Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Kalar Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Kalar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Erbil vs $519 in Kalar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,548 per month in Erbil vs $776 in Kalar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,061 per month in Erbil vs $1,034 in Kalar, rent included.

Erbil costs about 99% more than Kalar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Erbil and Kalar are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 23% lower, Kalar 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.72 IQD 10.1K

$1.86 IQD 2,435

315.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.83 IQD 29.9K

$12.16 IQD 15.9K

87.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.98 IQD 11.8K

$3.61 IQD 4,722

148.75%

Cappuccino

$3.13 IQD 4,096

$1.04 IQD 1,365

200.96%

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

$0.49 IQD 640

$0.49 IQD 637

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 261

$0.15 IQD 200

33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.00 IQD 2,624

$1.93 IQD 2,528

3.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,797

$2.06 IQD 2,700

3.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,730

$1.05 IQD 1,374

25.71%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 IQD 1,103

$0.85 IQD 1,107

-1.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 IQD 2,355

$1.56 IQD 2,042

15.38%

Eggs

$1.98 IQD 2,599

$1.32 IQD 1,730

50.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.54 IQD 9,879

$3.52 IQD 4,604

114.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.80 IQD 6,282

$2.35 IQD 3,079

104.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 IQD 18.7K

$12.29 IQD 16.1K

16.27%

Apples (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,491

$0.92 IQD 1,204

23.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.20 IQD 1,567

$1.14 IQD 1,495

5.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,561

$1.00 IQD 1,309

19.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 994

$0.75 IQD 980

1.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 918

$0.70 IQD 920

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 IQD 938

$0.72 IQD 941

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,018

$0.71 IQD 934

9.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 688

$0.44 IQD 581

20.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.63 IQD 3,449

$2.65 IQD 3,468

-0.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.55 IQD 16.4K

$12.66 IQD 16.6K

-0.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 IQD 1,899

$1.43 IQD 1,877

1.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 IQD 2,633

$1.95 IQD 2,550

3.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 IQD 709

$0.59 IQD 776

-8.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.09 IQD 44.6K

$31.03 IQD 40.6K

9.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 IQD 3,084

$2.33 IQD 3,054

0.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 IQD 2,885

$1.88 IQD 2,456

17.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.87 IQD 8,999

$3.79 IQD 4,966

81.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 IQD 911

$0.64 IQD 840

9.37%

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

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

$16.9K IQD 22.2M

12.92%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

10.10%

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

$102 IQD 134.1K

$54.5 IQD 71.3K

88.14%

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

$17.93 IQD 23.5K

$13.55 IQD 17.7K

32.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.33 IQD 38.4K

$23.89 IQD 31.3K

22.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.7 IQD 95.2K

$19.20 IQD 25.1K

278.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.77 IQD 15.4K

$17.14 IQD 22.4K

-31.33%

Cinema Ticket

$11.62 IQD 15.2K

$7.55 IQD 9,881

53.91%

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

$269 IQD 352.1K

$52.0 IQD 68.1K

416.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,278 IQD 4.3M

$1,522 IQD 2.0M

115.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.74 IQD 42.9K

$12.83 IQD 16.8K

155.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.36 IQD 63.3K

$13.93 IQD 18.2K

247.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.0 IQD 106.0K

$26.51 IQD 34.7K

205.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.8 IQD 100.5K

$32.27 IQD 42.3K

137.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$426 IQD 557.6K

$174 IQD 228.0K

144.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$278 IQD 364.4K

$105 IQD 137.0K

166.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$726 IQD 951.1K

$282 IQD 368.6K

158.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$485 IQD 635.3K

$146 IQD 190.5K

233.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,123 IQD 1.5M

$3,312 IQD 4.3M

-66.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$658 IQD 862.2K

$456 IQD 597.7K

44.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$584 IQD 765.0K

$337 IQD 441.8K

73.14%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kalar: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $426 in Erbil versus $174 in Kalar. 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 73% higher in Erbil, 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 $12.00 in Kalar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $197 vs $157 – making Kalar 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 Kalar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Erbil is pricier by about 99%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,551 per month in Erbil and $778 in Kalar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kalar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 26% more in Erbil, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Erbil and $12.00 in Kalar. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kalar, where all-in costs run around $519, than in Erbil at $1,034. In Kalar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Erbil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kalar – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Kalar. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Erbil makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.