Cost of Living Comparison Between Kirkuk and Cabanatuan Cost of Living Comparison Between Kirkuk and Cabanatuan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $594 per month in Kirkuk vs $518 in Cabanatuan, rent included.

A couple spends around $952 per month in Kirkuk vs $1,040 in Cabanatuan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,310 per month in Kirkuk vs $1,562 in Cabanatuan, rent included.

Kirkuk costs about 15% more than Cabanatuan, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Kirkuk and Cabanatuan are more affordable than the global median – Kirkuk 56% lower, Cabanatuan 61% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kirkuk
Cabanatuan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.80 IQD 4,977
$4.53 ₱279
-16.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.66 IQD 33.6K
$35.60 ₱2,192
-27.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.81 IQD 7,611
$3.65 ₱225
59.18%
Cappuccino
$2.26 IQD 2,957
$2.81 ₱173
-19.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 IQD 511
$0.87 ₱53.4
-55.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20 IQD 263
$0.49 ₱29.91
-59.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.54 IQD 4,632
$1.42 ₱87.5
149.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 IQD 3,738
$2.72 ₱168
4.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kirkuk
Cabanatuan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 IQD 1,551
$1.99 ₱123
-40.70%
White Bread (500g)
$0.60 IQD 789
$1.62 ₱99.8
-62.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.65 IQD 2,156
$0.91 ₱55.8
81.32%
Eggs
$1.43 IQD 1,868
$2.01 ₱124
-28.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.54 IQD 5,944
$3.49 ₱215
30.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.92 IQD 3,819
$3.06 ₱188
-4.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.75 IQD 14.1K
$6.73 ₱414
59.73%
Apples (1kg)
$0.92 IQD 1,199
$4.06 ₱250
-77.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.02 IQD 1,329
$1.27 ₱78.5
-19.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.02 IQD 1,336
$1.99 ₱122
-48.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.61 IQD 793
$0.79 ₱48.46
-22.78%
Potato (1kg)
$0.46 IQD 608
$1.41 ₱86.9
-67.38%
Onion (1kg)
$0.51 IQD 664
$1.38 ₱85.1
-63.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 IQD 878
$1.04 ₱64.0
-35.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31 IQD 403
$0.84 ₱51.7
-63.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.96 IQD 2,565
$2.88 ₱177
-31.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.34 IQD 17.5K
$5.60 ₱345
138.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 IQD 2,304
$0.75 ₱46.08
134.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 IQD 2,845
$1.79 ₱110
21.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Kirkuk
Cabanatuan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.53 IQD 688
$0.26 ₱15.93
103.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.90 IQD 40.5K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.07 IQD 4,020
$0.74 ₱45.61
314.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.11 IQD 1,454
$0.24 ₱14.80
362.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.84 IQD 10.3K
$0.86 ₱52.9
811.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.51 IQD 664
$1.12 ₱69.0
-54.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8K IQD 26.0M
$28.1K ₱1.7M
-29.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.7K IQD 25.8M
$17.9K ₱1.1M
9.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kirkuk
Cabanatuan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$53.7 IQD 70.3K
$57.8 ₱3,561
-7.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.64 IQD 29.6K
$21.13 ₱1,301
7.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.34 IQD 50.2K
$24.41 ₱1,503
57.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kirkuk
Cabanatuan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$14.94 IQD 19.6K
$12.28 ₱756
21.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.67 IQD 21.8K
$4.47 ₱275
272.93%
Cinema Ticket
$7.58 IQD 9,925
$6.71 ₱413
12.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kirkuk
Cabanatuan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$57.7 IQD 75.5K
$154 ₱9,485
-62.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$772 IQD 1.0M
$4,249 ₱261.6K
-81.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kirkuk
Cabanatuan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.98 IQD 36.6K
$26.18 ₱1,612
6.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.00 IQD 40.6K
$33.75 ₱2,078
-8.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$22.78 IQD 29.8K
$61.5 ₱3,785
-62.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$14.94 IQD 19.6K
$47.18 ₱2,905
-68.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kirkuk
Cabanatuan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$74.7 IQD 97.9K
$270 ₱16.6K
-72.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$108 IQD 141.8K
$44.45 ₱2,736
143.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$113 IQD 148.2K
$583 ₱35.9K
-80.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$253 IQD 330.9K
$390 ₱24.0K
-35.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$878 IQD 1.1M
$2,049 ₱126.1K
-57.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$397 IQD 519.6K
$978 ₱60.2K
-59.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kirkuk
Cabanatuan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$616 IQD 806.8K
$201 ₱12.4K
206.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.67
6.17
-8.10%

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

Last update for Kirkuk: July 13, 2026

Last update for Cabanatuan: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $74.7 in Kirkuk versus $270 in Cabanatuan. 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 206% higher in Kirkuk, 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 $26.00 in Kirkuk versus $36.00 in Cabanatuan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $157 vs $173 – making Kirkuk the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Kirkuk vs Cabanatuan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Kirkuk and in Cabanatuan compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $594 in Kirkuk, $518 in Cabanatuan – roughly 15% apart. Kirkuk costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Kirkuk compared to Cabanatuan?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $891 per month in Kirkuk and $777 in Cabanatuan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Kirkuk and Cabanatuan?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cabanatuan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Kirkuk and $36.00 in Cabanatuan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Kirkuk – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
How far does $1,200 go in Kirkuk compared to Cabanatuan?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $594 in Kirkuk and $518 in Cabanatuan, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Kirkuk or Cabanatuan?
Families tend to lean toward Cabanatuan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Kirkuk or Cabanatuan safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Kirkuk and Cabanatuan?
If budget matters most, go with Cabanatuan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kirkuk makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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