Cost of Living Comparison Between Lome and Erbil Cost of Living Comparison Between Lome and Erbil

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $582 per month in Lome vs $1,095 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,015 per month in Lome vs $1,654 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,448 per month in Lome vs $2,213 in Erbil, rent included.

Lome is about 47% cheaper than Erbil, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Lome and Erbil are more affordable than the global median – Lome 58% lower, Erbil 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.99 F CFA 1,684

$7.67 IQD 10.0K

-61.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.41 F CFA 17.7K

$44.94 IQD 58.8K

-30.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.66 F CFA 3,188

$8.21 IQD 10.7K

-31.06%

Cappuccino

$5.95 F CFA 3,355

$3.78 IQD 4,955

57.41%

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

$4.21 F CFA 2,371

$1.02 IQD 1,338

312.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 F CFA 405

$0.41 IQD 541

75.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.92 F CFA 520

$5.97 IQD 7,823

-84.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 F CFA 979

$4.45 IQD 5,829

-60.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.41 F CFA 1,358

$1.27 IQD 1,669

89.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.35 F CFA 762

$0.79 IQD 1,033

70.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.46 F CFA 821

$1.70 IQD 2,227

-14.12%

Eggs

$2.07 F CFA 1,167

$1.76 IQD 2,307

17.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.29 IQD 10.9K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.54 IQD 7,252

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.71 F CFA 3,220

$14.68 IQD 19.2K

-61.10%

Apples (1kg)

$3.17 F CFA 1,787

$1.10 IQD 1,446

188.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 F CFA 978

$1.15 IQD 1,503

51.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.22 IQD 1,599

Tomato (1kg)

$2.69 F CFA 1,514

$0.81 IQD 1,061

232.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.75 F CFA 984

$0.74 IQD 974

136.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.25 F CFA 706

$0.69 IQD 901

81.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 IQD 1,034

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 F CFA 511

$0.58 IQD 761

56.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.51 IQD 3,293

Wine (Bottle)

$4.98 F CFA 2,805

$12.64 IQD 16.5K

-60.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 F CFA 638

$1.68 IQD 2,196

-32.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 F CFA 855

$2.06 IQD 2,693

-26.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 IQD 781

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.88 IQD 57.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.93 IQD 2,533

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.22 F CFA 689

$1.74 IQD 2,279

-29.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.40 F CFA 2,478

$6.51 IQD 8,521

-32.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 F CFA 696

$0.67 IQD 876

83.58%

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

$17.9K IQD 23.5M

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

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

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

$151 F CFA 84.9K

$130 IQD 170.4K

15.67%

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

$22.57 F CFA 12.7K

$14.06 IQD 18.4K

60.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.56 F CFA 25.1K

$27.92 IQD 36.6K

59.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.7 F CFA 35.4K

$64.5 IQD 84.5K

-2.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.97 F CFA 5,058

$14.50 IQD 19.0K

-38.14%

Cinema Ticket

$4.55 F CFA 2,562

$11.23 IQD 14.7K

-59.48%

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

$312 IQD 409.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,080 IQD 4.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.09 IQD 40.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.06 IQD 59.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.2 IQD 89.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.0 IQD 89.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$473 IQD 619.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 IQD 375.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,239 F CFA 698.2K

$732 IQD 958.7K

69.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$306 F CFA 172.3K

$426 IQD 558.4K

-28.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,115 IQD 1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$643 IQD 841.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$311 F CFA 175.1K

$613 IQD 803.3K

-49.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.53

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

Last update for Lome: September 1, 2026

Last update for Erbil: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 97% 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 $31.00 in Lome versus $45.00 in Erbil. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $146 vs $204 – making Lome 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

Lome vs Erbil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Erbil is pricier by about 88%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $872 per month in Lome and $1,643 in Erbil. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 40% more in Erbil, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Lome and $45.00 in Erbil. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Lome, where all-in costs run around $582, than in Erbil at $1,095. In Lome it covers expenses comfortably, while in Erbil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Lome – 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 Lome. 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.