Cost of Living Comparison Between Havana and Erbil Cost of Living Comparison Between Havana and Erbil

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $976 per month in Havana vs $1,034 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,540 per month in Havana vs $1,522 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,104 per month in Havana vs $2,010 in Erbil, rent included.

Havana is about 6% cheaper than Erbil, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Havana and Erbil are more affordable than the global median – Havana 27% lower, Erbil 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.71 CUP 89.0

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

-51.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.50 CUP 708

$22.64 IQD 29.6K

30.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.67 CUP 160

$8.88 IQD 11.6K

-24.89%

Cappuccino

$1.18 CUP 28.38

$3.20 IQD 4,189

-63.13%

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

$2.26 CUP 54.1

$0.48 IQD 630

370.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 CUP 35.04

$0.20 IQD 262

630.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 CUP 49.10

$1.93 IQD 2,523

6.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 CUP 61.3

$2.14 IQD 2,803

19.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.27 CUP 78.5

$1.31 IQD 1,719

149.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 CUP 25.16

$0.85 IQD 1,108

23.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.41 CUP 57.9

$1.86 IQD 2,439

29.57%

Eggs

$3.64 CUP 87.4

$1.98 IQD 2,590

83.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.05 CUP 121

$7.23 IQD 9,474

-30.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.31 CUP 127

$4.72 IQD 6,184

12.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.49 CUP 228

$14.24 IQD 18.7K

-33.36%

Apples (1kg)

$4.89 CUP 117

$1.19 IQD 1,563

310.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 CUP 32.72

$1.15 IQD 1,505

18.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.54 CUP 61.0

$1.15 IQD 1,502

120.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.72 CUP 41.33

$0.81 IQD 1,057

112.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.83 CUP 67.9

$0.68 IQD 888

316.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.90 CUP 69.6

$0.75 IQD 980

286.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 CUP 23.55

$0.73 IQD 952

34.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 CUP 27.18

$0.57 IQD 742

98.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 CUP 97.9

$2.62 IQD 3,428

55.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.04 CUP 97.0

$12.19 IQD 16.0K

-66.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 CUP 48.41

$1.39 IQD 1,824

45.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 CUP 47.96

$1.97 IQD 2,579

1.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.27 CUP 30.46

$0.59 IQD 776

115.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.17 CUP 604

$35.14 IQD 46.0K

-28.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.15 CUP 75.5

$2.25 IQD 2,942

40.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.51 CUP 12.34

$2.33 IQD 3,052

-78.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.87 CUP 357

$6.75 IQD 8,845

120.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 CUP 29.36

$0.65 IQD 849

87.69%

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

$58.8K CUP 1.4M

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

203.18%

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

$67.6K CUP 1.6M

$20.8K IQD 27.3M

224.16%

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

$37.01 CUP 888

$102 IQD 133.2K

-63.61%

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

$40.52 CUP 972

$17.42 IQD 22.8K

132.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.1 CUP 1,827

$29.58 IQD 38.7K

157.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.10 CUP 986

$73.8 IQD 96.6K

-44.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.06 CUP 145

$11.55 IQD 15.1K

-47.53%

Cinema Ticket

$0.82 CUP 19.68

$11.41 IQD 14.9K

-92.81%

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

$111 CUP 2,666

$263 IQD 343.7K

-57.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.0K CUP 240.3K

$3,250 IQD 4.3M

208.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.17 CUP 940

$33.46 IQD 43.8K

17.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.79 CUP 811

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

-31.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.8 CUP 1,818

$81.1 IQD 106.2K

-6.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.3 CUP 2,023

$76.5 IQD 100.2K

10.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$365 CUP 8,750

$429 IQD 562.2K

-15.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 CUP 6,893

$275 IQD 360.3K

4.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,040 CUP 25.0K

$732 IQD 958.5K

42.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$601 CUP 14.4K

$495 IQD 647.8K

21.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$327 CUP 7,853

$1,130 IQD 1.5M

-71.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$405 CUP 9,718

$660 IQD 864.4K

-38.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$31.89 CUP 765

$581 IQD 760.9K

-94.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.43

14.33

-48.15%

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

Last update for Havana: July 13, 2026

Last update for Erbil: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $365 in Havana versus $429 in Erbil. 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 1722% 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 $30.00 in Havana versus $23.00 in Erbil. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $195 – making Erbil the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Havana vs Erbil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Erbil is pricier by about 6%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,464 per month in Havana and $1,551 in Erbil. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Havana, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 25% cheaper in Erbil – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Havana and $23.00 in Erbil. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Havana, where all-in costs run around $976, than in Erbil at $1,034. In Havana it covers expenses comfortably, while in Erbil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Havana – 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 Havana. 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.