Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Kirkuk Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Kirkuk

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Erbil vs $609 in Kirkuk, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,518 per month in Erbil vs $960 in Kirkuk, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,019 per month in Erbil vs $1,311 in Kirkuk, rent included.

Erbil costs about 67% more than Kirkuk, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Erbil and Kirkuk are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 24% lower, Kirkuk 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.59 IQD 9,938

$3.80 IQD 4,974

99.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.90 IQD 30.0K

$25.74 IQD 33.7K

-11.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.65 IQD 11.3K

$5.76 IQD 7,540

50.17%

Cappuccino

$3.25 IQD 4,260

$2.34 IQD 3,064

38.89%

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

$0.52 IQD 676

$0.39 IQD 512

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 261

$0.18 IQD 235

11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 IQD 2,555

$3.41 IQD 4,468

-42.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 IQD 2,675

$2.89 IQD 3,782

-29.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,725

$1.14 IQD 1,498

15.79%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 IQD 1,062

$0.61 IQD 796

32.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 IQD 2,357

$1.67 IQD 2,182

7.78%

Eggs

$1.91 IQD 2,505

$1.48 IQD 1,941

29.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.50 IQD 9,816

$4.58 IQD 5,997

63.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.82 IQD 6,315

$2.85 IQD 3,727

69.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.10 IQD 18.5K

$10.79 IQD 14.1K

30.68%

Apples (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,551

$0.90 IQD 1,180

31.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,500

$1.02 IQD 1,334

12.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,494

$0.99 IQD 1,296

15.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.80 IQD 1,045

$0.64 IQD 843

25.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 863

$0.49 IQD 643

34.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.77 IQD 1,002

$0.50 IQD 651

54.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 IQD 1,008

$0.63 IQD 830

22.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 721

$0.31 IQD 401

77.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.74 IQD 3,594

$1.86 IQD 2,440

47.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.38 IQD 16.2K

$13.54 IQD 17.7K

-8.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 IQD 1,794

$1.76 IQD 2,311

-22.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 IQD 2,619

$2.11 IQD 2,760

-5.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 768

$0.56 IQD 727

5.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.99 IQD 45.8K

$31.66 IQD 41.5K

10.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,942

$2.93 IQD 3,832

-23.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.29 IQD 2,993

$1.11 IQD 1,451

106.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.85 IQD 8,966

$7.64 IQD 10.0K

-10.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 IQD 839

$0.53 IQD 697

20.75%

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

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

-5.19%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.2M

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

2.31%

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

$101 IQD 132.2K

$52.7 IQD 69.0K

91.59%

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

$17.35 IQD 22.7K

$23.40 IQD 30.6K

-25.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.25 IQD 39.6K

$38.76 IQD 50.8K

-21.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.1 IQD 94.4K

$14.67 IQD 19.2K

391.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.54 IQD 15.1K

$17.09 IQD 22.4K

-32.48%

Cinema Ticket

$11.28 IQD 14.8K

$7.50 IQD 9,819

50.40%

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

$271 IQD 354.5K

$58.8 IQD 77.0K

360.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,274 IQD 4.3M

$780 IQD 1.0M

319.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.30 IQD 42.3K

$28.28 IQD 37.0K

14.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

$30.17 IQD 39.5K

64.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 IQD 106.1K

$23.14 IQD 30.3K

250.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.2 IQD 101.0K

$14.72 IQD 19.3K

424.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$425 IQD 556.0K

$73.8 IQD 96.7K

475.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$279 IQD 365.3K

$109 IQD 142.1K

157.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$740 IQD 969.0K

$113 IQD 147.8K

555.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$491 IQD 643.3K

$252 IQD 329.5K

95.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,098 IQD 1.4M

$866 IQD 1.1M

26.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$646 IQD 845.4K

$398 IQD 520.7K

62.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 IQD 773.3K

$631 IQD 826.1K

-6.39%

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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Kirkuk: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $425 in Erbil versus $73.8 in Kirkuk. 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 7% higher in Kirkuk, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Erbil versus $26.00 in Kirkuk. Groceries tell a different story – $195 in Erbil vs $157 in Kirkuk – so Kirkuk wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Kirkuk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Erbil is pricier by about 67%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Erbil and $914 in Kirkuk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kirkuk, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 24% 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 $26.00 in Kirkuk. 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 Kirkuk, where all-in costs run around $609, than in Erbil at $1,017. In Kirkuk it covers expenses comfortably, while in Erbil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kirkuk – 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 Kirkuk. 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.