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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,028 per month in Lome vs $1,027 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,520 per month in Lome vs $1,517 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,012 per month in Lome vs $2,008 in Erbil, rent included.

Lome and Erbil have comparable living costs — the differences are in the details.

Both Lome and Erbil are more affordable than the global median – Lome 24% lower, Erbil 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.18 F CFA 1,219

$7.87 IQD 10.3K

-72.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.89 F CFA 17.8K

$22.86 IQD 29.9K

39.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.15 F CFA 2,876

$8.58 IQD 11.2K

-39.98%

Cappuccino

$5.90 F CFA 3,291

$3.26 IQD 4,266

80.98%

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

$3.38 F CFA 1,888

$0.51 IQD 674

562.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 F CFA 621

$0.20 IQD 262

455.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.84 F CFA 472

$1.95 IQD 2,547

-56.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 F CFA 955

$2.16 IQD 2,824

-20.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.42 F CFA 1,353

$1.33 IQD 1,745

81.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 F CFA 706

$0.80 IQD 1,044

57.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 F CFA 1,031

$1.80 IQD 2,359

2.78%

Eggs

$2.06 F CFA 1,148

$1.92 IQD 2,508

7.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.08 F CFA 7,859

$7.49 IQD 9,801

87.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.50 F CFA 4,746

$4.85 IQD 6,345

75.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.91 F CFA 4,974

$14.32 IQD 18.8K

-37.78%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 F CFA 1,471

$1.19 IQD 1,554

121.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 F CFA 842

$1.19 IQD 1,564

26.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 F CFA 1,504

$1.19 IQD 1,563

126.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.43 F CFA 1,358

$0.81 IQD 1,059

200.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.80 F CFA 1,007

$0.67 IQD 880

168.66%

Onion (1kg)

$1.75 F CFA 975

$0.75 IQD 982

133.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 F CFA 289

$0.74 IQD 968

-29.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 F CFA 479

$0.57 IQD 742

50.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.38 F CFA 773

$2.71 IQD 3,545

-49.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.83 F CFA 2,699

$12.53 IQD 16.4K

-61.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 F CFA 760

$1.45 IQD 1,899

-6.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 F CFA 839

$2.03 IQD 2,654

-26.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 F CFA 190

$0.59 IQD 778

-42.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.2 F CFA 29.1K

$35.17 IQD 46.0K

48.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 F CFA 1,172

$2.36 IQD 3,096

-11.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 F CFA 415

$2.31 IQD 3,019

-67.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.27 F CFA 2,941

$6.79 IQD 8,893

-22.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 F CFA 666

$0.65 IQD 845

83.08%

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

$14.1K F CFA 7.9M

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

-25.20%

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

$25.6K F CFA 14.3M

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

25.53%

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

$172 F CFA 96.0K

$98.8 IQD 129.4K

74.02%

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

$22.30 F CFA 12.4K

$17.50 IQD 22.9K

27.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.33 F CFA 24.2K

$30.35 IQD 39.7K

42.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.05 F CFA 27.4K

$73.9 IQD 96.7K

-33.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.08 F CFA 5,069

$11.75 IQD 15.4K

-22.72%

Cinema Ticket

$4.31 F CFA 2,404

$11.31 IQD 14.8K

-61.89%

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

$178 F CFA 99.5K

$262 IQD 343.0K

-31.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,148 F CFA 2.9M

$3,323 IQD 4.4M

54.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.52 F CFA 13.7K

$33.22 IQD 43.5K

-26.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.17 F CFA 15.2K

$48.02 IQD 62.9K

-43.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$40.81 F CFA 22.8K

$81.5 IQD 106.8K

-49.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.2 F CFA 52.6K

$77.1 IQD 100.9K

22.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$358 F CFA 199.9K

$430 IQD 562.7K

-16.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$221 F CFA 123.2K

$276 IQD 361.4K

-20.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$764 F CFA 426.4K

$724 IQD 947.3K

5.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$300 F CFA 167.7K

$496 IQD 649.5K

-39.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,111 IQD 1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$653 IQD 854.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$264 F CFA 147.4K

$566 IQD 740.9K

-53.35%

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: April 14, 2026

Last update for Erbil: April 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $358 in Lome versus $430 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 114% higher in Erbil. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Lome versus $23 in Erbil. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $250 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

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,542 per month in Lome and $1,541 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 27% more in Lome, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

Kindergarten costs $178 per month in Lome and $262 in Erbil. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Erbil, where all-in costs run around $1,027, than in Lome at $1,028. 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.