😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,019 in Erbil versus $731 in Az Zubayr.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,524 in Erbil versus $1,154 in Az Zubayr.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,029 in Erbil versus $1,577 in Az Zubayr.
😐Living in Erbil is roughly 39% more expensive than Az Zubayr, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Erbil24% lower, Az Zubayr45% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Erbil
Az Zubayr
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.78IQD 10.2K
$3.97IQD 5,195
95.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.99IQD 30.1K
$25.15IQD 32.9K
-8.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.97IQD 11.7K
$6.96IQD 9,113
28.88%
Cappuccino
$3.25IQD 4,252
$2.59IQD 3,388
25.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48IQD 630
$0.40IQD 523
20.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22IQD 289
$0.17IQD 226
29.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.01IQD 2,633
$2.98IQD 3,907
-32.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04IQD 2,671
$2.88IQD 3,778
-29.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Erbil
Az Zubayr
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32IQD 1,727
$1.36IQD 1,785
-2.94%
White Bread(500g)
$0.85IQD 1,115
$0.78IQD 1,025
8.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.81IQD 2,368
$1.59IQD 2,082
13.84%
Eggs
$1.98IQD 2,590
$1.71IQD 2,240
15.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.44IQD 9,745
$4.44IQD 5,814
67.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.75IQD 6,229
$4.80IQD 6,287
-1.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.99IQD 18.3K
$13.15IQD 17.2K
6.39%
Apples(1kg)
$1.15IQD 1,509
$1.15IQD 1,511
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.16IQD 1,514
$1.21IQD 1,590
-4.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.13IQD 1,483
$1.06IQD 1,385
6.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.81IQD 1,061
$0.71IQD 930
14.08%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71IQD 936
$0.70IQD 912
1.43%
Onion(1kg)
$0.76IQD 997
$0.67IQD 879
13.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.76IQD 1,002
$0.63IQD 823
20.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53IQD 690
$0.56IQD 733
-5.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.76IQD 3,610
$1.88IQD 2,466
46.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.29IQD 16.1K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42IQD 1,862
$1.78IQD 2,329
-20.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00IQD 2,627
$2.19IQD 2,869
-8.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Erbil
Az Zubayr
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.56IQD 728
$0.37IQD 482
51.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.51IQD 45.2K
$31.53IQD 41.3K
9.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.28IQD 2,992
$2.24IQD 2,931
1.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.29IQD 2,997
$1.53IQD 2,005
49.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.92IQD 9,060
$5.83IQD 7,633
18.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.70IQD 911
$0.58IQD 754
20.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0KIQD 24.9M
$18.8KIQD 24.7M
1.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8KIQD 27.2M
$20.1KIQD 26.3M
3.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Erbil
Az Zubayr
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$100IQD 131.3K
$78.8IQD 103.2K
27.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.57IQD 23.0K
$17.71IQD 23.2K
-0.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.61IQD 38.8K
$34.72IQD 45.5K
-14.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Erbil
Az Zubayr
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$74.2IQD 97.2K
$36.40IQD 47.7K
103.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.82IQD 15.5K
$16.73IQD 21.9K
-29.35%
Cinema Ticket
$11.57IQD 15.2K
$7.44IQD 9,751
55.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Erbil
Az Zubayr
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$264IQD 345.7K
$151IQD 197.4K
75.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,284IQD 4.3M
$3,308IQD 4.3M
-0.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Erbil
Az Zubayr
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.96IQD 43.2K
$27.58IQD 36.1K
19.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.58IQD 65.0K
$24.87IQD 32.6K
99.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.8IQD 109.7K
$61.2IQD 80.2K
36.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7IQD 100.5K
$41.29IQD 54.1K
85.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Erbil
Az Zubayr
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$430IQD 562.8K
$242IQD 316.5K
77.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$281IQD 367.7K
$175IQD 229.6K
60.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$716IQD 938.5K
$571IQD 748.4K
25.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$486IQD 637.2K
$350IQD 459.1K
38.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,111IQD 1.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$652IQD 854.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Erbil
Az Zubayr
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$576IQD 754.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
14.33
5.67
152.73%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Erbil: April 26, 2026
Última actualización para Az Zubayr: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $430 in Erbil and $242 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.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Erbil vs Az Zubayr: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
What is the total cost difference between living in Erbil and Az Zubayr?
Erbil and Az Zubayr differ by about 39% in total monthly costs ($1,019 vs $731 including rent). Az Zubayr is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Erbil compared to Az Zubayr?
You'd need roughly $1,528 in Erbil and $1,097 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Erbil and Az Zubayr?
Rent for a central apartment: $430 in Erbil versus $242 in Az Zubayr. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 23% higher in Erbil. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
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.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $731 in Az Zubayr versus $1,019 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.
How does quality of life compare between Erbil and Az Zubayr?
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.
Is Erbil or Az Zubayr safer for residents?
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.
Where should expats move: Erbil or Az Zubayr?
Expats usually find Az Zubayr gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.