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 $1,047 in Lome, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,548 per month in Erbil vs $1,533 in Lome, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,061 per month in Erbil vs $2,020 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 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.72 IQD 10.1K

$2.15 F CFA 1,216

259.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.83 IQD 29.9K

$31.22 F CFA 17.6K

-26.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.98 IQD 11.8K

$5.38 F CFA 3,036

66.91%

Cappuccino

$3.13 IQD 4,096

$5.61 F CFA 3,168

-44.21%

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

$0.49 IQD 640

$3.46 F CFA 1,953

-85.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 261

$1.11 F CFA 627

-81.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.00 IQD 2,624

$0.84 F CFA 477

138.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,797

$1.71 F CFA 964

25.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,730

$2.48 F CFA 1,397

-46.77%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 IQD 1,103

$1.33 F CFA 748

-36.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 IQD 2,355

$1.83 F CFA 1,035

-1.64%

Eggs

$1.98 IQD 2,599

$2.10 F CFA 1,184

-5.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.54 IQD 9,879

$14.13 F CFA 7,975

-46.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.80 IQD 6,282

$8.41 F CFA 4,748

-42.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 IQD 18.7K

$9.44 F CFA 5,326

51.38%

Apples (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,491

$2.71 F CFA 1,530

-57.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.20 IQD 1,567

$1.50 F CFA 845

-20.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,561

$2.62 F CFA 1,481

-54.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 994

$2.48 F CFA 1,402

-69.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 918

$1.79 F CFA 1,012

-60.89%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 IQD 938

$1.74 F CFA 981

-58.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,018

$0.50 F CFA 284

56.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 688

$0.85 F CFA 482

-37.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.63 IQD 3,449

$1.44 F CFA 815

82.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.55 IQD 16.4K

$4.87 F CFA 2,748

157.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 IQD 1,899

$1.33 F CFA 749

9.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 IQD 2,633

$1.51 F CFA 855

33.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 IQD 709

$0.36 F CFA 204

50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.09 IQD 44.6K

$53.3 F CFA 30.1K

-35.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 IQD 3,084

$2.13 F CFA 1,203

10.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 IQD 2,885

$0.69 F CFA 389

218.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.87 IQD 8,999

$5.21 F CFA 2,938

31.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 IQD 911

$1.25 F CFA 704

-44.00%

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

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

$14.1K F CFA 7.9M

35.87%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

$26.0K F CFA 14.7M

-20.32%

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

$102 IQD 134.1K

$173 F CFA 97.5K

-40.73%

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

$17.93 IQD 23.5K

$21.89 F CFA 12.4K

-18.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.33 IQD 38.4K

$44.32 F CFA 25.0K

-33.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.7 IQD 95.2K

$49.54 F CFA 28.0K

46.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.77 IQD 15.4K

$8.63 F CFA 4,871

36.38%

Cinema Ticket

$11.62 IQD 15.2K

$4.33 F CFA 2,444

168.36%

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

$269 IQD 352.1K

$177 F CFA 99.9K

51.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,278 IQD 4.3M

$5,103 F CFA 2.9M

-35.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.74 IQD 42.9K

$24.39 F CFA 13.8K

34.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.36 IQD 63.3K

$27.26 F CFA 15.4K

77.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.0 IQD 106.0K

$42.14 F CFA 23.8K

92.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.8 IQD 100.5K

$94.0 F CFA 53.0K

-18.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$426 IQD 557.6K

$360 F CFA 202.9K

18.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$278 IQD 364.4K

$224 F CFA 126.2K

24.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$726 IQD 951.1K

$765 F CFA 431.8K

-5.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$485 IQD 635.3K

$299 F CFA 169.0K

62.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,123 IQD 1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$658 IQD 862.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$584 IQD 765.0K

$267 F CFA 150.6K

118.98%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Lome: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $426 in Erbil versus $360 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 119% 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 $31.00 in Lome. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $197 vs $252 – 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 $1,570 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 $31.00 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 $1,047. 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.