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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,101 per month in Erbil vs $640 in Mashhad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,630 per month in Erbil vs $931 in Mashhad, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,158 per month in Erbil vs $1,223 in Mashhad, rent included.

Erbil costs about 72% more than Mashhad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Erbil and Mashhad are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 19% lower, Mashhad 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

$4.67 IQD 6,120

64.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.38 IQD 58.1K

$34.11 IQD 44.7K

30.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.42 IQD 11.0K

$7.65 IQD 10.0K

10.07%

Cappuccino

$3.84 IQD 5,027

$3.08 IQD 4,035

24.68%

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

$1.03 IQD 1,353

$0.40 IQD 519

157.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 IQD 580

$0.24 IQD 312

83.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 IQD 7,920

$3.88 IQD 5,082

55.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.71 IQD 6,166

$3.89 IQD 5,088

21.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 IQD 1,657

$1.05 IQD 1,371

20.95%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,083

$0.82 IQD 1,076

1.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 IQD 2,197

$1.58 IQD 2,067

6.33%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,345

$0.81 IQD 1,063

120.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.06 IQD 10.6K

$3.80 IQD 4,981

112.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.78 IQD 7,574

$2.04 IQD 2,676

183.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.84 IQD 19.4K

$2.92 IQD 3,820

408.22%

Apples (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,483

$1.01 IQD 1,325

11.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 IQD 1,443

$1.12 IQD 1,467

-1.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,612

$0.98 IQD 1,281

25.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.82 IQD 1,068

$0.68 IQD 889

20.59%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 911

$0.67 IQD 873

4.48%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 905

$0.64 IQD 837

7.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 IQD 969

$0.31 IQD 407

138.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 723

$0.21 IQD 274

161.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.52 IQD 3,294

$0.76 IQD 996

231.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.54 IQD 16.4K

$13.55 IQD 17.7K

-7.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 IQD 2,217

$2.14 IQD 2,799

-21.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 IQD 2,735

$2.26 IQD 2,954

-7.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 772

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.81 IQD 57.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 IQD 2,544

$2.25 IQD 2,947

-13.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 IQD 2,381

$1.51 IQD 1,979

20.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.56 IQD 8,589

$7.52 IQD 9,851

-12.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 882

$0.65 IQD 857

3.08%

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

$18.3K IQD 24.0M

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

-3.19%

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

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

6.35%

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

$128 IQD 167.0K

$215 IQD 281.7K

-40.73%

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

$13.95 IQD 18.3K

$21.21 IQD 27.8K

-34.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.49 IQD 37.3K

$42.34 IQD 55.4K

-32.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.0 IQD 86.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.62 IQD 19.1K

Cinema Ticket

$11.67 IQD 15.3K

$10.60 IQD 13.9K

10.09%

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

$309 IQD 405.1K

$165 IQD 216.6K

87.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,144 IQD 4.1M

$3,514 IQD 4.6M

-10.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.32 IQD 41.0K

$29.67 IQD 38.8K

5.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.84 IQD 58.7K

$38.11 IQD 49.9K

17.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.3 IQD 90.7K

$74.5 IQD 97.6K

-7.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.4 IQD 88.3K

$46.47 IQD 60.9K

45.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$460 IQD 602.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$297 IQD 389.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$740 IQD 969.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$432 IQD 566.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,092 IQD 1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$665 IQD 870.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$614 IQD 803.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.53

4.12

-38.59%

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

Last update for Erbil: September 14, 2026

Last update for Mashhad: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Erbil versus $34.00 in Mashhad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $204 vs $127 – making Mashhad the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 72%, 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 $1,652 per month in Erbil and $960 in Mashhad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,101 in Erbil and $640 in Mashhad. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Erbil and $165 in Mashhad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mashhad, where all-in costs run around $640, than in Erbil at $1,101. 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.