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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,047 per month in Lome vs $1,034 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,533 per month in Lome vs $1,548 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,020 per month in Lome vs $2,061 in Erbil, rent included.

Lome costs about 1% more than Erbil, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Lome and Erbil are more affordable than the global median – Lome 22% lower, Erbil 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.15 F CFA 1,216

$7.72 IQD 10.1K

-72.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.22 F CFA 17.6K

$22.83 IQD 29.9K

36.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.38 F CFA 3,036

$8.98 IQD 11.8K

-40.09%

Cappuccino

$5.61 F CFA 3,168

$3.13 IQD 4,096

79.23%

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

$3.46 F CFA 1,953

$0.49 IQD 640

606.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 F CFA 627

$0.20 IQD 261

455.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.84 F CFA 477

$2.00 IQD 2,624

-58.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 F CFA 964

$2.14 IQD 2,797

-20.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.48 F CFA 1,397

$1.32 IQD 1,730

87.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 F CFA 748

$0.84 IQD 1,103

58.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.83 F CFA 1,035

$1.80 IQD 2,355

1.67%

Eggs

$2.10 F CFA 1,184

$1.98 IQD 2,599

6.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.13 F CFA 7,975

$7.54 IQD 9,879

87.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.41 F CFA 4,748

$4.80 IQD 6,282

75.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.44 F CFA 5,326

$14.29 IQD 18.7K

-33.94%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 F CFA 1,530

$1.14 IQD 1,491

137.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 F CFA 845

$1.20 IQD 1,567

25.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.62 F CFA 1,481

$1.19 IQD 1,561

120.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.48 F CFA 1,402

$0.76 IQD 994

226.32%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 F CFA 1,012

$0.70 IQD 918

155.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.74 F CFA 981

$0.72 IQD 938

141.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 F CFA 284

$0.78 IQD 1,018

-35.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 F CFA 482

$0.53 IQD 688

60.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.44 F CFA 815

$2.63 IQD 3,449

-45.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.87 F CFA 2,748

$12.55 IQD 16.4K

-61.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 F CFA 749

$1.45 IQD 1,899

-8.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 F CFA 855

$2.01 IQD 2,633

-24.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 F CFA 204

$0.54 IQD 709

-33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.3 F CFA 30.1K

$34.09 IQD 44.6K

56.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.13 F CFA 1,203

$2.35 IQD 3,084

-9.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 F CFA 389

$2.20 IQD 2,885

-68.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.21 F CFA 2,938

$6.87 IQD 8,999

-24.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 F CFA 704

$0.70 IQD 911

78.57%

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

$14.1K F CFA 7.9M

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

-26.40%

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

$26.0K F CFA 14.7M

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

25.50%

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

$173 F CFA 97.5K

$102 IQD 134.1K

68.72%

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

$21.89 F CFA 12.4K

$17.93 IQD 23.5K

22.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.32 F CFA 25.0K

$29.33 IQD 38.4K

51.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.54 F CFA 28.0K

$72.7 IQD 95.2K

-31.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.63 F CFA 4,871

$11.77 IQD 15.4K

-26.68%

Cinema Ticket

$4.33 F CFA 2,444

$11.62 IQD 15.2K

-62.74%

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

$177 F CFA 99.9K

$269 IQD 352.1K

-34.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,103 F CFA 2.9M

$3,278 IQD 4.3M

55.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.39 F CFA 13.8K

$32.74 IQD 42.9K

-25.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.26 F CFA 15.4K

$48.36 IQD 63.3K

-43.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$42.14 F CFA 23.8K

$81.0 IQD 106.0K

-47.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.0 F CFA 53.0K

$76.8 IQD 100.5K

22.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$360 F CFA 202.9K

$426 IQD 557.6K

-15.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$224 F CFA 126.2K

$278 IQD 364.4K

-19.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$765 F CFA 431.8K

$726 IQD 951.1K

5.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 F CFA 169.0K

$485 IQD 635.3K

-38.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,123 IQD 1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$658 IQD 862.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$267 F CFA 150.6K

$584 IQD 765.0K

-54.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.33

-44.17%

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

Last update for Lome: May 31, 2026

Last update for Erbil: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $360 in Lome versus $426 in Erbil. 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 119% higher in Erbil, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Lome versus $23.00 in Erbil. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $197 – making Erbil 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 – Lome is pricier by about 1%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,570 per month in Lome and $1,551 in Erbil. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Erbil, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 28% more in Lome, 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 $23.00 in Erbil. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Erbil, where all-in costs run around $1,034, than in Lome at $1,047. In Erbil it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lome it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Erbil – 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 Erbil. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lome makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.