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 $523 in Kalar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,522 per month in Erbil vs $785 in Kalar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,010 per month in Erbil vs $1,047 in Kalar, rent included.

Erbil costs about 98% 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

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

$1.96 IQD 2,562

293.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.64 IQD 29.6K

$12.32 IQD 16.1K

83.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.88 IQD 11.6K

$3.73 IQD 4,890

138.07%

Cappuccino

$3.20 IQD 4,189

$1.00 IQD 1,311

220.00%

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

$0.48 IQD 630

$0.48 IQD 634

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 262

$0.16 IQD 212

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 IQD 2,523

$1.99 IQD 2,607

-3.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,803

$2.15 IQD 2,813

-0.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,719

$1.05 IQD 1,376

24.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 IQD 1,108

$0.79 IQD 1,041

7.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 IQD 2,439

$1.51 IQD 1,977

23.18%

Eggs

$1.98 IQD 2,590

$1.31 IQD 1,710

51.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.23 IQD 9,474

$3.42 IQD 4,481

111.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.72 IQD 6,184

$2.25 IQD 2,944

109.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.24 IQD 18.7K

$12.60 IQD 16.5K

13.02%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,563

$0.95 IQD 1,243

25.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,505

$1.19 IQD 1,554

-3.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,502

$0.94 IQD 1,233

22.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,057

$0.77 IQD 1,003

5.19%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 888

$0.69 IQD 906

-1.45%

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 980

$0.70 IQD 917

7.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 IQD 952

$0.73 IQD 958

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 IQD 742

$0.45 IQD 588

26.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.62 IQD 3,428

$2.72 IQD 3,565

-3.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.19 IQD 16.0K

$12.58 IQD 16.5K

-3.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 IQD 1,824

$1.38 IQD 1,811

0.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 IQD 2,580

$1.93 IQD 2,529

2.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 776

$0.59 IQD 773

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.14 IQD 46.0K

$30.84 IQD 40.4K

13.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,943

$2.29 IQD 2,998

-1.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 IQD 3,052

$1.90 IQD 2,488

22.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.75 IQD 8,845

$3.79 IQD 4,957

78.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 IQD 849

$0.68 IQD 892

-4.41%

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

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

$17.0K IQD 22.3M

14.19%

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

$20.8K IQD 27.3M

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

9.71%

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

$102 IQD 133.2K

$53.7 IQD 70.3K

89.40%

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

$17.42 IQD 22.8K

$13.49 IQD 17.7K

29.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.58 IQD 38.7K

$24.54 IQD 32.1K

20.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.8 IQD 96.6K

$19.45 IQD 25.5K

279.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.55 IQD 15.1K

$16.62 IQD 21.8K

-30.51%

Cinema Ticket

$11.41 IQD 14.9K

$7.60 IQD 9,949

50.13%

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

$263 IQD 343.8K

$50.1 IQD 65.6K

424.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,250 IQD 4.3M

$1,558 IQD 2.0M

108.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.46 IQD 43.8K

$12.57 IQD 16.5K

166.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

$14.16 IQD 18.5K

250.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 IQD 106.2K

$27.05 IQD 35.4K

199.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.5 IQD 100.2K

$32.87 IQD 43.0K

132.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$429 IQD 562.3K

$170 IQD 222.8K

152.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$275 IQD 360.3K

$105 IQD 137.4K

162.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$732 IQD 958.6K

$290 IQD 379.7K

152.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$495 IQD 647.9K

$149 IQD 195.4K

231.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,130 IQD 1.5M

$3,310 IQD 4.3M

-65.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$660 IQD 864.4K

$459 IQD 601.3K

43.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$581 IQD 760.9K

$337 IQD 441.5K

72.35%

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 12, 2026

Last update for Kalar: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $429 in Erbil versus $170 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 72% 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: $195 vs $156 – 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 98%, 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 $784 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 25% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,034 in Erbil and $523 in Kalar, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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.