Cost of Living Comparison Between Kirkuk and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Kirkuk and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $591 in Kirkuk versus $2,227 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $947 in Kirkuk versus $3,305 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,303 in Kirkuk versus $4,384 in Lisbon.

Living in Kirkuk costs roughly 73% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kirkuk is 56% below, Lisbon is 66% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kirkuk
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.74 IQD 4,903
$16.17 €13.81
-76.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.51 IQD 33.4K
$64.6 €55.1
-60.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.59 IQD 7,320
$10.38 €8.86
-46.15%
Cappuccino
$2.26 IQD 2,966
$2.77 €2.37
-18.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 IQD 478
$2.25 €1.92
-84.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21 IQD 269
$1.57 €1.34
-86.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.38 IQD 4,430
$3.49 €2.98
-3.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 IQD 3,779
$4.00 €3.42
-27.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kirkuk
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 IQD 1,506
$1.08 €0.93
6.48%
White Bread (500g)
$0.61 IQD 804
$1.74 €1.49
-64.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.58 IQD 2,065
$1.74 €1.48
-9.20%
Eggs
$1.45 IQD 1,895
$3.18 €2.71
-54.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.37 IQD 5,721
$13.43 €11.47
-67.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.84 IQD 3,714
$7.99 €6.83
-64.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.15 IQD 14.6K
$16.09 €13.74
-30.70%
Apples (1kg)
$0.92 IQD 1,205
$2.28 €1.95
-59.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 IQD 1,397
$1.72 €1.47
-37.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.03 IQD 1,347
$1.94 €1.66
-46.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.59 IQD 777
$2.54 €2.17
-76.77%
Potato (1kg)
$0.50 IQD 653
$1.83 €1.56
-72.68%
Onion (1kg)
$0.50 IQD 661
$2.04 €1.74
-75.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.63 IQD 826
$1.98 €1.69
-68.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33 IQD 434
$0.85 €0.73
-61.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.86 IQD 2,438
$6.85 €5.85
-72.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.35 IQD 17.5K
$5.78 €4.93
130.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 IQD 2,393
$1.37 €1.17
33.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 IQD 2,763
$2.90 €2.48
-27.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Kirkuk
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.53 IQD 691
$2.28 €1.95
-76.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.69 IQD 41.5K
$46.84 €40.00
-32.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.92 IQD 3,821
$4.08 €3.48
-28.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.15 IQD 1,508
$0.82 €0.70
40.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.69 IQD 10.1K
$18.27 €15.60
-57.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.54 IQD 706
$2.01 €1.71
-73.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.4K IQD 26.7M
$35.3K €30.1K
-42.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2K IQD 26.4M
$38.5K €32.9K
-47.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kirkuk
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$53.3 IQD 69.8K
$145 €124
-63.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.83 IQD 29.9K
$20.96 €17.90
8.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.06 IQD 49.9K
$40.05 €34.21
-4.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kirkuk
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$14.76 IQD 19.3K
$48.79 €41.66
-69.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.50 IQD 21.6K
$18.69 €15.97
-11.72%
Cinema Ticket
$7.66 IQD 10.0K
$9.06 €7.74
-15.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kirkuk
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$58.0 IQD 75.9K
$607 €518
-90.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$788 IQD 1.0M
$16.3K €13.9K
-95.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kirkuk
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.59 IQD 37.5K
$105 €89.4
-72.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.57 IQD 40.0K
$40.95 €34.97
-25.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$23.18 IQD 30.4K
$93.6 €79.9
-75.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$15.28 IQD 20.0K
$119 €101
-87.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kirkuk
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$73.9 IQD 96.8K
$1,604 €1,370
-95.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$108 IQD 141.7K
$1,236 €1,055
-91.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$116 IQD 152.2K
$3,046 €2,601
-96.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$249 IQD 325.5K
$2,057 €1,756
-87.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$887 IQD 1.2M
$7,709 €6,583
-88.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$406 IQD 531.3K
$4,266 €3,644
-90.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kirkuk
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$636 IQD 832.8K
$1,584 €1,353
-59.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.67
3.81
48.82%

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

Last update for Kirkuk: April 26, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $73.9 in Kirkuk and $1,604 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 149% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $26.00 in Kirkuk vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $158 vs $271 per month, with Kirkuk cheaper across the board.

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 Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lisbon cheaper than Kirkuk?
Kirkuk is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 277% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Kirkuk or Lisbon?
On paper, Lisbon earns 149% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Kirkuk and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $73.9 in Kirkuk versus $1,604 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $58.0 in Kirkuk versus $607 in Lisbon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Kirkuk and Lisbon?
Supermarket bills run roughly 72% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Kirkuk or Lisbon?
At $591 in Kirkuk versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kirkuk but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Kirkuk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Kirkuk or Lisbon more family-friendly?
For families, Kirkuk is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lisbon, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Kirkuk or Lisbon?
Safety-wise, Kirkuk and Lisbon are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Kirkuk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 277% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Kirkuk vs other spots: cost of living compared

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