Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Lusaka Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Lusaka

🙂 Solo nomad: Erbil is 2% cheaper than Lusaka without rent, and 22.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Erbil is 4% more expensive than Lusaka without rent, and 0.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Erbil
Lusaka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.69 IQD 10.1K
$7.35 ZMW 141
4.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.10 IQD 30.2K
$25.43 ZMW 487
-9.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.79 IQD 11.5K
$3.70 ZMW 70.7
137.57%
Cappuccino
$3.13 IQD 4,091
$1.93 ZMW 36.94
62.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 IQD 675
$0.69 ZMW 13.18
-24.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22 IQD 288
$0.36 ZMW 6.92
-38.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.95 IQD 2,547
$0.89 ZMW 17.03
119.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 IQD 2,695
$1.81 ZMW 34.56
13.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Erbil
Lusaka
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.33 IQD 1,745
$1.26 ZMW 24.17
5.56%
White Bread (500g)
$0.84 IQD 1,100
$0.74 ZMW 14.17
13.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.80 IQD 2,348
$1.59 ZMW 30.35
13.21%
Eggs
$1.97 IQD 2,580
$1.82 ZMW 34.85
8.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.54 IQD 9,856
$7.93 ZMW 152
-4.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.75 IQD 6,212
$3.83 ZMW 73.2
24.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.00 IQD 18.3K
$4.61 ZMW 88.2
203.69%
Apples (1kg)
$1.14 IQD 1,488
$2.61 ZMW 49.95
-56.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.16 IQD 1,517
$1.61 ZMW 30.78
-27.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.13 IQD 1,477
$2.69 ZMW 51.5
-57.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.74 IQD 972
$1.12 ZMW 21.45
-33.93%
Potato (1kg)
$0.72 IQD 946
$1.88 ZMW 35.99
-61.70%
Onion (1kg)
$0.70 IQD 921
$1.39 ZMW 26.56
-49.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 IQD 963
$0.94 ZMW 18.05
-21.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 IQD 730
$0.52 ZMW 9.88
7.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.64 IQD 3,455
$2.52 ZMW 48.29
4.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.45 IQD 16.3K
$7.48 ZMW 143
66.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 IQD 1,802
$1.14 ZMW 21.82
21.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 IQD 2,615
$1.56 ZMW 29.94
28.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Erbil
Lusaka
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.59 IQD 777
$0.95 ZMW 18.25
-37.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.66 IQD 45.3K
$38.75 ZMW 741
-10.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.28 IQD 2,981
$2.77 ZMW 53.0
-17.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.29 IQD 3,000
$1.15 ZMW 21.92
99.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.08 IQD 9,255
$9.03 ZMW 173
-21.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.70 IQD 912
$1.20 ZMW 22.89
-41.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K IQD 25.5M
$8,118 ZMW 155.3K
140.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.6K IQD 26.9M
$28.1K ZMW 536.8K
-26.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Erbil
Lusaka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$101 IQD 132.1K
$90.3 ZMW 1,727
11.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.55 IQD 22.9K
$52.0 ZMW 994
-66.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.42 IQD 38.5K
$127 ZMW 2,433
-76.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Erbil
Lusaka
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.4 IQD 96.0K
$44.62 ZMW 854
64.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.74 IQD 15.4K
$13.95 ZMW 267
-15.84%
Cinema Ticket
$11.69 IQD 15.3K
$4.14 ZMW 79.2
182.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Erbil
Lusaka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$266 IQD 347.3K
$176 ZMW 3,358
51.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,301 IQD 4.3M
$9,737 ZMW 186.3K
-66.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Erbil
Lusaka
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.12 IQD 43.3K
$19.25 ZMW 368
72.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.75 IQD 65.1K
$17.30 ZMW 331
187.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.1 IQD 108.7K
$84.4 ZMW 1,614
-1.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.8 IQD 100.5K
$74.4 ZMW 1,423
3.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Erbil
Lusaka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$439 IQD 574.4K
$225 ZMW 4,303
95.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$276 IQD 360.6K
$123 ZMW 2,360
123.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$738 IQD 965.7K
$1,056 ZMW 20.2K
-30.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$483 IQD 631.7K
$583 ZMW 11.2K
-17.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,112 IQD 1.5M
$1,942 ZMW 37.2K
-42.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$664 IQD 867.9K
$3,863 ZMW 73.9K
-82.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Erbil
Lusaka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$555 IQD 725.3K
$348 ZMW 6,666
59.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
14.33
25
-42.68%

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

Last update for Erbil: March 3, 2026

Last update for Lusaka: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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