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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $877 per month in Havana vs $1,095 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,453 per month in Havana vs $1,654 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,029 per month in Havana vs $2,213 in Erbil, rent included.

Havana is about 20% cheaper than Erbil, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Havana and Erbil are more affordable than the global median – Havana 36% lower, Erbil 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.81 CUP 91.4

$7.67 IQD 10.0K

-50.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.24 CUP 654

$44.94 IQD 58.8K

-39.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.99 CUP 120

$8.21 IQD 10.7K

-39.22%

Cappuccino

$1.08 CUP 26.03

$3.78 IQD 4,955

-71.43%

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

$1.68 CUP 40.26

$1.02 IQD 1,338

64.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.01 CUP 24.33

$0.41 IQD 541

146.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.56 CUP 37.42

$5.97 IQD 7,823

-73.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 CUP 47.65

$4.45 IQD 5,829

-55.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.79 CUP 90.9

$1.27 IQD 1,669

198.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.52 CUP 36.47

$0.79 IQD 1,033

92.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.14 CUP 51.4

$1.70 IQD 2,227

25.88%

Eggs

$3.62 CUP 86.9

$1.76 IQD 2,307

105.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.37 CUP 105

$8.29 IQD 10.9K

-47.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.58 CUP 110

$5.54 IQD 7,252

-17.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.70 CUP 209

$14.68 IQD 19.2K

-40.74%

Apples (1kg)

$5.94 CUP 142

$1.10 IQD 1,446

440.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 CUP 26.17

$1.15 IQD 1,503

-5.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.85 CUP 92.3

$1.22 IQD 1,599

215.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 CUP 55.9

$0.81 IQD 1,061

187.65%

Potato (1kg)

$3.71 CUP 89.0

$0.74 IQD 974

401.35%

Onion (1kg)

$4.07 CUP 97.6

$0.69 IQD 901

489.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.81 CUP 19.55

$0.79 IQD 1,034

2.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 CUP 33.68

$0.58 IQD 761

141.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 CUP 46.68

$2.51 IQD 3,293

-22.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.09 CUP 98.2

$12.64 IQD 16.5K

-67.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.53 CUP 36.68

$1.68 IQD 2,196

-8.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 CUP 49.64

$2.06 IQD 2,693

0.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.23 CUP 29.63

$0.60 IQD 781

105.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.69 CUP 545

$43.88 IQD 57.5K

-48.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.63 CUP 63.0

$1.93 IQD 2,533

36.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 CUP 10.47

$1.74 IQD 2,279

-74.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.37 CUP 489

$6.51 IQD 8,521

212.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 CUP 29.97

$0.67 IQD 876

86.57%

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

$61.1K CUP 1.5M

$17.9K IQD 23.5M

240.50%

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

$61.0K CUP 1.5M

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

209.60%

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

$47.74 CUP 1,146

$130 IQD 170.4K

-63.32%

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

$39.30 CUP 943

$14.06 IQD 18.4K

179.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$90.8 CUP 2,179

$27.92 IQD 36.6K

225.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.09 CUP 458

$64.5 IQD 84.5K

-70.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.13 CUP 315

$14.50 IQD 19.0K

-9.45%

Cinema Ticket

$0.82 CUP 19.65

$11.23 IQD 14.7K

-92.70%

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

$113 CUP 2,708

$312 IQD 409.1K

-63.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,009 CUP 168.2K

$3,080 IQD 4.0M

127.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.64 CUP 903

$31.09 IQD 40.7K

21.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.87 CUP 885

$45.06 IQD 59.0K

-18.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.9 CUP 1,678

$68.2 IQD 89.3K

2.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.9 CUP 1,367

$68.0 IQD 89.0K

-16.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$256 CUP 6,148

$473 IQD 619.0K

-45.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$216 CUP 5,184

$287 IQD 375.5K

-24.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$949 CUP 22.8K

$732 IQD 958.7K

29.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$538 CUP 12.9K

$426 IQD 558.4K

26.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$334 CUP 8,012

$1,115 IQD 1.5M

-70.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$399 CUP 9,564

$643 IQD 841.7K

-38.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$33.40 CUP 802

$613 IQD 803.3K

-94.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.1

2.53

259.68%

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

Last update for Havana: September 1, 2026

Last update for Erbil: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $256 in Havana versus $473 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 1737% 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 $27.00 in Havana versus $45.00 in Erbil. Groceries tell a different story – $261 in Havana vs $204 in Erbil – so Erbil wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 25%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,316 per month in Havana and $1,643 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 28% 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 $27.00 in Havana and $45.00 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 $877, than in Erbil at $1,095. 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.