Cost of Living Comparison Between Lusaka and Erbil Cost of Living Comparison Between Lusaka and Erbil

😐 Solo nomad: Lusaka is 2% more expensive than Erbil without rent, and 18.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Lusaka is 3.9% cheaper than Erbil without rent, and 0.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lusaka
Erbil
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.35 ZMW 141
$7.69 IQD 10.1K
-4.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.43 ZMW 487
$23.10 IQD 30.2K
10.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.70 ZMW 70.7
$8.79 IQD 11.5K
-57.91%
Cappuccino
$1.93 ZMW 36.94
$3.13 IQD 4,091
-38.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ZMW 13.18
$0.52 IQD 675
32.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ZMW 6.92
$0.22 IQD 288
63.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.89 ZMW 17.03
$1.95 IQD 2,547
-54.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 ZMW 34.56
$2.06 IQD 2,695
-12.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lusaka
Erbil
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 ZMW 24.17
$1.33 IQD 1,745
-5.26%
White Bread (500g)
$0.74 ZMW 14.17
$0.84 IQD 1,100
-11.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.59 ZMW 30.35
$1.80 IQD 2,348
-11.67%
Eggs
$1.82 ZMW 34.85
$1.97 IQD 2,580
-7.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.93 ZMW 152
$7.54 IQD 9,856
5.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.83 ZMW 73.2
$4.75 IQD 6,212
-19.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.61 ZMW 88.2
$14.00 IQD 18.3K
-67.07%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 ZMW 49.95
$1.14 IQD 1,488
128.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ZMW 30.78
$1.16 IQD 1,517
38.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.69 ZMW 51.5
$1.13 IQD 1,477
138.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.12 ZMW 21.45
$0.74 IQD 972
51.35%
Potato (1kg)
$1.88 ZMW 35.99
$0.72 IQD 946
161.11%
Onion (1kg)
$1.39 ZMW 26.56
$0.70 IQD 921
98.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.94 ZMW 18.05
$0.74 IQD 963
27.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ZMW 9.88
$0.56 IQD 730
-7.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.52 ZMW 48.29
$2.64 IQD 3,455
-4.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.48 ZMW 143
$12.45 IQD 16.3K
-39.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 ZMW 21.82
$1.38 IQD 1,802
-17.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ZMW 29.94
$2.00 IQD 2,615
-22.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Lusaka
Erbil
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.95 ZMW 18.25
$0.59 IQD 777
61.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.75 ZMW 741
$34.66 IQD 45.3K
11.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.77 ZMW 53.0
$2.28 IQD 2,981
21.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.15 ZMW 21.92
$2.29 IQD 3,000
-49.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.03 ZMW 173
$7.08 IQD 9,255
27.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 ZMW 22.89
$0.70 IQD 912
71.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$8,118 ZMW 155.3K
$19.5K IQD 25.5M
-58.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K ZMW 536.8K
$20.6K IQD 26.9M
36.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lusaka
Erbil
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$90.3 ZMW 1,727
$101 IQD 132.1K
-10.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.0 ZMW 994
$17.55 IQD 22.9K
196.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$127 ZMW 2,433
$29.42 IQD 38.5K
332.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lusaka
Erbil
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.62 ZMW 854
$73.4 IQD 96.0K
-39.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.95 ZMW 267
$11.74 IQD 15.4K
18.82%
Cinema Ticket
$4.14 ZMW 79.2
$11.69 IQD 15.3K
-64.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lusaka
Erbil
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$176 ZMW 3,358
$266 IQD 347.3K
-33.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,737 ZMW 186.3K
$3,301 IQD 4.3M
194.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lusaka
Erbil
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.25 ZMW 368
$33.12 IQD 43.3K
-41.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.30 ZMW 331
$49.75 IQD 65.1K
-65.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.4 ZMW 1,614
$83.1 IQD 108.7K
1.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.4 ZMW 1,423
$76.8 IQD 100.5K
-3.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lusaka
Erbil
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$225 ZMW 4,303
$439 IQD 574.4K
-48.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$123 ZMW 2,360
$276 IQD 360.6K
-55.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,056 ZMW 20.2K
$738 IQD 965.7K
43.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$583 ZMW 11.2K
$483 IQD 631.7K
20.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,942 ZMW 37.2K
$1,112 IQD 1.5M
74.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,863 ZMW 73.9K
$664 IQD 867.9K
482.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lusaka
Erbil
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$348 ZMW 6,666
$555 IQD 725.3K
-37.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
25
14.33
74.46%

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

Last update for Lusaka: March 1, 2026

Last update for Erbil: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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