Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Mashhad Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Mashhad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Erbil vs $859 in Mashhad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,522 per month in Erbil vs $1,281 in Mashhad, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,010 per month in Erbil vs $1,703 in Mashhad, rent included.

Erbil costs about 20% more than Mashhad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Erbil and Mashhad are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 23% lower, Mashhad 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

$5.50 IQD 7,205

40.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.64 IQD 29.6K

$35.68 IQD 46.7K

-36.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.88 IQD 11.6K

$7.48 IQD 9,799

18.72%

Cappuccino

$3.20 IQD 4,189

$2.98 IQD 3,900

7.38%

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

$0.48 IQD 630

$0.39 IQD 512

23.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 262

$0.22 IQD 284

-9.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 IQD 2,523

$3.38 IQD 4,423

-42.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,803

$2.94 IQD 3,849

-27.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,719

$1.32 IQD 1,735

-0.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 IQD 1,108

$0.83 IQD 1,081

2.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 IQD 2,439

$1.60 IQD 2,101

16.25%

Eggs

$1.98 IQD 2,590

$0.87 IQD 1,135

127.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.23 IQD 9,474

$4.39 IQD 5,747

64.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.72 IQD 6,184

$2.03 IQD 2,657

132.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.24 IQD 18.7K

$3.03 IQD 3,967

369.97%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,563

$0.97 IQD 1,275

22.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,505

$1.17 IQD 1,528

-1.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,502

$1.01 IQD 1,324

13.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,057

$0.72 IQD 947

12.50%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 888

$0.70 IQD 913

-2.86%

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 980

$0.68 IQD 893

10.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 IQD 952

$0.29 IQD 376

151.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 IQD 742

$0.17 IQD 228

235.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.62 IQD 3,428

$0.77 IQD 1,013

240.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.19 IQD 16.0K

$13.54 IQD 17.7K

-9.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 IQD 1,824

$1.83 IQD 2,393

-24.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 IQD 2,580

$2.10 IQD 2,748

-6.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 776

$0.37 IQD 484

59.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.14 IQD 46.0K

$31.56 IQD 41.3K

11.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,943

$3.91 IQD 5,114

-42.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 IQD 3,052

$1.54 IQD 2,018

51.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.75 IQD 8,845

$7.52 IQD 9,848

-10.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 IQD 849

$0.57 IQD 747

14.04%

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

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

-4.79%

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

$20.8K IQD 27.3M

$19.6K IQD 25.7M

6.25%

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

$102 IQD 133.2K

$177 IQD 232.4K

-42.70%

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

$17.42 IQD 22.8K

$26.31 IQD 34.5K

-33.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.58 IQD 38.7K

$39.77 IQD 52.1K

-25.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.8 IQD 96.6K

$36.85 IQD 48.3K

100.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.55 IQD 15.1K

$16.48 IQD 21.6K

-29.92%

Cinema Ticket

$11.41 IQD 14.9K

$7.62 IQD 9,977

49.74%

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

$263 IQD 343.8K

$166 IQD 216.8K

58.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,250 IQD 4.3M

$3,570 IQD 4.7M

-8.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.46 IQD 43.8K

$28.86 IQD 37.8K

15.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

$31.13 IQD 40.8K

59.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 IQD 106.2K

$65.2 IQD 85.4K

24.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.5 IQD 100.2K

$42.92 IQD 56.2K

78.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$429 IQD 562.3K

$247 IQD 322.8K

74.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$275 IQD 360.3K

$181 IQD 236.6K

52.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$732 IQD 958.6K

$584 IQD 764.5K

25.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$495 IQD 647.9K

$341 IQD 447.0K

44.91%

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

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.33

5.67

152.73%

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

Last update for Erbil: July 12, 2026

Last update for Mashhad: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $429 in Erbil versus $247 in Mashhad. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Erbil versus $36.00 in Mashhad. Groceries tell a different story – $195 in Erbil vs $130 in Mashhad – so Mashhad wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Mashhad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Erbil is pricier by about 20%, 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 $1,289 in Mashhad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mashhad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 50% more in Erbil, 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 $36.00 in Mashhad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,034 in Erbil and $859 in Mashhad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Mashhad – 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 Mashhad. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Erbil makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.