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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Erbil vs $1,049 in Lome, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,522 per month in Erbil vs $1,501 in Lome, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,010 per month in Erbil vs $1,954 in Lome, rent included.

Erbil is about 1% cheaper than Lome, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Erbil and Lome are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 23% lower, Lome 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

$2.17 F CFA 1,248

255.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.64 IQD 29.6K

$32.09 F CFA 18.4K

-29.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.88 IQD 11.6K

$5.16 F CFA 2,964

72.09%

Cappuccino

$3.20 IQD 4,189

$5.62 F CFA 3,229

-43.06%

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

$0.48 IQD 630

$3.46 F CFA 1,984

-86.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 262

$1.11 F CFA 636

-81.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 IQD 2,523

$0.86 F CFA 493

124.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,803

$1.80 F CFA 1,034

18.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,719

$2.42 F CFA 1,390

-45.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 IQD 1,108

$1.31 F CFA 751

-35.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 IQD 2,439

$1.81 F CFA 1,037

2.76%

Eggs

$1.98 IQD 2,590

$2.06 F CFA 1,186

-3.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.23 IQD 9,474

$14.16 F CFA 8,128

-48.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.72 IQD 6,184

$8.21 F CFA 4,711

-42.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.24 IQD 18.7K

$9.37 F CFA 5,381

51.97%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,563

$2.67 F CFA 1,532

-55.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,505

$1.43 F CFA 819

-19.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,502

$2.62 F CFA 1,506

-56.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,057

$2.52 F CFA 1,447

-67.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 888

$1.80 F CFA 1,033

-62.22%

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 980

$1.75 F CFA 1,004

-57.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 IQD 952

$0.55 F CFA 313

32.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 IQD 742

$0.87 F CFA 497

-34.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.62 IQD 3,428

$1.43 F CFA 821

83.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.19 IQD 16.0K

$4.66 F CFA 2,676

161.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 IQD 1,824

$1.38 F CFA 794

0.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 IQD 2,580

$1.57 F CFA 901

25.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 776

$0.34 F CFA 194

73.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.14 IQD 46.0K

$53.9 F CFA 30.9K

-34.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,943

$2.04 F CFA 1,173

10.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 IQD 3,052

$0.73 F CFA 421

219.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.75 IQD 8,845

$5.24 F CFA 3,008

28.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 IQD 849

$1.25 F CFA 720

-48.00%

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

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

$14.1K F CFA 8.1M

37.53%

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

$20.8K IQD 27.3M

$25.8K F CFA 14.8M

-19.24%

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

$102 IQD 133.2K

$178 F CFA 102.4K

-42.99%

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

$17.42 IQD 22.8K

$21.67 F CFA 12.4K

-19.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.58 IQD 38.7K

$43.41 F CFA 24.9K

-31.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.8 IQD 96.6K

$49.00 F CFA 28.1K

50.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.55 IQD 15.1K

$8.73 F CFA 5,013

32.30%

Cinema Ticket

$11.41 IQD 14.9K

$4.29 F CFA 2,465

165.97%

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

$263 IQD 343.8K

$173 F CFA 99.3K

51.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,250 IQD 4.3M

$5,151 F CFA 3.0M

-36.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.46 IQD 43.8K

$24.78 F CFA 14.2K

35.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

$27.41 F CFA 15.7K

80.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 IQD 106.2K

$40.82 F CFA 23.4K

98.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.5 IQD 100.2K

$96.1 F CFA 55.2K

-20.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$429 IQD 562.3K

$363 F CFA 208.6K

18.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$275 IQD 360.3K

$221 F CFA 126.6K

24.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$732 IQD 958.6K

$757 F CFA 434.6K

-3.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$495 IQD 647.9K

$302 F CFA 173.4K

63.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,130 IQD 1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$660 IQD 864.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$581 IQD 760.9K

$261 F CFA 149.9K

122.61%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Lome: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $429 in Erbil versus $363 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 123% higher in Erbil, 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 $32.00 in Lome. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $195 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

Yes – Lome is pricier by about 1%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,551 per month in Erbil and $1,574 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 28% more in Lome, 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 $32.00 in Lome. 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 Erbil, where all-in costs run around $1,034, than in Lome at $1,049. 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.