Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Bytom Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Bytom

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Erbil versus $1,291 in Bytom.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,548 in Erbil versus $1,844 in Bytom.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,061 in Erbil versus $2,397 in Bytom.

Living in Erbil costs roughly 20% less than in Bytom, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Erbil 23% lower, Bytom 4% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Erbil
Bytom
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.72 IQD 10.1K
$10.79 zł 39.42
-28.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.83 IQD 29.9K
$42.88 zł 157
-46.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.98 IQD 11.8K
$8.20 zł 29.96
9.51%
Cappuccino
$3.13 IQD 4,096
$3.55 zł 12.95
-11.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 IQD 640
$1.95 zł 7.12
-74.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20 IQD 261
$1.61 zł 5.89
-87.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.00 IQD 2,624
$3.20 zł 11.70
-37.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 IQD 2,797
$3.84 zł 14.02
-44.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Erbil
Bytom
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.32 IQD 1,730
$1.08 zł 3.96
22.22%
White Bread (500g)
$0.84 IQD 1,103
$1.20 zł 4.38
-30.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.80 IQD 2,355
$1.22 zł 4.45
47.54%
Eggs
$1.98 IQD 2,599
$3.01 zł 11.01
-34.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.54 IQD 9,879
$10.49 zł 38.30
-28.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.80 IQD 6,282
$6.04 zł 22.06
-20.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.29 IQD 18.7K
$10.72 zł 39.16
33.30%
Apples (1kg)
$1.14 IQD 1,491
$1.04 zł 3.81
9.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.20 IQD 1,567
$1.72 zł 6.29
-30.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.19 IQD 1,561
$1.79 zł 6.55
-33.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.76 IQD 994
$2.82 zł 10.29
-73.05%
Potato (1kg)
$0.70 IQD 918
$0.94 zł 3.45
-25.53%
Onion (1kg)
$0.72 IQD 938
$0.89 zł 3.24
-19.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.78 IQD 1,018
$1.14 zł 4.15
-31.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 IQD 688
$0.67 zł 2.45
-20.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.63 IQD 3,449
$5.19 zł 18.96
-49.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.55 IQD 16.4K
$6.74 zł 24.62
86.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 IQD 1,899
$1.11 zł 4.06
30.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 IQD 2,633
$1.89 zł 6.91
6.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Erbil
Bytom
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 IQD 710
$1.28 zł 4.68
-57.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.09 IQD 44.6K
$36.23 zł 132
-5.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.35 IQD 3,084
$2.14 zł 7.83
9.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.20 IQD 2,885
$0.52 zł 1.89
323.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.87 IQD 8,999
$9.23 zł 33.72
-25.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.70 IQD 911
$1.77 zł 6.46
-60.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1K IQD 25.0M
$33.3K zł 121.6K
-42.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7K IQD 27.1M
$30.0K zł 109.7K
-31.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Erbil
Bytom
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 IQD 134.1K
$342 zł 1,248
-70.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.93 IQD 23.5K
$8.28 zł 30.24
116.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.33 IQD 38.4K
$16.15 zł 59.0
81.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Erbil
Bytom
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$72.7 IQD 95.2K
$32.94 zł 120
120.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.77 IQD 15.4K
$19.26 zł 70.4
-38.89%
Cinema Ticket
$11.62 IQD 15.2K
$7.14 zł 26.09
62.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Erbil
Bytom
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$269 IQD 352.1K
$311 zł 1,134
-13.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,278 IQD 4.3M
$9,416 zł 34.4K
-65.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Erbil
Bytom
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.74 IQD 42.9K
$86.6 zł 316
-62.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.36 IQD 63.3K
$30.52 zł 112
58.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.0 IQD 106.0K
$75.3 zł 275
7.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.8 IQD 100.5K
$96.4 zł 352
-20.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Erbil
Bytom
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$426 IQD 557.6K
$560 zł 2,047
-24.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$278 IQD 364.4K
$322 zł 1,176
-13.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$726 IQD 951.1K
$496 zł 1,814
46.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$485 IQD 635.3K
$407 zł 1,488
19.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,123 IQD 1.5M
$1,110 zł 4,056
1.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$658 IQD 862.3K
$1,118 zł 4,083
-41.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Erbil
Bytom
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$584 IQD 765.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
14.33
6.78
111.36%

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

Last update for Erbil: May 31, 2026

Last update for Bytom: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $426 in Erbil and $560 in Bytom. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $23.00 in Erbil vs $43.00 in Bytom for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $197 vs $210 per month, with Erbil 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 Bytom: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Erbil or Bytom?
Erbil wins on cost – living expenses run 25% lower than in Bytom. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Erbil the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Erbil vs Bytom?
You'd need roughly $1,551 in Erbil and $1,937 in Bytom 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Erbil vs Bytom?
Rent for a central apartment: $426 in Erbil versus $560 in Bytom. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Erbil compared to Bytom?
All in, you'll spend $1,034 per month in Erbil versus $1,291 in Bytom – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Erbil vs Bytom?
A monthly transit pass in Erbil runs roughly 6% less than in Bytom. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Erbil or Bytom?
At $1,034 in Erbil versus $1,291 in Bytom, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Erbil but tight or insufficient in Bytom. The gap between the two cities makes Erbil the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Erbil or Bytom?
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.
How safe is Erbil compared to Bytom?
Safety-wise, Erbil and Bytom are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Erbil gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Bytom. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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