Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Sark Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Sark

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Erbil vs $643 in Sark, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,518 per month in Erbil vs $2,030 in Sark, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,019 per month in Erbil vs $3,418 in Sark, rent included.

Erbil costs about 58% more than Sark, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Erbil and Sark are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 24% lower, Sark 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.59 IQD 9,938

$18.80 GGP 14.03

-59.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.90 IQD 30.0K

$81.9 GGP 61.1

-72.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.65 IQD 11.3K

Cappuccino

$3.25 IQD 4,260

$2.32 GGP 1.73

40.09%

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

$0.52 IQD 676

$2.79 GGP 2.08

-81.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 261

$1.98 GGP 1.47

-89.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 IQD 2,555

$3.79 GGP 2.83

-48.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 IQD 2,675

$3.71 GGP 2.77

-45.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,725

$2.59 GGP 1.93

-49.03%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 IQD 1,062

$2.84 GGP 2.12

-71.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 IQD 2,357

$3.69 GGP 2.75

-51.22%

Eggs

$1.91 IQD 2,505

$5.15 GGP 3.84

-62.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.50 IQD 9,816

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.82 IQD 6,315

$8.51 GGP 6.35

-43.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.10 IQD 18.5K

$8.08 GGP 6.03

74.50%

Apples (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,551

$3.10 GGP 2.31

-61.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,500

$4.68 GGP 3.49

-75.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,494

$4.03 GGP 3.00

-71.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.80 IQD 1,045

$5.58 GGP 4.17

-85.66%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 863

$3.18 GGP 2.38

-79.25%

Onion (1kg)

$0.77 IQD 1,002

$3.19 GGP 2.38

-75.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 IQD 1,008

$2.25 GGP 1.68

-65.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 721

$1.49 GGP 1.11

-63.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.74 IQD 3,594

$10.32 GGP 7.70

-73.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.38 IQD 16.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 IQD 1,794

$1.88 GGP 1.40

-27.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 IQD 2,619

$2.11 GGP 1.58

-5.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 768

$2.09 GGP 1.56

-71.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.99 IQD 45.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,942

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.29 IQD 2,993

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.85 IQD 8,966

$13.79 GGP 10.29

-50.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 IQD 839

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

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

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

$20.7K IQD 27.2M

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

$101 IQD 132.2K

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

$17.35 IQD 22.7K

$21.96 GGP 16.38

-20.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.25 IQD 39.6K

$93.0 GGP 69.4

-67.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.1 IQD 94.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.54 IQD 15.1K

Cinema Ticket

$11.28 IQD 14.8K

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

$271 IQD 354.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,274 IQD 4.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.30 IQD 42.3K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 IQD 106.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.2 IQD 101.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$425 IQD 556.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$279 IQD 365.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$740 IQD 969.0K

$2,003 GGP 1,494

-63.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$491 IQD 643.3K

$1,690 GGP 1,261

-70.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,098 IQD 1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$646 IQD 845.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 IQD 773.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.33

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

Last update for Erbil: June 6, 2026

Last update for Sark: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Erbil versus $82.0 in Sark. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $195 vs $301 – making Erbil 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 Sark: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Erbil is pricier by about 58%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Erbil and $965 in Sark. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Interestingly, groceries are about 54% cheaper in Erbil – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Erbil and $82.0 in Sark. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sark, where all-in costs run around $643, than in Erbil at $1,017. In Sark it covers expenses comfortably, while in Erbil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sark – 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 Sark. 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.