket

$11.67 IQD 15.3K

$9.14 IQD 11.9K

27.68%

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

$309 IQD 404.6K

$57.4 IQD 75.1K

438.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,144 IQD 4.1M

$1,506 IQD 2.0M

108.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.32 IQD 41.0K

$29.18 IQD 38.2K

7.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.84 IQD 58.7K

$37.61 IQD 49.2K

19.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.3 IQD 90.6K

$74.7 IQD 97.7K

-7.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.4 IQD 88.2K

$47.79 IQD 62.5K

41.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$460 IQD 601.8K

$122 IQD 159.0K

278.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$297 IQD 389.0K

$117 IQD 152.6K

154.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$740 IQD 968.4K

$180 IQD 235.0K

312.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$432 IQD 565.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,092 IQD 1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$665 IQD 869.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$614 IQD 802.9K

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 14, 2026

Last update for As Samawah: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $460 in Erbil and $122 in As Samawah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $44.00 in Erbil vs $35.00 in As Samawah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $164 per month, with As Samawah cheaper across the board.

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 As Samawah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

As Samawah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 63% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,652 in Erbil and $1,013 in As Samawah to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $460 in Erbil versus $122 in As Samawah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in As Samawah runs roughly 95% less than in Erbil. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $309 in Erbil versus $57.4 in As Samawah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $675 in As Samawah versus $1,101 in Erbil, a $1,500 budget is realistic in As Samawah but tight or insufficient in Erbil. The gap between the two cities makes As Samawah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Erbil and As Samawah are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find As Samawah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 63% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.