😐A single person spends $1,043 per month in Erbil vs $936 in Tuxtla Gutierrez, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,545 per month in Erbil vs $1,522 in Tuxtla Gutierrez, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,046 per month in Erbil vs $2,109 in Tuxtla Gutierrez, rent included.
😐Erbil costs about 11% more than Tuxtla Gutierrez, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Erbil and Tuxtla Gutierrez are more affordable than the global median – Erbil22% lower, Tuxtla Gutierrez30% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Erbil
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.85IQD 10.3K
$7.19MX$125
9.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.11IQD 30.3K
$18.21MX$318
26.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.01IQD 11.8K
$7.18MX$125
25.49%
Cappuccino
$3.24IQD 4,240
$3.59MX$62.7
-9.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49IQD 640
$1.18MX$20.57
-58.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22IQD 288
$1.05MX$18.25
-79.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.96IQD 2,562
$2.67MX$46.63
-26.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16IQD 2,824
$2.94MX$51.3
-26.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Erbil
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.31IQD 1,718
$1.33MX$23.26
-1.50%
White Bread(500g)
$0.79IQD 1,034
$2.32MX$40.47
-65.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87IQD 2,450
$1.56MX$27.23
19.87%
Eggs
$1.95IQD 2,557
$2.31MX$40.36
-15.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.26IQD 9,502
$23.32MX$407
-68.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.69IQD 6,144
$7.15MX$125
-34.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.08IQD 18.4K
$10.50MX$183
34.10%
Apples(1kg)
$1.15IQD 1,502
$2.56MX$44.65
-55.08%
Banana(1kg)
$1.18IQD 1,547
$1.15MX$20.05
2.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.13IQD 1,480
$2.89MX$50.5
-60.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.75IQD 982
$1.56MX$27.13
-51.92%
Potato(1kg)
$0.72IQD 948
$1.49MX$26.07
-51.68%
Onion(1kg)
$0.76IQD 990
$2.18MX$38.05
-65.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.76IQD 1,001
$1.09MX$19.04
-30.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56IQD 738
$0.51MX$8.92
9.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.66IQD 3,486
$3.86MX$67.4
-31.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.28IQD 16.1K
$11.35MX$198
8.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44IQD 1,880
$1.55MX$27.03
-7.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94IQD 2,538
$2.78MX$48.50
-30.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Erbil
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.59IQD 767
$0.56MX$9.69
5.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.79IQD 45.6K
$29.00MX$506
19.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.27IQD 2,971
$2.57MX$44.75
-11.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.32IQD 3,033
$2.51MX$43.77
-7.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.05IQD 9,233
$5.45MX$95.0
29.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.64IQD 837
$1.33MX$23.17
-51.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KIQD 24.8M
$21.3KMX$371.2K
-11.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.6KIQD 27.0M
$22.1KMX$385.6K
-6.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Erbil
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$101IQD 132.5K
$56.3MX$982
79.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.79IQD 23.3K
$22.17MX$387
-19.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.56IQD 38.7K
$26.27MX$458
12.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Erbil
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$73.8IQD 96.7K
$48.61MX$848
51.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.76IQD 15.4K
$13.35MX$233
-11.91%
Cinema Ticket
$11.25IQD 14.7K
$5.74MX$100
95.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Erbil
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269IQD 351.6K
$208MX$3,626
29.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,330IQD 4.4M
$2,203MX$38.4K
51.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Erbil
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.93IQD 43.1K
$10.77MX$188
205.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.13IQD 64.3K
$15.57MX$272
215.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.7IQD 105.7K
$53.4MX$931
51.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9IQD 102.0K
$41.49MX$724
87.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Erbil
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$436IQD 571.5K
$312MX$5,445
39.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$275IQD 360.4K
$223MX$3,882
23.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$739IQD 968.0K
$800MX$14.0K
-7.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$496IQD 649.8K
$597MX$10.4K
-16.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,089IQD 1.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$653IQD 855.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Erbil
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$580IQD 759.9K
$520MX$9,078
11.49%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Tuxtla Gutierrez: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $436 in Erbil versus $312 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 11% 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 – $194 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 11%, 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 $1,565 per month in Erbil and $1,404 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 in Tuxtla Gutierrez?
Interestingly, groceries are about 46% 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 in 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 living in Erbil or in Tuxtla Gutierrez?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tuxtla Gutierrez, where all-in costs run around $936, than in Erbil at $1,043. 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.