Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Az Zubayr Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Az Zubayr

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,017 in Erbil versus $746 in Az Zubayr.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,518 in Erbil versus $1,164 in Az Zubayr.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,019 in Erbil versus $1,582 in Az Zubayr.

Living in Erbil is roughly 36% more expensive than Az Zubayr, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Erbil 24% lower, Az Zubayr 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.59 IQD 9,938

$3.97 IQD 5,205

91.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.90 IQD 30.0K

$24.81 IQD 32.5K

-7.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.65 IQD 11.3K

$6.76 IQD 8,848

27.96%

Cappuccino

$3.25 IQD 4,260

$2.63 IQD 3,446

23.57%

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

$0.52 IQD 676

$0.36 IQD 475

44.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 261

$0.16 IQD 213

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 IQD 2,555

$2.86 IQD 3,745

-31.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 IQD 2,675

$2.93 IQD 3,833

-30.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,725

$1.36 IQD 1,777

-2.94%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 IQD 1,062

$0.82 IQD 1,076

-1.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 IQD 2,357

$1.64 IQD 2,151

9.76%

Eggs

$1.91 IQD 2,505

$1.81 IQD 2,364

5.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.50 IQD 9,816

$4.42 IQD 5,784

69.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.82 IQD 6,315

$4.81 IQD 6,292

0.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.10 IQD 18.5K

$13.18 IQD 17.3K

6.98%

Apples (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,551

$1.14 IQD 1,490

3.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,500

$1.15 IQD 1,506

Oranges (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,494

$1.01 IQD 1,323

12.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.80 IQD 1,045

$0.69 IQD 905

15.94%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 863

$0.69 IQD 904

-4.35%

Onion (1kg)

$0.77 IQD 1,002

$0.67 IQD 874

14.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 IQD 1,008

$0.62 IQD 817

24.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 721

$0.56 IQD 737

-1.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.74 IQD 3,594

$1.94 IQD 2,534

41.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.38 IQD 16.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 IQD 1,794

$1.80 IQD 2,357

-23.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 IQD 2,619

$2.14 IQD 2,809

-6.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 768

$0.40 IQD 522

47.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.99 IQD 45.8K

$31.60 IQD 41.4K

10.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,942

$2.29 IQD 2,996

-1.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.29 IQD 2,993

$1.47 IQD 1,926

55.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.85 IQD 8,966

$5.96 IQD 7,804

14.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 IQD 839

$0.57 IQD 743

12.28%

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

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

-0.53%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.2M

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

3.48%

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

$101 IQD 132.2K

$77.3 IQD 101.3K

30.56%

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

$17.35 IQD 22.7K

$17.58 IQD 23.0K

-1.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.25 IQD 39.6K

$34.04 IQD 44.6K

-11.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.1 IQD 94.4K

$37.06 IQD 48.5K

94.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.54 IQD 15.1K

$17.12 IQD 22.4K

-32.59%

Cinema Ticket

$11.28 IQD 14.8K

$7.50 IQD 9,822

50.40%

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

$271 IQD 354.5K

$153 IQD 200.4K

76.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,274 IQD 4.3M

$3,284 IQD 4.3M

-0.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.30 IQD 42.3K

$27.32 IQD 35.8K

18.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

$25.03 IQD 32.8K

98.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 IQD 106.1K

$61.8 IQD 81.0K

31.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.2 IQD 101.0K

$41.83 IQD 54.8K

84.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$425 IQD 556.0K

$243 IQD 317.6K

75.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$279 IQD 365.3K

$179 IQD 234.4K

55.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$740 IQD 969.0K

$586 IQD 767.7K

26.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$491 IQD 643.3K

$344 IQD 451.1K

42.62%

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 Az Zubayr: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $425 in Erbil and $243 in Az Zubayr. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $23.00 in Erbil vs $25.00 in Az Zubayr. Groceries flip the comparison at $195 vs $158, with Az Zubayr 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 Az Zubayr: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Erbil and Az Zubayr differ by about 36% in total monthly costs ($1,017 vs $746 including rent). Az Zubayr is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,525 in Erbil and $1,118 in Az Zubayr 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: $425 in Erbil versus $243 in Az Zubayr. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 23% higher in Erbil. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Az Zubayr – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $23.00 in Erbil. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $746 in Az Zubayr versus $1,017 in Erbil, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Az Zubayr but tight or insufficient in Erbil. The gap between the two cities makes Az Zubayr 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 Az Zubayr 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 Az Zubayr gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.