Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Karbala Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Karbala

😐 Solo nomad: Erbil is 39.3% more expensive than Karbala without rent, and 60.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Erbil is 34% more expensive than Karbala without rent, and 61% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

$4.89 IQD 6,407

57.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.10 IQD 30.3K

$15.02 IQD 19.7K

53.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.79 IQD 11.5K

$5.48 IQD 7,177

60.40%

Cappuccino

$3.13 IQD 4,098

$1.66 IQD 2,169

88.55%

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

$0.52 IQD 676

$0.37 IQD 482

40.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 288

$0.28 IQD 365

-21.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 IQD 2,551

$1.90 IQD 2,486

2.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 IQD 2,699

$2.93 IQD 3,838

-29.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 IQD 1,748

$1.18 IQD 1,549

12.71%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 IQD 1,101

$0.68 IQD 897

23.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 IQD 2,352

$1.43 IQD 1,869

25.87%

Eggs

$1.97 IQD 2,584

$1.72 IQD 2,259

14.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.54 IQD 9,872

$5.23 IQD 6,844

44.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.75 IQD 6,222

$4.64 IQD 6,078

2.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.00 IQD 18.3K

$9.52 IQD 12.5K

47.06%

Apples (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,491

$0.92 IQD 1,204

23.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,519

$1.08 IQD 1,411

7.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,479

$0.91 IQD 1,197

24.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 974

$0.67 IQD 883

10.45%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 IQD 947

$0.64 IQD 837

12.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 922

$0.51 IQD 666

37.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 IQD 965

$0.55 IQD 723

34.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 732

$0.62 IQD 817

-9.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.64 IQD 3,460

$1.86 IQD 2,441

41.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.45 IQD 16.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 IQD 1,805

$1.06 IQD 1,382

30.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 IQD 2,619

$2.15 IQD 2,818

-6.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 779

$0.36 IQD 478

63.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.66 IQD 45.4K

$30.74 IQD 40.3K

12.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.28 IQD 2,985

$2.27 IQD 2,970

0.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.29 IQD 3,005

$1.49 IQD 1,949

53.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.08 IQD 9,270

$7.60 IQD 9,956

-6.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 IQD 914

$0.49 IQD 638

42.86%

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

$19.5K IQD 25.5M

$11.3K IQD 14.9M

71.78%

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

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

$14.3K IQD 18.7M

44.23%

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

$101 IQD 132.3K

$71.0 IQD 93.0K

42.26%

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

$17.55 IQD 23.0K

$24.77 IQD 32.4K

-29.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.42 IQD 38.5K

$49.02 IQD 64.2K

-39.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.4 IQD 96.1K

$23.23 IQD 30.4K

215.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.74 IQD 15.4K

$16.89 IQD 22.1K

-30.49%

Cinema Ticket

$11.69 IQD 15.3K

$8.78 IQD 11.5K

33.14%

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

$266 IQD 347.8K

$127 IQD 166.9K

108.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,301 IQD 4.3M

$769 IQD 1.0M

329.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.12 IQD 43.4K

$17.07 IQD 22.4K

94.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.75 IQD 65.2K

$14.05 IQD 18.4K

254.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.1 IQD 108.8K

$30.35 IQD 39.8K

173.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.8 IQD 100.7K

$32.45 IQD 42.5K

136.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$439 IQD 575.4K

$249 IQD 326.2K

76.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$276 IQD 361.2K

$148 IQD 193.8K

86.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 IQD 967.3K

$343 IQD 449.5K

115.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$483 IQD 632.7K

$248 IQD 325.1K

94.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,112 IQD 1.5M

$977 IQD 1.3M

13.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$664 IQD 869.3K

$325 IQD 425.7K

104.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$555 IQD 726.5K

$477 IQD 625.3K

16.18%

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: March 3, 2026

Last update for Karbala: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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