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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,101 per month in Erbil vs $245 in Sark, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,630 per month in Erbil vs $419 in Sark, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,158 per month in Erbil vs $593 in Sark, rent included.

Erbil costs about 349% more than Sark, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Erbil and Sark are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 19% lower, Sark 82% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.38 IQD 58.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.42 IQD 11.0K

Cappuccino

$3.84 IQD 5,027

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

$1.03 IQD 1,353

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 IQD 580

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 IQD 7,920

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.71 IQD 6,166

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 IQD 1,657

$2.92 GGP 2.17

-56.51%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,083

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 IQD 2,197

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,345

$7.13 GGP 5.29

-74.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.06 IQD 10.6K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.78 IQD 7,574

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.84 IQD 19.4K

Apples (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,483

$5.13 GGP 3.81

-77.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 IQD 1,443

$4.58 GGP 3.40

-75.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,612

$3.88 GGP 2.88

-68.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.82 IQD 1,068

$6.25 GGP 4.64

-86.88%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 911

$3.16 GGP 2.34

-77.85%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 905

$3.29 GGP 2.44

-79.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 IQD 969

$3.57 GGP 2.65

-79.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 723

$2.08 GGP 1.54

-73.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.52 IQD 3,294

Wine (Bottle)

$12.54 IQD 16.4K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 IQD 2,217

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 IQD 2,735

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 772

$2.45 GGP 1.82

-75.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.81 IQD 57.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 IQD 2,544

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 IQD 2,381

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.56 IQD 8,588

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 882

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

$18.3K IQD 24.0M

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

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

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

$128 IQD 167.0K

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

$13.95 IQD 18.3K

$21.66 GGP 16.07

-35.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.49 IQD 37.3K

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

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

$309 IQD 405.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,144 IQD 4.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.32 IQD 41.0K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.84 IQD 58.7K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.3 IQD 90.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.4 IQD 88.3K

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 566.1K

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

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

Last update for Erbil: September 14, 2026

Last update for Sark: September 15, 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 Sark: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Erbil is pricier by about 349%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $368 in Sark. 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 $245 in Sark. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Erbil – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sark, where all-in costs run around $245, than in Erbil at $1,101. 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.