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

🙂 Solo nomad: Karbala is 29.5% cheaper than Erbil without rent, and 33.7% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Karbala is 32.8% cheaper than Erbil without rent, and 35% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karbala
Erbil
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.01 IQD 6,556
$7.5 IQD 9,819
-33.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.61 IQD 20.4K
$23.23 IQD 30.4K
-32.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.34 IQD 6,988
$8.76 IQD 11.5K
-39.04%
Cappuccino
$1.58 IQD 2,071
$3.14 IQD 4,111
-49.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 IQD 476
$0.48 IQD 627
-25.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.3 IQD 395
$0.2 IQD 261
50.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.93 IQD 2,521
$1.95 IQD 2,556
-1.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 IQD 3,706
$2.13 IQD 2,782
32.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karbala
Erbil
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.19 IQD 1,562
$1.38 IQD 1,811
-13.77%
White Bread (500g)
$0.7 IQD 914
$0.8 IQD 1,046
-12.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.43 IQD 1,867
$1.79 IQD 2,346
-20.11%
Eggs
$1.75 IQD 2,290
$1.99 IQD 2,605
-12.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.2 IQD 6,811
$7.57 IQD 9,907
-31.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.85 IQD 6,348
$4.75 IQD 6,218
2.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.7 IQD 12.7K
$14.08 IQD 18.4K
-31.11%
Apples (1kg)
$0.97 IQD 1,265
$1.19 IQD 1,561
-18.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.03 IQD 1,346
$1.13 IQD 1,486
-8.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.91 IQD 1,187
$1.19 IQD 1,559
-23.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.66 IQD 863
$0.77 IQD 1,008
-14.29%
Potato (1kg)
$0.63 IQD 821
$0.67 IQD 880
-5.97%
Onion (1kg)
$0.54 IQD 712
$0.76 IQD 997
-28.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.6 IQD 792
$0.77 IQD 1,004
-22.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.6 IQD 783
$0.52 IQD 682
15.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.94 IQD 2,537
$2.75 IQD 3,600
-29.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.19 IQD 17.3K
$13.84 IQD 18.1K
-4.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 IQD 1,334
$1.4 IQD 1,827
-27.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 IQD 2,869
$2.03 IQD 2,654
7.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Karbala
Erbil
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 IQD 482
$0.59 IQD 773
-37.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.86 IQD 40.4K
$34.92 IQD 45.7K
-11.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.27 IQD 2,966
$2.34 IQD 3,068
-2.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.5 IQD 1,958
$2.34 IQD 3,060
-35.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.68 IQD 10K
$7.02 IQD 9,189
9.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.48 IQD 634
$0.64 IQD 843
-25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.4K IQD 14.9M
$19.2K IQD 25.1M
-40.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.5K IQD 19M
$20.7K IQD 27.1M
-30.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karbala
Erbil
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.3 IQD 92K
$99.7 IQD 130.5K
-29.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.7 IQD 32.3K
$17.86 IQD 23.4K
38.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.37 IQD 63.3K
$30.14 IQD 39.4K
60.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karbala
Erbil
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.76 IQD 29.8K
$72 IQD 94.2K
-68.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.95 IQD 22.2K
$11.72 IQD 15.3K
44.62%
Cinema Ticket
$8.9 IQD 11.7K
$11.67 IQD 15.3K
-23.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karbala
Erbil
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$126 IQD 165.2K
$270 IQD 353.4K
-53.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$785 IQD 1M
$3,274 IQD 4.3M
-76.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karbala
Erbil
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.44 IQD 22.8K
$32.88 IQD 43K
-46.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.06 IQD 18.4K
$48.43 IQD 63.4K
-70.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$30.32 IQD 39.7K
$80.8 IQD 105.8K
-62.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$32.09 IQD 42K
$76.6 IQD 100.2K
-58.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karbala
Erbil
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$254 IQD 332K
$439 IQD 574.6K
-42.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$148 IQD 193.2K
$279 IQD 365.2K
-47.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$345 IQD 452.1K
$718 IQD 939.3K
-51.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$242 IQD 317.3K
$493 IQD 646K
-50.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,155 IQD 1.5M
$1,061 IQD 1.4M
8.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$339 IQD 443.7K
$651 IQD 851.8K
-47.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karbala
Erbil
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$504 IQD 659.7K
$503 IQD 658.7K
0.16%
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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Erbil: October 28, 2025

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