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

😐 Solo nomad: Erbil is 0.7% more expensive than Lusaka without rent, and 20.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Erbil is 5% more expensive than Lusaka without rent, and 3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Erbil
Lusaka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.87 IQD 10.3K
$7.23 ZMW 138
8.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.86 IQD 29.9K
$24.83 ZMW 475
-7.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.58 IQD 11.2K
$3.68 ZMW 70.4
133.15%
Cappuccino
$3.26 IQD 4,266
$1.99 ZMW 38.11
63.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 IQD 674
$0.72 ZMW 13.85
-29.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20 IQD 262
$0.34 ZMW 6.50
-41.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.95 IQD 2,547
$0.92 ZMW 17.66
111.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 IQD 2,824
$1.74 ZMW 33.24
24.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Erbil
Lusaka
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.33 IQD 1,745
$1.32 ZMW 25.17
0.76%
White Bread (500g)
$0.80 IQD 1,044
$0.73 ZMW 14.02
9.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.80 IQD 2,359
$1.60 ZMW 30.67
12.50%
Eggs
$1.92 IQD 2,508
$1.84 ZMW 35.25
4.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.49 IQD 9,801
$7.70 ZMW 147
-2.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.85 IQD 6,345
$3.98 ZMW 76.1
21.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.32 IQD 18.8K
$4.74 ZMW 90.7
202.11%
Apples (1kg)
$1.19 IQD 1,554
$2.48 ZMW 47.52
-52.02%
Banana (1kg)
$1.19 IQD 1,564
$1.67 ZMW 31.91
-28.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.19 IQD 1,563
$2.80 ZMW 53.5
-57.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.81 IQD 1,059
$1.17 ZMW 22.40
-30.77%
Potato (1kg)
$0.67 IQD 880
$1.89 ZMW 36.17
-64.55%
Onion (1kg)
$0.75 IQD 982
$1.36 ZMW 26.09
-44.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 IQD 968
$0.94 ZMW 17.92
-21.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 IQD 742
$0.48 ZMW 9.17
18.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.71 IQD 3,545
$2.53 ZMW 48.34
7.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.53 IQD 16.4K
$8.07 ZMW 154
55.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 IQD 1,899
$1.13 ZMW 21.61
28.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 IQD 2,654
$1.53 ZMW 29.26
32.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Erbil
Lusaka
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.59 IQD 778
$1.00 ZMW 19.17
-41.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.17 IQD 46.0K
$38.65 ZMW 739
-9.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.36 IQD 3,096
$2.73 ZMW 52.2
-13.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.31 IQD 3,019
$1.13 ZMW 21.63
104.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.79 IQD 8,893
$8.99 ZMW 172
-24.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.65 IQD 845
$1.23 ZMW 23.50
-47.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9K IQD 24.8M
$8,140 ZMW 155.7K
132.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4K IQD 26.7M
$28.5K ZMW 544.9K
-28.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Erbil
Lusaka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$98.8 IQD 129.4K
$92.9 ZMW 1,778
6.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.50 IQD 22.9K
$53.1 ZMW 1,016
-67.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.35 IQD 39.7K
$126 ZMW 2,402
-75.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Erbil
Lusaka
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.9 IQD 96.7K
$45.23 ZMW 865
63.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.75 IQD 15.4K
$13.75 ZMW 263
-14.55%
Cinema Ticket
$11.31 IQD 14.8K
$4.27 ZMW 81.6
164.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Erbil
Lusaka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$262 IQD 343.1K
$175 ZMW 3,349
49.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,323 IQD 4.4M
$9,583 ZMW 183.3K
-65.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Erbil
Lusaka
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.22 IQD 43.5K
$18.74 ZMW 358
77.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.02 IQD 62.9K
$17.19 ZMW 329
179.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.5 IQD 106.8K
$85.8 ZMW 1,642
-4.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.1 IQD 100.9K
$73.9 ZMW 1,414
4.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Erbil
Lusaka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$430 IQD 562.7K
$222 ZMW 4,251
93.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$276 IQD 361.4K
$120 ZMW 2,299
129.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$724 IQD 947.4K
$1,042 ZMW 19.9K
-30.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$496 IQD 649.5K
$600 ZMW 11.5K
-17.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,111 IQD 1.5M
$1,997 ZMW 38.2K
-44.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$653 IQD 854.3K
$3,895 ZMW 74.5K
-83.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Erbil
Lusaka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$566 IQD 741.0K
$344 ZMW 6,576
64.62%
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: April 11, 2026

Last update for Lusaka: April 13, 2026

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 other spots: cost of living compared

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