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Cost of Living Comparison Between Karbala and Erbil Cost of Living Comparison Between Karbala and Erbil

🙂 Solo nomad: Karbala is 28.6% cheaper than Erbil without rent, and 35.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Karbala is 27.3% cheaper than Erbil without rent, and 35.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karbala
Erbil
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.06 IQD 6,634
$7.45 IQD 9,770
-32.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.45 IQD 20.3K
$22.51 IQD 29.5K
-31.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.44 IQD 7,131
$9.03 IQD 11.8K
-39.76%
Cappuccino
$1.59 IQD 2,081
$3.26 IQD 4,278
-51.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 IQD 515
$0.51 IQD 673
-23.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 IQD 364
$0.22 IQD 289
27.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.96 IQD 2,568
$1.92 IQD 2,518
2.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 IQD 3,688
$2.09 IQD 2,737
34.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karbala
Erbil
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 IQD 1,541
$1.38 IQD 1,814
-15.22%
White Bread (500g)
$0.74 IQD 973
$0.79 IQD 1,036
-6.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 IQD 1,972
$1.88 IQD 2,471
-20.21%
Eggs
$1.74 IQD 2,285
$1.88 IQD 2,471
-7.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.22 IQD 6,847
$7.31 IQD 9,581
-28.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.66 IQD 6,110
$4.80 IQD 6,300
-2.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.88 IQD 13.0K
$14.16 IQD 18.6K
-30.23%
Apples (1kg)
$0.92 IQD 1,205
$1.15 IQD 1,502
-20.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 IQD 1,364
$1.15 IQD 1,506
-9.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.95 IQD 1,250
$1.18 IQD 1,545
-19.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.72 IQD 941
$0.80 IQD 1,053
-10.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.69 IQD 905
$0.71 IQD 931
-2.82%
Onion (1kg)
$0.55 IQD 716
$0.71 IQD 935
-22.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.60 IQD 784
$0.78 IQD 1,022
-23.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 IQD 776
$0.52 IQD 676
13.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.94 IQD 2,549
$2.76 IQD 3,618
-29.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.61 IQD 15.2K
$12.31 IQD 16.1K
-5.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 IQD 1,404
$1.38 IQD 1,809
-22.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 IQD 2,741
$2.02 IQD 2,644
3.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Karbala
Erbil
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 IQD 480
$0.58 IQD 761
-36.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.68 IQD 41.5K
$34.12 IQD 44.7K
-7.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.27 IQD 2,979
$2.24 IQD 2,937
1.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.55 IQD 2,035
$2.26 IQD 2,963
-31.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.82 IQD 10.2K
$6.95 IQD 9,110
12.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.48 IQD 635
$0.70 IQD 919
-31.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.5K IQD 15.1M
$18.9K IQD 24.8M
-39.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.5K IQD 19.0M
$20.8K IQD 27.3M
-30.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karbala
Erbil
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.5 IQD 93.7K
$100 IQD 131.7K
-28.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.91 IQD 32.7K
$17.33 IQD 22.7K
43.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.60 IQD 65.0K
$29.27 IQD 38.4K
69.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karbala
Erbil
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.92 IQD 30.1K
$74.0 IQD 97.1K
-69.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.88 IQD 22.1K
$11.37 IQD 14.9K
48.46%
Cinema Ticket
$8.92 IQD 11.7K
$11.37 IQD 14.9K
-21.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karbala
Erbil
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$124 IQD 163.2K
$263 IQD 345.1K
-52.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$798 IQD 1.0M
$3,249 IQD 4.3M
-75.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karbala
Erbil
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.01 IQD 22.3K
$32.51 IQD 42.6K
-47.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$13.92 IQD 18.2K
$49.92 IQD 65.5K
-72.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$30.65 IQD 40.2K
$83.0 IQD 108.8K
-63.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$32.35 IQD 42.4K
$76.4 IQD 100.2K
-57.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karbala
Erbil
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$255 IQD 334.5K
$437 IQD 572.4K
-41.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$148 IQD 193.6K
$285 IQD 373.2K
-48.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$350 IQD 458.7K
$722 IQD 946.3K
-51.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$248 IQD 324.8K
$480 IQD 629.0K
-48.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$990 IQD 1.3M
$1,122 IQD 1.5M
-11.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$328 IQD 430.7K
$673 IQD 882.6K
-51.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karbala
Erbil
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$483 IQD 633.8K
$544 IQD 713.4K
-11.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.67
14.33
-60.43%

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

Last update for Karbala: January 11, 2026

Last update for Erbil: January 13, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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