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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,049 per month in Lome vs $1,034 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,501 per month in Lome vs $1,522 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,954 per month in Lome vs $2,010 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 21% lower, Erbil 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.17 F CFA 1,248

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

-71.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.09 F CFA 18.4K

$22.64 IQD 29.6K

41.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.16 F CFA 2,964

$8.88 IQD 11.6K

-41.89%

Cappuccino

$5.62 F CFA 3,229

$3.20 IQD 4,189

75.63%

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

$3.46 F CFA 1,984

$0.48 IQD 630

620.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 F CFA 636

$0.20 IQD 262

455.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.86 F CFA 493

$1.93 IQD 2,523

-55.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 F CFA 1,034

$2.14 IQD 2,803

-15.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.42 F CFA 1,390

$1.31 IQD 1,719

84.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 F CFA 751

$0.85 IQD 1,108

54.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.81 F CFA 1,037

$1.86 IQD 2,439

-2.69%

Eggs

$2.06 F CFA 1,186

$1.98 IQD 2,590

4.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.16 F CFA 8,128

$7.23 IQD 9,474

95.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.21 F CFA 4,711

$4.72 IQD 6,184

73.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.37 F CFA 5,381

$14.24 IQD 18.7K

-34.20%

Apples (1kg)

$2.67 F CFA 1,532

$1.19 IQD 1,563

124.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 F CFA 819

$1.15 IQD 1,505

24.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.62 F CFA 1,506

$1.15 IQD 1,502

127.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 F CFA 1,447

$0.81 IQD 1,057

211.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.80 F CFA 1,033

$0.68 IQD 888

164.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.75 F CFA 1,004

$0.75 IQD 980

133.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 F CFA 313

$0.73 IQD 952

-24.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 F CFA 497

$0.57 IQD 742

52.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.43 F CFA 821

$2.62 IQD 3,428

-45.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.66 F CFA 2,676

$12.19 IQD 16.0K

-61.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 F CFA 794

$1.39 IQD 1,824

-0.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 F CFA 901

$1.97 IQD 2,580

-20.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 F CFA 194

$0.59 IQD 776

-42.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 F CFA 30.9K

$35.14 IQD 46.0K

53.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.04 F CFA 1,173

$2.25 IQD 2,943

-9.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 F CFA 421

$2.33 IQD 3,052

-68.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.24 F CFA 3,008

$6.75 IQD 8,845

-22.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 F CFA 720

$0.65 IQD 849

92.31%

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

$14.1K F CFA 8.1M

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

-27.29%

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

$25.8K F CFA 14.8M

$20.8K IQD 27.3M

23.82%

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

$178 F CFA 102.4K

$102 IQD 133.2K

75.41%

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

$21.67 F CFA 12.4K

$17.42 IQD 22.8K

24.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.41 F CFA 24.9K

$29.58 IQD 38.7K

46.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.00 F CFA 28.1K

$73.8 IQD 96.6K

-33.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.73 F CFA 5,013

$11.55 IQD 15.1K

-24.42%

Cinema Ticket

$4.29 F CFA 2,465

$11.41 IQD 14.9K

-62.40%

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

$173 F CFA 99.3K

$263 IQD 343.8K

-34.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,151 F CFA 3.0M

$3,250 IQD 4.3M

58.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.78 F CFA 14.2K

$33.46 IQD 43.8K

-25.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.41 F CFA 15.7K

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

-44.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$40.82 F CFA 23.4K

$81.1 IQD 106.2K

-49.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.1 F CFA 55.2K

$76.5 IQD 100.2K

25.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$363 F CFA 208.6K

$429 IQD 562.3K

-15.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$221 F CFA 126.6K

$275 IQD 360.3K

-19.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$757 F CFA 434.6K

$732 IQD 958.6K

3.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$302 F CFA 173.4K

$495 IQD 647.9K

-38.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,130 IQD 1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$660 IQD 864.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$261 F CFA 149.9K

$581 IQD 760.9K

-55.08%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Erbil: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $363 in Lome versus $429 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 123% 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 $32.00 in Lome versus $23.00 in Erbil. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $250 vs $195 – 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 $1,574 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 $32.00 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 $1,049. 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.