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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Erbil is 0.3% more expensive than Lusaka without rent, and 19.5% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Erbil is 5.8% more expensive than Lusaka without rent, and 1.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Erbil
Lusaka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.45 IQDย 9,770
$7.08 ZMWย 142
5.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.51 IQDย 29.5K
$25.03 ZMWย 500
-10.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.03 IQDย 11.8K
$3.64 ZMWย 72.8
148.08%
Cappuccino
$3.26 IQDย 4,278
$1.94 ZMWย 38.70
68.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 IQDย 673
$0.68 ZMWย 13.65
-25.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22 IQDย 289
$0.34 ZMWย 6.70
-35.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.92 IQDย 2,518
$0.89 ZMWย 17.74
115.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 IQDย 2,737
$1.74 ZMWย 34.77
20.11%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Erbil
Lusaka
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 IQDย 1,814
$1.32 ZMWย 26.44
4.55%
White Bread (500g)
$0.79 IQDย 1,036
$0.78 ZMWย 15.65
1.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 IQDย 2,471
$1.63 ZMWย 32.61
15.34%
Eggs
$1.88 IQDย 2,471
$1.78 ZMWย 35.49
5.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.31 IQDย 9,581
$7.93 ZMWย 158
-7.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.80 IQDย 6,300
$3.91 ZMWย 78.1
22.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.16 IQDย 18.6K
$4.68 ZMWย 93.5
202.56%
Apples (1kg)
$1.15 IQDย 1,502
$2.49 ZMWย 49.80
-53.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.15 IQDย 1,506
$1.65 ZMWย 32.99
-30.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.18 IQDย 1,545
$2.81 ZMWย 56.2
-58.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.80 IQDย 1,053
$1.15 ZMWย 23.01
-30.43%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 IQDย 931
$1.90 ZMWย 37.92
-62.63%
Onion (1kg)
$0.71 IQDย 935
$1.32 ZMWย 26.44
-46.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.78 IQDย 1,022
$0.92 ZMWย 18.37
-15.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 IQDย 676
$0.48 ZMWย 9.53
8.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.76 IQDย 3,618
$2.42 ZMWย 48.44
14.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.31 IQDย 16.1K
$7.40 ZMWย 148
66.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 IQDย 1,809
$1.14 ZMWย 22.74
21.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02 IQDย 2,644
$1.59 ZMWย 31.67
27.04%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Erbil
Lusaka
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.58 IQDย 761
$1.04 ZMWย 20.68
-44.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.12 IQDย 44.7K
$38.21 ZMWย 763
-10.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.24 IQDย 2,937
$2.81 ZMWย 56.2
-20.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.26 IQDย 2,963
$1.17 ZMWย 23.38
93.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.95 IQDย 9,110
$9.34 ZMWย 187
-25.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.70 IQDย 919
$1.23 ZMWย 24.59
-43.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9K IQDย 24.8M
$8,063 ZMWย 161.1K
134.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8K IQDย 27.3M
$29.0K ZMWย 579.4K
-28.13%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Erbil
Lusaka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$100 IQDย 131.7K
$91.3 ZMWย 1,825
9.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.33 IQDย 22.7K
$53.3 ZMWย 1,064
-67.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.27 IQDย 38.4K
$126 ZMWย 2,515
-76.74%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Erbil
Lusaka
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$74.0 IQDย 97.1K
$45.32 ZMWย 906
63.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.37 IQDย 14.9K
$13.95 ZMWย 279
-18.49%
Cinema Ticket
$11.37 IQDย 14.9K
$4.13 ZMWย 82.5
175.30%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Erbil
Lusaka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$263 IQDย 345.1K
$179 ZMWย 3,578
46.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,249 IQDย 4.3M
$9,680 ZMWย 193.4K
-66.43%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Erbil
Lusaka
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.51 IQDย 42.6K
$18.79 ZMWย 375
73.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.92 IQDย 65.5K
$16.87 ZMWย 337
195.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.0 IQDย 108.8K
$85.4 ZMWย 1,707
-2.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4 IQDย 100.2K
$72.9 ZMWย 1,457
4.77%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Erbil
Lusaka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$437 IQDย 572.4K
$230 ZMWย 4,588
90.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$285 IQDย 373.2K
$124 ZMWย 2,469
130.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$722 IQDย 946.3K
$1,032 ZMWย 20.6K
-30.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$480 IQDย 629.0K
$598 ZMWย 12.0K
-19.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,122 IQDย 1.5M
$1,935 ZMWย 38.7K
-42.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$673 IQDย 882.6K
$3,782 ZMWย 75.6K
-82.20%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Erbil
Lusaka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$544 IQDย 713.4K
$344 ZMWย 6,868
58.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
14.33
25
-42.68%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Erbil: January 13, 2026

Last update for Lusaka: January 12, 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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