Cost of Living Comparison Between Hanoi and Kirkuk Cost of Living Comparison Between Hanoi and Kirkuk

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $807 in Hanoi versus $609 in Kirkuk.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,241 in Hanoi versus $1,003 in Kirkuk.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,675 in Hanoi versus $1,396 in Kirkuk.

Living in Hanoi is roughly 32% more expensive than in Kirkuk, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Hanoi 41% lower, Kirkuk 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ₫51.4K

$4.17 IQD 5,455

-52.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.36 ₫553.7K

$26.64 IQD 34.9K

-19.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.44 ₫115.1K

$5.96 IQD 7,802

-25.50%

Cappuccino

$1.86 ₫48.1K

$2.47 IQD 3,241

-24.70%

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

$0.45 ₫11.7K

$0.36 IQD 477

25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ₫7,223

$0.23 IQD 299

21.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.18 ₫30.5K

$3.77 IQD 4,936

-68.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 ₫48.6K

$3.80 IQD 4,970

-50.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 ₫39.8K

$1.04 IQD 1,360

47.12%

White Bread (500g)

$0.95 ₫24.5K

$0.64 IQD 839

48.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.81 ₫21.0K

$1.52 IQD 1,991

-46.71%

Eggs

$1.43 ₫37.1K

$1.52 IQD 1,993

-5.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.56 ₫273.6K

$3.78 IQD 4,948

179.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.86 ₫100.0K

$3.75 IQD 4,906

2.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.86 ₫255.7K

$13.21 IQD 17.3K

-25.36%

Apples (1kg)

$3.10 ₫80.4K

$0.82 IQD 1,077

278.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ₫27.7K

$0.97 IQD 1,276

10.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.32 ₫34.2K

$0.90 IQD 1,172

46.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.15 ₫29.7K

$0.70 IQD 921

64.29%

Potato (1kg)

$0.97 ₫25.2K

$0.55 IQD 714

76.36%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 ₫29.1K

$0.54 IQD 704

107.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 ₫14.4K

$0.58 IQD 755

-3.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ₫14.1K

$0.34 IQD 450

61.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.37 ₫35.5K

$1.78 IQD 2,329

-23.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.72 ₫329.6K

$13.67 IQD 17.9K

-6.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 ₫22.6K

$1.56 IQD 2,039

-44.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 ₫43.4K

$1.92 IQD 2,517

-12.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 ₫10.1K

$0.37 IQD 482

5.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.12 ₫236.3K

$22.92 IQD 30.0K

-60.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 ₫19.1K

$2.35 IQD 3,082

-68.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.60 ₫15.6K

$1.56 IQD 2,037

-61.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.28 ₫59.2K

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

-70.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 ₫21.9K

$0.53 IQD 689

60.38%

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

$30.7K ₫796.8M

$18.8K IQD 24.7M

63.15%

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

$30.8K ₫798.4M

$19.2K IQD 25.1M

60.56%

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

$83.6 ₫2.2M

$54.3 IQD 71.1K

53.98%

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

$4.91 ₫127.3K

$21.23 IQD 27.8K

-76.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.87 ₫230.0K

$41.84 IQD 54.8K

-78.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.39 ₫658.2K

$11.25 IQD 14.7K

125.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.19 ₫238.1K

Cinema Ticket

$4.18 ₫108.3K

$10.55 IQD 13.8K

-60.38%

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

$773 ₫20.0M

$167 IQD 218.7K

363.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.4K ₫709.0M

$3,487 IQD 4.6M

684.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.37 ₫1.3M

$29.12 IQD 38.1K

69.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.52 ₫687.4K

$19.34 IQD 25.3K

37.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.9 ₫2.2M

$74.1 IQD 97.1K

13.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.9 ₫2.2M

$34.98 IQD 45.8K

142.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$420 ₫10.9M

$194 IQD 254.3K

116.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$290 ₫7.5M

$92.5 IQD 121.1K

214.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$821 ₫21.3M

$229 IQD 300.2K

258.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$537 ₫13.9M

$226 IQD 295.4K

137.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,651 ₫120.6M

$583 IQD 762.8K

698.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,749 ₫71.3M

$309 IQD 404.6K

789.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$500 ₫13.0M

$443 IQD 580.3K

12.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.45

4.12

105.10%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Hanoi: September 7, 2026

Last update for Kirkuk: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $420 in Hanoi and $194 in Kirkuk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hanoi pays 13% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $21.00 in Hanoi vs $27.00 in Kirkuk. Groceries flip the comparison at $194 vs $164, with Kirkuk cheaper for home cooking.

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

Hanoi vs Kirkuk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hanoi and Kirkuk differ by about 32% in total monthly costs ($807 vs $609 including rent). Kirkuk is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 13% higher in Hanoi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $420 in Hanoi versus $194 in Kirkuk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Kirkuk runs roughly 151% less than in Hanoi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $773 in Hanoi versus $167 in Kirkuk. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Kirkuk gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Hanoi and Kirkuk are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Kirkuk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Hanoi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.