Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Tikrit Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Tikrit

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,043 per month in Erbil vs $751 in Tikrit, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,545 per month in Erbil vs $1,152 in Tikrit, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,046 per month in Erbil vs $1,553 in Tikrit, rent included.

Erbil costs about 39% more than Tikrit, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Erbil and Tikrit are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 22% lower, Tikrit 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

$3.99 IQD 5,219

96.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.11 IQD 30.3K

$24.41 IQD 32.0K

-5.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.01 IQD 11.8K

$6.81 IQD 8,924

32.31%

Cappuccino

$3.24 IQD 4,240

$2.57 IQD 3,362

26.07%

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

$0.49 IQD 640

$0.36 IQD 476

36.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 288

$0.18 IQD 229

22.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 IQD 2,562

$2.97 IQD 3,890

-34.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 IQD 2,824

$2.95 IQD 3,868

-26.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,718

$1.31 IQD 1,709

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,034

$0.78 IQD 1,027

1.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 IQD 2,450

$1.60 IQD 2,098

16.88%

Eggs

$1.95 IQD 2,557

$1.71 IQD 2,240

14.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.26 IQD 9,502

$4.40 IQD 5,763

65.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 IQD 6,144

$4.61 IQD 6,040

1.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.08 IQD 18.4K

$13.41 IQD 17.6K

5.00%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,502

$1.15 IQD 1,510

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,547

$1.17 IQD 1,532

0.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,480

$1.05 IQD 1,371

7.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 982

$0.74 IQD 965

1.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 IQD 948

$0.64 IQD 843

12.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 990

$0.66 IQD 868

15.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 IQD 1,001

$0.68 IQD 892

11.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 738

$0.56 IQD 728

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.66 IQD 3,486

$1.96 IQD 2,565

35.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.28 IQD 16.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 IQD 1,880

$1.79 IQD 2,349

-19.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 IQD 2,538

$2.17 IQD 2,836

-10.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 767

$0.40 IQD 519

47.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.79 IQD 45.6K

$30.53 IQD 40.0K

13.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.27 IQD 2,971

$2.33 IQD 3,051

-2.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.32 IQD 3,033

$1.48 IQD 1,942

56.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.05 IQD 9,233

$5.91 IQD 7,738

19.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 IQD 837

$0.56 IQD 739

14.29%

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

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

-0.07%

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

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

$20.3K IQD 26.5M

1.62%

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

$101 IQD 132.5K

$76.4 IQD 100.1K

32.45%

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

$17.79 IQD 23.3K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.56 IQD 38.7K

$33.93 IQD 44.4K

-12.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.8 IQD 96.7K

$36.77 IQD 48.2K

100.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.76 IQD 15.4K

$16.55 IQD 21.7K

-28.94%

Cinema Ticket

$11.25 IQD 14.7K

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

44.05%

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

$269 IQD 351.6K

$151 IQD 197.9K

77.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,330 IQD 4.4M

$3,306 IQD 4.3M

0.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.93 IQD 43.1K

$27.51 IQD 36.0K

19.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.13 IQD 64.3K

$25.02 IQD 32.8K

96.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 IQD 105.7K

$61.8 IQD 80.9K

30.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 IQD 102.0K

$41.18 IQD 53.9K

89.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$436 IQD 571.5K

$238 IQD 312.2K

83.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$275 IQD 360.4K

$182 IQD 238.0K

51.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$739 IQD 968.0K

$571 IQD 747.1K

29.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$496 IQD 649.8K

$339 IQD 444.1K

46.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,089 IQD 1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$653 IQD 855.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$580 IQD 759.9K

$319 IQD 418.2K

81.70%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Tikrit: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $436 in Erbil versus $238 in Tikrit. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 82% higher in Erbil, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Erbil versus $24.00 in Tikrit. Groceries tell a different story – $194 in Erbil vs $157 in Tikrit – so Tikrit 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 Tikrit: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Erbil is pricier by about 39%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,565 per month in Erbil and $1,127 in Tikrit. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tikrit, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 23% 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 $24.00 in Tikrit. 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 Tikrit, where all-in costs run around $751, than in Erbil at $1,043. In Tikrit it covers expenses comfortably, while in Erbil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tikrit – 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 Tikrit. 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.