Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Lome Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Lome

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,027 per month in Erbil vs $1,028 in Lome, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,517 per month in Erbil vs $1,520 in Lome, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,008 per month in Erbil vs $2,012 in Lome, rent included.

Erbil and Lome have comparable living costs — the differences are in the details.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.87 IQD 10.3K

$2.18 F CFA 1,219

261.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.86 IQD 29.9K

$31.89 F CFA 17.8K

-28.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.58 IQD 11.2K

$5.15 F CFA 2,876

66.60%

Cappuccino

$3.26 IQD 4,266

$5.90 F CFA 3,291

-44.75%

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

$0.51 IQD 674

$3.38 F CFA 1,888

-84.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 262

$1.11 F CFA 621

-81.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 IQD 2,547

$0.84 F CFA 472

132.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 IQD 2,824

$1.71 F CFA 955

26.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 IQD 1,745

$2.42 F CFA 1,353

-45.04%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 IQD 1,044

$1.26 F CFA 706

-36.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 IQD 2,359

$1.85 F CFA 1,031

-2.70%

Eggs

$1.92 IQD 2,508

$2.06 F CFA 1,148

-6.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.49 IQD 9,801

$14.08 F CFA 7,859

-46.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 IQD 6,345

$8.50 F CFA 4,746

-42.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.32 IQD 18.8K

$8.91 F CFA 4,974

60.72%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,554

$2.63 F CFA 1,471

-54.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,564

$1.51 F CFA 842

-21.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,563

$2.69 F CFA 1,504

-55.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,059

$2.43 F CFA 1,358

-66.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 880

$1.80 F CFA 1,007

-62.78%

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 982

$1.75 F CFA 975

-57.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 IQD 968

$0.52 F CFA 289

42.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 IQD 742

$0.86 F CFA 479

-33.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.71 IQD 3,545

$1.38 F CFA 773

96.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.53 IQD 16.4K

$4.83 F CFA 2,699

159.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 IQD 1,899

$1.36 F CFA 760

6.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 IQD 2,654

$1.50 F CFA 839

35.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 778

$0.34 F CFA 190

73.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.17 IQD 46.0K

$52.2 F CFA 29.1K

-32.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 IQD 3,096

$2.10 F CFA 1,172

12.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.31 IQD 3,019

$0.74 F CFA 415

212.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.79 IQD 8,893

$5.27 F CFA 2,941

28.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 IQD 845

$1.19 F CFA 666

-45.38%

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

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

$14.1K F CFA 7.9M

33.69%

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

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

$25.6K F CFA 14.3M

-20.34%

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

$98.8 IQD 129.4K

$172 F CFA 96.0K

-42.54%

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

$17.50 IQD 22.9K

$22.30 F CFA 12.4K

-21.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.35 IQD 39.7K

$43.33 F CFA 24.2K

-29.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.9 IQD 96.7K

$49.05 F CFA 27.4K

50.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.75 IQD 15.4K

$9.08 F CFA 5,069

29.41%

Cinema Ticket

$11.31 IQD 14.8K

$4.31 F CFA 2,404

162.41%

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

$262 IQD 343.0K

$178 F CFA 99.5K

47.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,323 IQD 4.4M

$5,148 F CFA 2.9M

-35.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.22 IQD 43.5K

$24.52 F CFA 13.7K

35.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.02 IQD 62.9K

$27.17 F CFA 15.2K

76.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.5 IQD 106.8K

$40.81 F CFA 22.8K

99.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.1 IQD 100.9K

$94.2 F CFA 52.6K

-18.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 IQD 562.7K

$358 F CFA 199.9K

20.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$276 IQD 361.4K

$221 F CFA 123.2K

25.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$724 IQD 947.3K

$764 F CFA 426.4K

-5.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$496 IQD 649.5K

$300 F CFA 167.7K

65.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,111 IQD 1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$653 IQD 854.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$566 IQD 740.9K

$264 F CFA 147.4K

114.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.33

79.13%

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

Last update for Erbil: April 11, 2026

Last update for Lome: April 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Erbil versus $358 in Lome. 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 114% higher in Erbil. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23 in Erbil versus $32 in Lome. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $197 vs $250 – making Erbil 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 Lome: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,541 per month in Erbil and $1,542 in Lome. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 27% more in Lome, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

Kindergarten costs $262 per month in Erbil and $178 in Lome. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Erbil, where all-in costs run around $1,027, than in Lome at $1,028. In Erbil it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lome it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Erbil – 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 Erbil. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lome makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.