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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,019 per month in Erbil vs $747 in Tikrit, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,524 per month in Erbil vs $1,153 in Tikrit, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,029 per month in Erbil vs $1,558 in Tikrit, rent included.

Erbil costs about 36% 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

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$4.11 IQD 5,380

89.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.99 IQD 30.1K

$25.00 IQD 32.8K

-8.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.97 IQD 11.7K

$6.82 IQD 8,937

31.52%

Cappuccino

$3.25 IQD 4,252

$2.65 IQD 3,474

22.64%

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

$0.48 IQD 630

$0.36 IQD 478

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 289

$0.18 IQD 237

22.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 IQD 2,633

$2.98 IQD 3,910

-32.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 IQD 2,671

$2.81 IQD 3,675

-27.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,727

$1.32 IQD 1,732

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 IQD 1,115

$0.85 IQD 1,110

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.81 IQD 2,368

$1.60 IQD 2,092

13.12%

Eggs

$1.98 IQD 2,590

$1.79 IQD 2,346

10.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.44 IQD 9,745

$4.58 IQD 6,002

62.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.75 IQD 6,229

$4.62 IQD 6,059

2.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.99 IQD 18.3K

$13.21 IQD 17.3K

5.90%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,509

$1.15 IQD 1,505

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,514

$1.20 IQD 1,574

-3.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,483

$1.06 IQD 1,387

6.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,061

$0.70 IQD 923

15.71%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 936

$0.70 IQD 915

1.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 997

$0.63 IQD 828

20.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 IQD 1,002

$0.66 IQD 871

15.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 690

$0.51 IQD 674

3.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.76 IQD 3,610

$1.96 IQD 2,567

40.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.29 IQD 16.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 IQD 1,862

$1.86 IQD 2,435

-23.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 IQD 2,627

$2.07 IQD 2,716

-3.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 IQD 728

$0.39 IQD 515

43.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.51 IQD 45.2K

$31.07 IQD 40.7K

11.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.28 IQD 2,992

$2.35 IQD 3,079

-2.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.29 IQD 2,997

$1.53 IQD 2,000

49.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.92 IQD 9,060

$5.97 IQD 7,818

15.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 IQD 911

$0.54 IQD 706

29.63%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

-1.43%

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

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

3.23%

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

$100 IQD 131.3K

$78.2 IQD 102.4K

28.21%

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

$17.57 IQD 23.0K

$17.96 IQD 23.5K

-2.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.61 IQD 38.8K

$34.16 IQD 44.7K

-13.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.2 IQD 97.2K

$37.04 IQD 48.5K

100.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.82 IQD 15.5K

$16.99 IQD 22.3K

-30.43%

Cinema Ticket

$11.57 IQD 15.2K

$7.52 IQD 9,858

53.86%

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

$264 IQD 345.7K

$154 IQD 201.9K

71.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,284 IQD 4.3M

$3,253 IQD 4.3M

0.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.96 IQD 43.2K

$26.75 IQD 35.0K

23.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.58 IQD 65.0K

$25.66 IQD 33.6K

93.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.8 IQD 109.7K

$62.4 IQD 81.7K

34.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 IQD 100.5K

$41.91 IQD 54.9K

83.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 IQD 562.8K

$247 IQD 323.6K

73.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$281 IQD 367.7K

$175 IQD 229.3K

60.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$716 IQD 938.5K

$570 IQD 746.2K

25.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$486 IQD 637.2K

$339 IQD 444.7K

43.29%

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

$341 IQD 446.3K

68.99%

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Tikrit: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Erbil versus $247 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 69% 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 $158 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 36%, 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 $1,528 per month in Erbil and $1,121 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 $747, than in Erbil at $1,019. 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.