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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,074 per month in Erbil vs $545 in Kalar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,624 per month in Erbil vs $826 in Kalar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,173 per month in Erbil vs $1,106 in Kalar, rent included.

Erbil costs about 97% more than Kalar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Erbil and Kalar are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 22% lower, Kalar 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.80 IQD 10.2K

$1.86 IQD 2,434

319.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.48 IQD 56.9K

$12.41 IQD 16.3K

250.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.20 IQD 10.7K

$3.64 IQD 4,770

125.27%

Cappuccino

$3.65 IQD 4,784

$0.99 IQD 1,299

268.69%

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

$1.04 IQD 1,362

$0.52 IQD 683

100.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 585

$0.14 IQD 184

221.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.96 IQD 7,810

$6.03 IQD 7,902

-1.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 IQD 5,839

$4.48 IQD 5,873

-0.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 IQD 1,665

$1.10 IQD 1,441

15.45%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 IQD 1,073

$0.76 IQD 996

7.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 IQD 2,187

$1.54 IQD 2,021

8.44%

Eggs

$1.85 IQD 2,418

$1.32 IQD 1,728

40.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.38 IQD 11.0K

$3.48 IQD 4,558

140.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.72 IQD 7,485

$2.24 IQD 2,930

155.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.89 IQD 19.5K

$12.24 IQD 16.0K

21.65%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,502

$0.94 IQD 1,228

22.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,521

$1.15 IQD 1,504

0.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,544

$0.94 IQD 1,226

25.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 979

$0.81 IQD 1,059

-7.41%

Potato (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 997

$0.71 IQD 928

7.04%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 892

$0.70 IQD 916

-2.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 IQD 961

$0.78 IQD 1,025

-6.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 IQD 764

$0.40 IQD 528

45.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.52 IQD 3,305

$2.52 IQD 3,296

Wine (Bottle)

$12.27 IQD 16.1K

$12.62 IQD 16.5K

-2.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 IQD 2,160

$1.67 IQD 2,191

-1.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 IQD 2,783

$2.15 IQD 2,818

-0.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 719

$0.55 IQD 716

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.38 IQD 58.1K

$30.21 IQD 39.6K

46.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 IQD 2,561

$1.86 IQD 2,440

5.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 IQD 2,379

$1.80 IQD 2,355

1.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.52 IQD 8,533

$3.78 IQD 4,947

72.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.66 IQD 866

$0.67 IQD 875

-1.49%

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

$17.8K IQD 23.3M

$16.7K IQD 21.8M

6.95%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.0M

$18.7K IQD 24.5M

6.18%

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

$128 IQD 167.5K

$52.8 IQD 69.2K

142.07%

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

$13.86 IQD 18.1K

$13.44 IQD 17.6K

3.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.91 IQD 36.6K

$23.92 IQD 31.3K

16.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.8 IQD 84.8K

$19.01 IQD 24.9K

240.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.65 IQD 19.2K

$38.34 IQD 50.2K

-61.79%

Cinema Ticket

$11.58 IQD 15.2K

$7.79 IQD 10.2K

48.65%

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

$314 IQD 411.2K

$50.8 IQD 66.5K

518.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,082 IQD 4.0M

$1,532 IQD 2.0M

101.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.66 IQD 40.2K

$12.97 IQD 17.0K

136.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.68 IQD 59.8K

$14.14 IQD 18.5K

223.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.9 IQD 89.0K

$26.37 IQD 34.5K

157.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.8 IQD 90.1K

$32.17 IQD 42.1K

113.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$470 IQD 616.0K

$171 IQD 224.5K

174.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$294 IQD 385.1K

$106 IQD 138.8K

177.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$728 IQD 953.1K

$281 IQD 367.7K

159.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$434 IQD 568.3K

$148 IQD 193.9K

193.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,096 IQD 1.4M

$3,286 IQD 4.3M

-66.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$646 IQD 846.5K

$451 IQD 591.1K

43.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$608 IQD 796.3K

$343 IQD 448.8K

77.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.53

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

Last update for Erbil: September 6, 2026

Last update for Kalar: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $470 in Erbil versus $171 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 77% 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 $43.00 in Erbil versus $12.00 in Kalar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 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 97%, 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 $1,612 per month in Erbil and $818 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 31% 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 $43.00 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 $545, than in Erbil at $1,074. 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.