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

😐 Solo nomad: Erbil is 41.8% more expensive than Karbala without rent, and 50.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Erbil is 48.7% more expensive than Karbala without rent, and 53.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.5 IQD 9,819

$5.01 IQD 6,556

49.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.23 IQD 30.4K

$15.61 IQD 20.4K

48.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 IQD 11.5K

$5.34 IQD 6,988

64.04%

Cappuccino

$3.14 IQD 4,111

$1.58 IQD 2,071

98.73%

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

$0.48 IQD 627

$0.36 IQD 476

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.2 IQD 261

$0.3 IQD 395

-33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 IQD 2,556

$1.93 IQD 2,521

1.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 IQD 2,782

$2.83 IQD 3,706

-24.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 IQD 1,811

$1.19 IQD 1,562

15.97%

White Bread (500g)

$0.8 IQD 1,046

$0.7 IQD 914

14.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.79 IQD 2,346

$1.43 IQD 1,867

25.17%

Eggs

$1.99 IQD 2,605

$1.75 IQD 2,290

13.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.57 IQD 9,907

$5.2 IQD 6,811

45.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.75 IQD 6,218

$4.85 IQD 6,348

-2.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.08 IQD 18.4K

$9.7 IQD 12.7K

45.15%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,561

$0.97 IQD 1,265

22.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,486

$1.03 IQD 1,346

9.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,559

$0.91 IQD 1,187

30.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.77 IQD 1,008

$0.66 IQD 863

16.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 880

$0.63 IQD 821

6.35%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 997

$0.54 IQD 712

40.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 IQD 1,004

$0.6 IQD 792

28.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 IQD 682

$0.6 IQD 783

-13.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.75 IQD 3,600

$1.94 IQD 2,537

41.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.84 IQD 18.1K

$13.19 IQD 17.3K

4.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.4 IQD 1,827

$1.02 IQD 1,334

37.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 IQD 2,654

$2.19 IQD 2,869

-7.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 773

$0.37 IQD 482

59.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.92 IQD 45.7K

$30.86 IQD 40.4K

13.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.34 IQD 3,068

$2.27 IQD 2,966

3.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.34 IQD 3,060

$1.5 IQD 1,958

56.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.02 IQD 9,189

$7.68 IQD 10K

-8.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 IQD 843

$0.48 IQD 634

33.33%

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

$19.2K IQD 25.1M

$11.4K IQD 14.9M

68.54%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

$14.5K IQD 19M

43.04%

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

$99.7 IQD 130.5K

$70.3 IQD 92K

41.89%

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

$17.86 IQD 23.4K

$24.7 IQD 32.3K

-27.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.14 IQD 39.4K

$48.37 IQD 63.3K

-37.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72 IQD 94.2K

$22.76 IQD 29.8K

216.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.72 IQD 15.3K

$16.95 IQD 22.2K

-30.86%

Cinema Ticket

$11.67 IQD 15.3K

$8.9 IQD 11.7K

31.12%

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

$270 IQD 353.4K

$126 IQD 165.2K

113.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,274 IQD 4.3M

$785 IQD 1M

316.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.88 IQD 43K

$17.44 IQD 22.8K

88.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.43 IQD 63.4K

$14.06 IQD 18.4K

244.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.8 IQD 105.8K

$30.32 IQD 39.7K

166.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.6 IQD 100.2K

$32.09 IQD 42K

138.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$439 IQD 574.6K

$254 IQD 332K

73.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$279 IQD 365.2K

$148 IQD 193.2K

89.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$718 IQD 939.3K

$345 IQD 452.1K

107.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$493 IQD 646K

$242 IQD 317.3K

103.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,061 IQD 1.4M

$1,155 IQD 1.5M

-8.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$651 IQD 851.8K

$339 IQD 443.7K

91.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$503 IQD 658.7K

$504 IQD 659.7K

-0.16%

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: October 28, 2025

Last update for Karbala: October 29, 2025

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