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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Erbil vs $751 in Tikrit, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,518 per month in Erbil vs $1,150 in Tikrit, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,019 per month in Erbil vs $1,549 in Tikrit, rent included.

Erbil costs about 35% more than Tikrit, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Erbil and Tikrit are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 24% lower, Tikrit 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.59 IQD 9,938

$4.08 IQD 5,339

86.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.90 IQD 30.0K

$24.79 IQD 32.5K

-7.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.65 IQD 11.3K

$6.93 IQD 9,081

24.82%

Cappuccino

$3.25 IQD 4,260

$2.58 IQD 3,384

25.97%

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

$0.52 IQD 676

$0.39 IQD 513

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 261

$0.21 IQD 277

-4.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 IQD 2,555

$2.95 IQD 3,865

-33.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 IQD 2,675

$2.86 IQD 3,744

-28.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,725

$1.37 IQD 1,796

-3.65%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 IQD 1,062

$0.84 IQD 1,094

-3.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 IQD 2,357

$1.65 IQD 2,157

9.09%

Eggs

$1.91 IQD 2,505

$1.79 IQD 2,344

6.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.50 IQD 9,816

$4.62 IQD 6,044

62.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.82 IQD 6,315

$4.63 IQD 6,067

4.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.10 IQD 18.5K

$13.08 IQD 17.1K

7.80%

Apples (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,551

$1.15 IQD 1,505

2.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,500

$1.16 IQD 1,522

-0.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,494

$1.05 IQD 1,374

8.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.80 IQD 1,045

$0.75 IQD 981

6.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 863

$0.65 IQD 848

1.54%

Onion (1kg)

$0.77 IQD 1,002

$0.68 IQD 888

13.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 IQD 1,008

$0.66 IQD 865

16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 721

$0.56 IQD 732

-1.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.74 IQD 3,594

$1.94 IQD 2,538

41.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.38 IQD 16.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 IQD 1,794

$1.82 IQD 2,385

-24.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 IQD 2,619

$2.14 IQD 2,805

-6.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 768

$0.40 IQD 518

47.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.99 IQD 45.8K

$30.84 IQD 40.4K

13.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,942

$2.23 IQD 2,922

0.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.29 IQD 2,993

$1.49 IQD 1,948

53.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.85 IQD 8,966

$6.14 IQD 8,041

11.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 IQD 839

$0.56 IQD 735

14.29%

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

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

-0.07%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.2M

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

3.19%

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

$101 IQD 132.2K

$76.6 IQD 100.3K

31.84%

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

$17.35 IQD 22.7K

$17.48 IQD 22.9K

-0.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.25 IQD 39.6K

$35.05 IQD 45.9K

-13.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.1 IQD 94.4K

$37.03 IQD 48.5K

94.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.54 IQD 15.1K

$16.76 IQD 22.0K

-31.15%

Cinema Ticket

$11.28 IQD 14.8K

$7.75 IQD 10.1K

45.55%

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

$271 IQD 354.5K

$153 IQD 199.9K

77.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,274 IQD 4.3M

$3,246 IQD 4.2M

0.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.30 IQD 42.3K

$26.95 IQD 35.3K

19.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

$25.06 IQD 32.8K

97.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 IQD 106.1K

$60.1 IQD 78.7K

34.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.2 IQD 101.0K

$41.46 IQD 54.3K

86.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$425 IQD 556.0K

$246 IQD 321.8K

72.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$279 IQD 365.3K

$175 IQD 229.5K

59.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$740 IQD 969.0K

$581 IQD 760.8K

27.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$491 IQD 643.3K

$341 IQD 447.1K

43.87%

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

$332 IQD 435.1K

77.72%

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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Tikrit: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $425 in Erbil versus $246 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 78% 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 $25.00 in Tikrit. Groceries tell a different story – $195 in Erbil vs $159 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 35%, 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 $1,525 per month in Erbil and $1,126 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 $25.00 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 $1,017. 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.