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: $1,043 in Erbil versus $731 in Az Zubayr.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,545 in Erbil versus $1,156 in Az Zubayr.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,046 in Erbil versus $1,581 in Az Zubayr.

Living in Erbil is roughly 43% more expensive than in Az Zubayr, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Erbil 22% lower, Az Zubayr 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

$4.00 IQD 5,231

96.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.11 IQD 30.3K

$25.14 IQD 32.9K

-8.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.01 IQD 11.8K

$6.98 IQD 9,134

29.08%

Cappuccino

$3.24 IQD 4,240

$2.55 IQD 3,336

27.06%

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

$0.49 IQD 640

$0.40 IQD 521

22.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 288

$0.20 IQD 266

10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 IQD 2,562

$2.96 IQD 3,879

-33.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 IQD 2,824

$2.86 IQD 3,743

-24.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,718

$1.32 IQD 1,726

-0.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,034

$0.83 IQD 1,092

-4.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 IQD 2,450

$1.66 IQD 2,177

12.65%

Eggs

$1.95 IQD 2,557

$1.78 IQD 2,332

9.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.26 IQD 9,502

$4.61 IQD 6,038

57.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 IQD 6,144

$4.68 IQD 6,122

0.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.08 IQD 18.4K

$13.21 IQD 17.3K

6.59%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,502

$1.16 IQD 1,518

-0.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,547

$1.15 IQD 1,501

2.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,480

$1.01 IQD 1,328

11.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 982

$0.69 IQD 901

8.70%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 IQD 948

$0.64 IQD 839

12.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 990

$0.64 IQD 836

18.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 IQD 1,001

$0.67 IQD 880

13.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 738

$0.56 IQD 731

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.66 IQD 3,486

$1.96 IQD 2,567

35.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.28 IQD 16.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 IQD 1,880

$1.77 IQD 2,313

-18.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 IQD 2,538

$2.11 IQD 2,762

-8.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 767

$0.39 IQD 516

51.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.79 IQD 45.6K

$30.94 IQD 40.5K

12.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.27 IQD 2,971

$2.25 IQD 2,953

0.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.32 IQD 3,033

$1.54 IQD 2,011

50.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.05 IQD 9,233

$5.95 IQD 7,788

18.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 IQD 837

$0.57 IQD 743

12.28%

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

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

$19.2K IQD 25.1M

-1.45%

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

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

$19.6K IQD 25.7M

5.07%

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

$101 IQD 132.5K

$77.0 IQD 100.8K

31.45%

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

$17.79 IQD 23.3K

$17.96 IQD 23.5K

-0.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.56 IQD 38.7K

$34.90 IQD 45.7K

-15.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.8 IQD 96.7K

$37.05 IQD 48.5K

99.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.76 IQD 15.4K

$16.50 IQD 21.6K

-28.73%

Cinema Ticket

$11.25 IQD 14.7K

$7.61 IQD 9,965

47.83%

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

$269 IQD 351.6K

$152 IQD 199.6K

76.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,330 IQD 4.4M

$3,308 IQD 4.3M

0.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.93 IQD 43.1K

$27.50 IQD 36.0K

19.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.13 IQD 64.3K

$24.98 IQD 32.7K

96.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 IQD 105.7K

$61.8 IQD 80.9K

30.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 IQD 102.0K

$40.34 IQD 52.8K

93.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$436 IQD 571.5K

$239 IQD 312.7K

82.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$275 IQD 360.4K

$181 IQD 236.4K

52.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$739 IQD 968.0K

$581 IQD 760.4K

27.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$496 IQD 649.8K

$346 IQD 453.3K

43.36%

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 Az Zubayr: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $436 in Erbil and $239 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 $194 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 43% in total monthly costs ($1,043 vs $731 including rent). Az Zubayr is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,565 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $436 in Erbil versus $239 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 $731 in Az Zubayr versus $1,043 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 43% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.