Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Ba'qubah Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Ba'qubah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,017 in Erbil versus $658 in Ba'qubah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,518 in Erbil versus $989 in Ba'qubah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,019 in Erbil versus $1,320 in Ba'qubah.

Living in Erbil is roughly 54% more expensive than Ba'qubah, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Erbil 24% lower, Ba'qubah 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.59 IQD 9,938

$4.84 IQD 6,342

56.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.90 IQD 30.0K

$15.44 IQD 20.2K

48.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.65 IQD 11.3K

$6.45 IQD 8,452

34.11%

Cappuccino

$3.25 IQD 4,260

$1.16 IQD 1,521

180.17%

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

$0.52 IQD 676

$0.52 IQD 682

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 261

$0.22 IQD 286

-9.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 IQD 2,555

$1.93 IQD 2,523

1.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 IQD 2,675

$2.13 IQD 2,786

-4.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,725

$1.18 IQD 1,546

11.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 IQD 1,062

$0.59 IQD 772

37.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 IQD 2,357

$1.12 IQD 1,461

60.71%

Eggs

$1.91 IQD 2,505

$1.41 IQD 1,852

35.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.50 IQD 9,816

$2.23 IQD 2,923

236.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.82 IQD 6,315

$2.52 IQD 3,297

91.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.10 IQD 18.5K

$10.81 IQD 14.2K

30.43%

Apples (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,551

$0.99 IQD 1,296

19.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,500

$1.18 IQD 1,542

-2.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,494

$0.98 IQD 1,283

16.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.80 IQD 1,045

$0.55 IQD 721

45.45%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 863

$0.55 IQD 714

20.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.77 IQD 1,002

$0.65 IQD 846

18.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 IQD 1,008

$0.46 IQD 606

67.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 721

$0.17 IQD 216

223.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.74 IQD 3,594

$2.62 IQD 3,425

4.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.38 IQD 16.2K

$12.21 IQD 16.0K

1.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 IQD 1,794

$1.37 IQD 1,798

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 IQD 2,619

$2.02 IQD 2,649

-0.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 768

$0.40 IQD 518

47.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.99 IQD 45.8K

$31.03 IQD 40.6K

12.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,942

$2.35 IQD 3,072

-4.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.29 IQD 2,993

$2.12 IQD 2,774

8.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.85 IQD 8,966

$5.24 IQD 6,865

30.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 IQD 839

$0.35 IQD 464

82.86%

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

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

1.57%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.2M

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

1.91%

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

$101 IQD 132.2K

$59.3 IQD 77.6K

70.29%

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

$17.35 IQD 22.7K

$17.34 IQD 22.7K

0.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.25 IQD 39.6K

$26.66 IQD 34.9K

13.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.1 IQD 94.4K

$19.45 IQD 25.5K

270.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.54 IQD 15.1K

$16.98 IQD 22.2K

-32.04%

Cinema Ticket

$11.28 IQD 14.8K

$3.85 IQD 5,040

192.99%

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

$271 IQD 354.5K

$26.46 IQD 34.6K

923.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,274 IQD 4.3M

$638 IQD 835.2K

413.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.30 IQD 42.3K

$18.99 IQD 24.9K

70.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

$19.30 IQD 25.3K

157.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 IQD 106.1K

$81.1 IQD 106.2K

-0.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.2 IQD 101.0K

$26.36 IQD 34.5K

192.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$425 IQD 556.0K

$245 IQD 321.3K

73.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$279 IQD 365.3K

$181 IQD 236.6K

54.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$740 IQD 969.0K

$573 IQD 750.2K

29.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$491 IQD 643.3K

$350 IQD 458.1K

40.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,098 IQD 1.4M

$772 IQD 1.0M

42.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$646 IQD 845.4K

$193 IQD 252.4K

234.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 IQD 773.3K

$718 IQD 940.5K

-17.78%

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 Ba'qubah: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $425 in Erbil and $245 in Ba'qubah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ba'qubah pays 22% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $23.00 in Erbil vs $15.00 in Ba'qubah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $195 vs $140 per month, with Ba'qubah 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 Ba'qubah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ba'qubah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 54% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Ba'qubah earns 22% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $425 in Erbil versus $245 in Ba'qubah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 39% higher in Erbil. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Ba'qubah – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $23.00 in Erbil. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $658 in Ba'qubah versus $1,017 in Erbil, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ba'qubah but tight or insufficient in Erbil. The gap between the two cities makes Ba'qubah 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 Ba'qubah 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 Ba'qubah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 54% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.