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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,019 per month in Erbil vs $657 in Sark, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,524 per month in Erbil vs $2,032 in Sark, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,029 per month in Erbil vs $3,407 in Sark, rent included.

Erbil costs about 55% more than Sark, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Erbil and Sark are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 24% lower, Sark 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$18.73 GGP 13.88

-58.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.99 IQD 30.1K

$82.3 GGP 61.0

-72.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.97 IQD 11.7K

Cappuccino

$3.25 IQD 4,252

$2.32 GGP 1.72

40.09%

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

$0.48 IQD 630

$2.76 GGP 2.04

-82.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 289

$1.99 GGP 1.47

-88.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 IQD 2,633

$3.88 GGP 2.87

-48.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 IQD 2,671

$3.84 GGP 2.85

-46.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,727

$2.75 GGP 2.04

-52.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 IQD 1,115

$2.83 GGP 2.10

-69.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.81 IQD 2,368

$3.54 GGP 2.62

-48.87%

Eggs

$1.98 IQD 2,590

$5.04 GGP 3.73

-60.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.44 IQD 9,745

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.75 IQD 6,229

$8.46 GGP 6.27

-43.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.99 IQD 18.3K

$8.25 GGP 6.11

69.58%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,509

$3.21 GGP 2.38

-64.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,514

$4.51 GGP 3.34

-74.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,483

$4.04 GGP 2.99

-72.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,061

$5.53 GGP 4.10

-85.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 936

$3.04 GGP 2.25

-76.64%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 997

$3.26 GGP 2.41

-76.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 IQD 1,002

$2.13 GGP 1.58

-64.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 690

$1.57 GGP 1.16

-66.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.76 IQD 3,610

$10.23 GGP 7.58

-73.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.29 IQD 16.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 IQD 1,862

$1.88 GGP 1.39

-24.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 IQD 2,627

$2.04 GGP 1.51

-1.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 IQD 728

$2.07 GGP 1.53

-72.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.51 IQD 45.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.28 IQD 2,992

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.29 IQD 2,997

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.92 IQD 9,060

$13.71 GGP 10.16

-49.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 IQD 911

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

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

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

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

$100 IQD 131.3K

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

$17.57 IQD 23.0K

$21.90 GGP 16.23

-19.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.61 IQD 38.8K

$93.5 GGP 69.3

-68.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.2 IQD 97.2K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.82 IQD 15.5K

Cinema Ticket

$11.57 IQD 15.2K

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

$264 IQD 345.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,284 IQD 4.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.96 IQD 43.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.58 IQD 65.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.8 IQD 109.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 IQD 100.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 IQD 562.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$281 IQD 367.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$716 IQD 938.5K

$2,015 GGP 1,493

-64.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$486 IQD 637.2K

$1,674 GGP 1,241

-70.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,111 IQD 1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$652 IQD 854.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$576 IQD 754.2K

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Sark: April 27, 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 $300 – 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 55%, 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 $1,528 per month in Erbil and $986 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 $657, than in Erbil at $1,019. 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.