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

😐 Solo nomad: Erbil is 40.1% more expensive than Karbala without rent, and 56.1% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Erbil is 37.6% more expensive than Karbala without rent, and 54.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.45 IQD 9,770

$5.06 IQD 6,634

47.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.51 IQD 29.5K

$15.45 IQD 20.3K

45.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.03 IQD 11.8K

$5.44 IQD 7,131

65.99%

Cappuccino

$3.26 IQD 4,278

$1.59 IQD 2,081

105.03%

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

$0.51 IQD 673

$0.39 IQD 515

30.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 289

$0.28 IQD 364

-21.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 IQD 2,518

$1.96 IQD 2,568

-2.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 IQD 2,737

$2.81 IQD 3,688

-25.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 IQD 1,814

$1.17 IQD 1,541

17.95%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,036

$0.74 IQD 973

6.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 IQD 2,471

$1.50 IQD 1,972

25.33%

Eggs

$1.88 IQD 2,471

$1.74 IQD 2,285

8.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.31 IQD 9,581

$5.22 IQD 6,847

40.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.80 IQD 6,300

$4.66 IQD 6,110

3.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.16 IQD 18.6K

$9.88 IQD 13.0K

43.32%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,502

$0.92 IQD 1,205

25.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,507

$1.04 IQD 1,364

10.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,545

$0.95 IQD 1,250

24.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.80 IQD 1,053

$0.72 IQD 941

11.11%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 931

$0.69 IQD 905

2.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 935

$0.55 IQD 716

29.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,022

$0.60 IQD 784

30.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 IQD 676

$0.59 IQD 776

-11.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.76 IQD 3,618

$1.94 IQD 2,549

42.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.31 IQD 16.1K

$11.61 IQD 15.2K

6.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 IQD 1,810

$1.07 IQD 1,404

28.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 IQD 2,644

$2.09 IQD 2,741

-3.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 IQD 761

$0.37 IQD 480

56.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.12 IQD 44.7K

$31.68 IQD 41.5K

7.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 IQD 2,937

$2.27 IQD 2,979

-1.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.26 IQD 2,963

$1.55 IQD 2,035

45.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.95 IQD 9,110

$7.82 IQD 10.2K

-11.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 IQD 919

$0.48 IQD 635

45.83%

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

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

$11.5K IQD 15.1M

64.64%

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

$20.8K IQD 27.3M

$14.5K IQD 19.0M

43.50%

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

$100 IQD 131.7K

$71.5 IQD 93.7K

40.44%

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

$17.33 IQD 22.7K

$24.91 IQD 32.7K

-30.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.27 IQD 38.4K

$49.60 IQD 65.0K

-40.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.0 IQD 97.1K

$22.92 IQD 30.1K

222.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.37 IQD 14.9K

$16.88 IQD 22.1K

-32.64%

Cinema Ticket

$11.37 IQD 14.9K

$8.92 IQD 11.7K

27.47%

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

$263 IQD 345.1K

$124 IQD 163.2K

111.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,249 IQD 4.3M

$798 IQD 1.0M

307.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.51 IQD 42.6K

$17.01 IQD 22.3K

91.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.92 IQD 65.5K

$13.92 IQD 18.2K

258.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 IQD 108.8K

$30.65 IQD 40.2K

170.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.4 IQD 100.2K

$32.35 IQD 42.4K

136.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$437 IQD 572.4K

$255 IQD 334.5K

71.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 IQD 373.3K

$148 IQD 193.6K

92.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$722 IQD 946.3K

$350 IQD 458.7K

106.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$480 IQD 629.0K

$248 IQD 324.8K

93.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,122 IQD 1.5M

$990 IQD 1.3M

13.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$673 IQD 882.6K

$328 IQD 430.7K

104.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$544 IQD 713.4K

$483 IQD 633.9K

12.54%

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: January 13, 2026

Last update for Karbala: January 11, 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

Similar cities

Medellin

🇨🇴 Colombia

Bangkok

🇹🇭 Thailand

Bansko

🇧🇬 Bulgaria

Sao Paulo

🇧🇷 Brazil

Kyiv

🇺🇦 Ukraine

Kuala Lumpur

🇲🇾 Malaysia

Almaty

🇰🇿 Kazakhstan

Beijing (Pekin)

🇨🇳 China