Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Burgas Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Burgas

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Erbil vs $1,134 in Burgas, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,548 per month in Erbil vs $1,714 in Burgas, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,061 per month in Erbil vs $2,294 in Burgas, rent included.

Erbil is about 9% cheaper than Burgas, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Erbil and Burgas are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 23% lower, Burgas 15% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Erbil
Burgas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.72 IQD 10.1K
$11.93 BGN 19.85
-35.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.83 IQD 29.9K
$41.19 BGN 68.5
-44.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.98 IQD 11.8K
$8.95 BGN 14.89
0.34%
Cappuccino
$3.13 IQD 4,096
$2.55 BGN 4.25
22.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 IQD 640
$1.31 BGN 2.18
-62.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20 IQD 261
$0.65 BGN 1.08
-69.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.00 IQD 2,624
$2.00 BGN 3.32
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 IQD 2,797
$2.98 BGN 4.96
-28.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Erbil
Burgas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.32 IQD 1,730
$1.66 BGN 2.76
-20.48%
White Bread (500g)
$0.84 IQD 1,103
$0.93 BGN 1.55
-9.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.80 IQD 2,355
$1.95 BGN 3.24
-7.69%
Eggs
$1.98 IQD 2,599
$3.36 BGN 5.59
-41.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.54 IQD 9,879
$9.66 BGN 16.06
-21.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.80 IQD 6,282
$7.91 BGN 13.16
-39.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.29 IQD 18.7K
$11.53 BGN 19.18
23.94%
Apples (1kg)
$1.14 IQD 1,491
$1.96 BGN 3.27
-41.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.20 IQD 1,567
$2.07 BGN 3.44
-42.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.19 IQD 1,561
$2.01 BGN 3.34
-40.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.76 IQD 994
$2.57 BGN 4.27
-70.43%
Potato (1kg)
$0.70 IQD 918
$1.44 BGN 2.39
-51.39%
Onion (1kg)
$0.72 IQD 938
$1.31 BGN 2.17
-45.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.78 IQD 1,018
$1.02 BGN 1.69
-23.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 IQD 688
$0.77 BGN 1.28
-31.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.63 IQD 3,449
$3.52 BGN 5.85
-25.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.55 IQD 16.4K
$6.68 BGN 11.12
87.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 IQD 1,899
$1.02 BGN 1.70
42.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 IQD 2,633
$1.73 BGN 2.88
16.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Erbil
Burgas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 IQD 709
$0.90 BGN 1.50
-40.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.09 IQD 44.6K
$34.91 BGN 58.1
-2.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.35 IQD 3,084
$1.21 BGN 2.01
94.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.20 IQD 2,885
$0.67 BGN 1.11
228.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.87 IQD 8,999
$13.22 BGN 21.99
-48.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.70 IQD 911
$1.54 BGN 2.57
-54.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1K IQD 25.0M
$32.1K BGN 53.5K
-40.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7K IQD 27.1M
$26.0K BGN 43.2K
-20.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Erbil
Burgas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 IQD 134.1K
$93.3 BGN 155
9.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.93 IQD 23.5K
$16.36 BGN 27.21
9.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.33 IQD 38.4K
$14.05 BGN 23.37
108.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Erbil
Burgas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$72.7 IQD 95.2K
$30.89 BGN 51.4
135.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.77 IQD 15.4K
$15.05 BGN 25.03
-21.79%
Cinema Ticket
$11.62 IQD 15.2K
$8.65 BGN 14.39
34.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Erbil
Burgas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$269 IQD 352.1K
$234 BGN 388
15.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,278 IQD 4.3M
$4,083 BGN 6,793
-19.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Erbil
Burgas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.74 IQD 42.9K
$59.6 BGN 99.1
-45.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.36 IQD 63.3K
$42.36 BGN 70.5
14.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.0 IQD 106.0K
$80.9 BGN 135
0.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.8 IQD 100.5K
$71.6 BGN 119
7.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Erbil
Burgas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$426 IQD 557.6K
$508 BGN 845
-16.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$278 IQD 364.4K
$386 BGN 643
-27.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$726 IQD 951.1K
$885 BGN 1,472
-17.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$485 IQD 635.3K
$615 BGN 1,023
-21.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,123 IQD 1.5M
$2,512 BGN 4,179
-55.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$658 IQD 862.2K
$1,817 BGN 3,023
-63.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Erbil
Burgas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$584 IQD 765.0K
$1,024 BGN 1,703
-42.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
14.33
4.57
213.57%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Erbil: May 31, 2026

Last update for Burgas: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $426 in Erbil versus $508 in Burgas. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 75% higher in Burgas, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Erbil versus $41.00 in Burgas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $197 vs $236 – making Erbil the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Burgas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Erbil and Burgas compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,034 in Erbil, $1,134 in Burgas – roughly 10% apart. Burgas costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Erbil compared to Burgas?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,551 per month in Erbil and $1,700 in Burgas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Erbil and Burgas?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Erbil, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Erbil and Burgas?
Public transport costs about 2% less in Erbil. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Erbil and Burgas?
Kindergarten costs $269 per month in Erbil and $234 in Burgas. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Erbil, where all-in costs run around $1,034, than in Burgas at $1,134. In Erbil it covers expenses comfortably, while in Burgas it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Erbil and Burgas?
It depends on your priorities. Burgas has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,034 in Erbil to $1,134 in Burgas. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Erbil or Burgas safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Erbil and Burgas?
If budget matters most, go with Erbil. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Burgas makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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