😐A single person spends $1,074 per month in Erbil vs $978 in Tuxtla Gutierrez, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,624 per month in Erbil vs $1,627 in Tuxtla Gutierrez, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,173 per month in Erbil vs $2,277 in Tuxtla Gutierrez, rent included.
😐Erbil costs about 10% more than Tuxtla Gutierrez, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Erbil and Tuxtla Gutierrez are more affordable than the global median – Erbil22% lower, Tuxtla Gutierrez29% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Erbil
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.80IQD 10.2K
$6.98MX$118
11.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.48IQD 56.9K
$20.70MX$351
110.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.20IQD 10.7K
$8.16MX$138
0.49%
Cappuccino
$3.65IQD 4,784
$4.05MX$68.6
-9.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04IQD 1,362
$1.52MX$25.79
-31.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45IQD 585
$1.16MX$19.73
-61.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.96IQD 7,810
$2.38MX$40.39
150.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46IQD 5,839
$2.59MX$43.86
72.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Erbil
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27IQD 1,665
$1.66MX$28.11
-23.49%
White Bread(500g)
$0.82IQD 1,073
$2.90MX$49.14
-71.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.67IQD 2,187
$1.84MX$31.26
-9.24%
Eggs
$1.85IQD 2,418
$2.81MX$47.66
-34.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.38IQD 11.0K
$20.45MX$347
-59.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.72IQD 7,485
$8.64MX$147
-33.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.89IQD 19.5K
$12.03MX$204
23.77%
Apples(1kg)
$1.15IQD 1,502
$2.91MX$49.35
-60.48%
Banana(1kg)
$1.16IQD 1,521
$1.52MX$25.77
-23.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.18IQD 1,544
$2.81MX$47.66
-58.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.75IQD 979
$1.77MX$30.09
-57.63%
Potato(1kg)
$0.76IQD 997
$1.89MX$32.10
-59.79%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68IQD 892
$2.24MX$37.98
-69.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.73IQD 961
$1.17MX$19.81
-37.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58IQD 764
$0.77MX$13.15
-24.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.52IQD 3,305
$4.93MX$83.7
-48.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.27IQD 16.1K
$11.99MX$203
2.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65IQD 2,160
$1.63MX$27.60
1.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13IQD 2,783
$4.13MX$70.0
-48.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Erbil
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.55IQD 719
$0.57MX$9.71
-3.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$44.38IQD 58.1K
$30.99MX$526
43.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.96IQD 2,561
$3.01MX$51.0
-34.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.82IQD 2,379
$2.91MX$49.32
-37.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.52IQD 8,533
$8.63MX$146
-24.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.66IQD 866
$1.52MX$25.77
-56.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.8KIQD 23.3M
$24.3KMX$412.8K
-26.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.9KIQD 26.0M
$26.4KMX$448.7K
-24.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Erbil
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$128IQD 167.5K
$26.22MX$445
387.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.86IQD 18.1K
$21.43MX$363
-35.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.91IQD 36.6K
$27.23MX$462
2.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Erbil
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$64.8IQD 84.8K
$45.37MX$770
42.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.65IQD 19.2K
$14.91MX$253
-1.74%
Cinema Ticket
$11.58IQD 15.2K
$6.52MX$111
77.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Erbil
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$314IQD 411.2K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,082IQD 4.0M
$2,533MX$43.0K
21.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Erbil
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.66IQD 40.2K
$36.58MX$621
-16.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.68IQD 59.8K
$17.67MX$300
158.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$67.9IQD 89.0K
$75.1MX$1,273
-9.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.8IQD 90.1K
$59.3MX$1,006
16.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Erbil
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$470IQD 616.0K
$358MX$6,078
31.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$294IQD 385.1K
$251MX$4,266
16.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$728IQD 953.1K
$898MX$15.2K
-18.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$434IQD 568.3K
$667MX$11.3K
-34.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,096IQD 1.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$646IQD 846.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Erbil
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$608IQD 796.3K
$529MX$8,971
14.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.53
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Erbil: September 6, 2026
Last update for Tuxtla Gutierrez: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $470 in Erbil versus $358 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 15% 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 $43.00 in Erbil versus $21.00 in Tuxtla Gutierrez. Groceries tell a different story – $205 in Erbil vs $313 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 10%, 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 $1,612 per month in Erbil and $1,467 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.
What are total monthly expenses in Erbil and in Tuxtla Gutierrez?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,074 in Erbil and $978 in Tuxtla Gutierrez. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is eating out cheaper in Erbil or in Tuxtla Gutierrez?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Erbil and $21.00 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 $978, than in Erbil at $1,074. 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.