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 $842 in Mashhad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,548 per month in Erbil vs $1,280 in Mashhad, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,061 per month in Erbil vs $1,718 in Mashhad, rent included.

Erbil costs about 23% more than Mashhad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Erbil and Mashhad are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 23% lower, Mashhad 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.72 IQD 10.1K

$5.22 IQD 6,839

47.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.83 IQD 29.9K

$35.92 IQD 47.0K

-36.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.98 IQD 11.8K

$7.60 IQD 9,956

18.16%

Cappuccino

$3.13 IQD 4,096

$3.08 IQD 4,038

1.62%

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

$0.49 IQD 640

$0.36 IQD 474

36.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 261

$0.17 IQD 225

17.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.00 IQD 2,624

$3.48 IQD 4,554

-42.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,797

$2.83 IQD 3,704

-24.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,730

$1.36 IQD 1,777

-2.94%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 IQD 1,103

$0.79 IQD 1,035

6.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 IQD 2,355

$1.67 IQD 2,180

7.78%

Eggs

$1.98 IQD 2,599

$0.87 IQD 1,143

127.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.54 IQD 9,879

$4.39 IQD 5,750

71.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.80 IQD 6,282

$2.01 IQD 2,636

138.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 IQD 18.7K

$2.94 IQD 3,848

386.05%

Apples (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,491

$0.98 IQD 1,284

16.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.20 IQD 1,567

$1.16 IQD 1,519

3.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,561

$0.97 IQD 1,274

22.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 994

$0.67 IQD 882

13.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 918

$0.65 IQD 854

7.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 IQD 938

$0.63 IQD 830

14.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,018

$0.31 IQD 411

151.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 688

$0.23 IQD 296

130.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.63 IQD 3,449

$0.78 IQD 1,028

237.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.55 IQD 16.4K

$13.70 IQD 17.9K

-8.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 IQD 1,899

$1.80 IQD 2,355

-19.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 IQD 2,633

$2.16 IQD 2,834

-6.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 IQD 709

$0.36 IQD 477

50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.09 IQD 44.6K

$31.16 IQD 40.8K

9.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 IQD 3,084

$3.85 IQD 5,045

-38.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 IQD 2,885

$1.47 IQD 1,928

49.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.87 IQD 8,999

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

-11.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 IQD 911

$0.53 IQD 699

32.08%

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

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

-3.47%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

$20.2K IQD 26.4M

2.61%

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

$102 IQD 134.1K

$176 IQD 230.6K

-41.84%

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

$17.93 IQD 23.5K

$25.50 IQD 33.4K

-29.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.33 IQD 38.4K

$40.29 IQD 52.8K

-27.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.7 IQD 95.2K

$36.45 IQD 47.7K

99.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.77 IQD 15.4K

$16.58 IQD 21.7K

-29.01%

Cinema Ticket

$11.62 IQD 15.2K

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

50.71%

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

$269 IQD 352.1K

$166 IQD 216.9K

62.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,278 IQD 4.3M

$3,528 IQD 4.6M

-7.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.74 IQD 42.9K

$28.65 IQD 37.5K

14.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.36 IQD 63.3K

$30.05 IQD 39.3K

60.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.0 IQD 106.0K

$64.2 IQD 84.0K

26.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.8 IQD 100.5K

$43.33 IQD 56.7K

77.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$426 IQD 557.6K

$241 IQD 315.7K

76.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$278 IQD 364.4K

$180 IQD 236.0K

54.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$726 IQD 951.1K

$589 IQD 770.9K

23.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$485 IQD 635.3K

$341 IQD 446.7K

42.21%

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

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Mashhad: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $426 in Erbil versus $241 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 – $197 in Erbil vs $131 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 23%, 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 $1,263 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 51% 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.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mashhad, where all-in costs run around $842, than in Erbil at $1,034. In Mashhad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Erbil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.