😐A single person spends $1,017 per month in Erbil vs $911 in Tuxtla Gutierrez, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,518 per month in Erbil vs $1,522 in Tuxtla Gutierrez, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,019 per month in Erbil vs $2,133 in Tuxtla Gutierrez, rent included.
😐Erbil costs about 12% more than Tuxtla Gutierrez, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Erbil and Tuxtla Gutierrez are more affordable than the global median – Erbil24% lower, Tuxtla Gutierrez32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Erbil
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.59IQD 9,938
$7.27MX$125
4.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.90IQD 30.0K
$18.27MX$314
25.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.65IQD 11.3K
$7.14MX$123
21.15%
Cappuccino
$3.25IQD 4,260
$3.55MX$61.0
-8.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52IQD 676
$1.17MX$20.12
-55.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20IQD 261
$1.09MX$18.67
-81.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.95IQD 2,555
$2.70MX$46.31
-27.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04IQD 2,675
$2.92MX$50.2
-30.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Erbil
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32IQD 1,725
$1.27MX$21.76
3.94%
White Bread(500g)
$0.81IQD 1,062
$2.42MX$41.51
-66.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.80IQD 2,357
$1.56MX$26.75
15.38%
Eggs
$1.91IQD 2,505
$2.44MX$41.89
-21.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.50IQD 9,816
$23.21MX$398
-67.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.82IQD 6,315
$6.99MX$120
-31.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.10IQD 18.5K
$10.39MX$178
35.71%
Apples(1kg)
$1.18IQD 1,551
$2.52MX$43.32
-53.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.15IQD 1,500
$1.18MX$20.25
-2.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.14IQD 1,494
$2.87MX$49.32
-60.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.80IQD 1,045
$1.63MX$28.06
-50.92%
Potato(1kg)
$0.66IQD 863
$1.46MX$25.04
-54.79%
Onion(1kg)
$0.77IQD 1,002
$2.16MX$37.04
-64.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.77IQD 1,008
$1.04MX$17.87
-25.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55IQD 721
$0.55MX$9.50
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.74IQD 3,594
$3.99MX$68.4
-31.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.38IQD 16.2K
$11.30MX$194
9.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37IQD 1,794
$1.60MX$27.51
-14.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00IQD 2,619
$2.78MX$47.65
-28.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Erbil
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.59IQD 768
$0.54MX$9.29
9.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.99IQD 45.8K
$28.94MX$497
20.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.25IQD 2,942
$2.60MX$44.65
-13.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.29IQD 2,993
$2.49MX$42.70
-8.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.85IQD 8,966
$5.24MX$89.9
30.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.64IQD 839
$1.33MX$22.80
-51.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.3KIQD 25.3M
$21.4KMX$366.8K
-9.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7KIQD 27.2M
$22.9KMX$392.4K
-9.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Erbil
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$101IQD 132.2K
$56.1MX$963
79.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.35IQD 22.7K
$22.12MX$380
-21.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.25IQD 39.6K
$26.51MX$455
14.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Erbil
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$72.1IQD 94.4K
$48.43MX$831
48.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.54IQD 15.1K
$13.08MX$225
-11.77%
Cinema Ticket
$11.28IQD 14.8K
$5.84MX$100
93.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Erbil
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$271IQD 354.5K
$202MX$3,471
33.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,274IQD 4.3M
$2,253MX$38.7K
45.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Erbil
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.30IQD 42.3K
$10.72MX$184
201.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.61IQD 65.0K
$16.01MX$275
209.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$81.1IQD 106.1K
$52.5MX$901
54.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.2IQD 101.0K
$42.05MX$722
83.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Erbil
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$425IQD 556.0K
$317MX$5,434
34.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$279IQD 365.3K
$228MX$3,916
22.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$740IQD 969.0K
$809MX$13.9K
-8.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$491IQD 643.3K
$588MX$10.1K
-16.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,098IQD 1.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$646IQD 845.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Erbil
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$591IQD 773.3K
$520MX$8,920
13.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
14.33
11.5
24.61%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Erbil: June 6, 2026
Last update for Tuxtla Gutierrez: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $425 in Erbil versus $317 in Tuxtla Gutierrez. 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 14% 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 $18.00 in Tuxtla Gutierrez. Groceries tell a different story – $195 in Erbil vs $284 in Tuxtla Gutierrez – so Erbil 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 Tuxtla Gutierrez: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tuxtla Gutierrez cheaper than Erbil?
Yes – Erbil is pricier by about 12%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Erbil and $1,366 in Tuxtla Gutierrez. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tuxtla Gutierrez, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Erbil and Tuxtla Gutierrez?
Interestingly, groceries are about 45% cheaper in Erbil – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is eating out cheaper in Erbil or Tuxtla Gutierrez?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Erbil and $18.00 in Tuxtla Gutierrez. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Erbil or Tuxtla Gutierrez?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tuxtla Gutierrez, where all-in costs run around $911, than in Erbil at $1,017. In Tuxtla Gutierrez it covers expenses comfortably, while in Erbil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Erbil or Tuxtla Gutierrez more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tuxtla Gutierrez – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Erbil or Tuxtla Gutierrez?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Tuxtla Gutierrez. 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.