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: $1,034 in Erbil versus $878 in As Samawah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,522 in Erbil versus $1,339 in As Samawah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,010 in Erbil versus $1,801 in As Samawah.

Living in Erbil is roughly 18% more expensive than in As Samawah, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Erbil 23% lower, As Samawah 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

$5.46 IQD 7,146

41.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.64 IQD 29.6K

$36.41 IQD 47.7K

-37.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.88 IQD 11.6K

$7.70 IQD 10.1K

15.32%

Cappuccino

$3.20 IQD 4,189

$2.99 IQD 3,921

7.02%

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

$0.48 IQD 630

$0.36 IQD 475

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 262

$0.19 IQD 246

5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 IQD 2,523

$3.40 IQD 4,455

-43.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,803

$2.92 IQD 3,819

-26.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,719

$1.38 IQD 1,804

-5.07%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 IQD 1,108

$0.79 IQD 1,029

7.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 IQD 2,439

$1.58 IQD 2,076

17.72%

Eggs

$1.98 IQD 2,590

$1.62 IQD 2,118

22.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.23 IQD 9,474

$4.61 IQD 6,036

56.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.72 IQD 6,184

$5.00 IQD 6,542

-5.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.24 IQD 18.7K

$14.29 IQD 18.7K

-0.35%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,563

$1.01 IQD 1,323

17.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,505

$1.01 IQD 1,327

13.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,502

$0.71 IQD 931

61.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,057

$0.52 IQD 678

55.77%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 888

$0.65 IQD 849

4.62%

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 980

$0.63 IQD 827

19.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 IQD 952

$0.35 IQD 453

108.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 IQD 742

$0.63 IQD 820

-9.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.62 IQD 3,428

$2.04 IQD 2,670

28.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.19 IQD 16.0K

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

55.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 IQD 1,824

$1.83 IQD 2,397

-24.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 IQD 2,580

$2.12 IQD 2,771

-7.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 776

$0.37 IQD 483

59.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.14 IQD 46.0K

$30.79 IQD 40.3K

14.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,943

$3.89 IQD 5,099

-42.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 IQD 3,052

$1.47 IQD 1,920

58.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.75 IQD 8,845

$7.50 IQD 9,827

-10.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 IQD 849

$0.53 IQD 693

22.64%

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

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

-2.61%

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

$20.8K IQD 27.3M

$19.6K IQD 25.6M

6.46%

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

$102 IQD 133.2K

$175 IQD 229.1K

-41.86%

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

$17.42 IQD 22.8K

$25.45 IQD 33.3K

-31.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.58 IQD 38.7K

$39.92 IQD 52.3K

-25.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.8 IQD 96.6K

$36.84 IQD 48.2K

100.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.55 IQD 15.1K

$16.84 IQD 22.1K

-31.41%

Cinema Ticket

$11.41 IQD 14.9K

$7.57 IQD 9,911

50.73%

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

$263 IQD 343.8K

$164 IQD 214.9K

59.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,250 IQD 4.3M

$3,571 IQD 4.7M

-9.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.46 IQD 43.8K

$28.11 IQD 36.8K

19.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

$30.92 IQD 40.5K

60.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 IQD 106.2K

$65.6 IQD 85.9K

23.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.5 IQD 100.2K

$43.63 IQD 57.1K

75.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$429 IQD 562.3K

$242 IQD 316.7K

77.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$275 IQD 360.3K

$182 IQD 237.9K

51.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$732 IQD 958.6K

$586 IQD 767.7K

24.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$495 IQD 647.9K

$346 IQD 453.3K

42.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,130 IQD 1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$660 IQD 864.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$581 IQD 760.9K

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 12, 2026

Last update for As Samawah: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $429 in Erbil and $242 in As Samawah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $23.00 in Erbil vs $36.00 in As Samawah. Groceries flip the comparison at $195 vs $174, with As Samawah cheaper for home cooking.

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 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,551 in Erbil and $1,317 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: $429 in Erbil versus $242 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 14% less than in Erbil. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $263 in Erbil versus $164 in As Samawah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though As Samawah gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 18% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.