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

🙂 Solo nomad: Lusaka is 0.7% cheaper than Erbil without rent, and 18% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Lusaka is 4% cheaper than Erbil without rent, and 0.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lusaka
Erbil
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.31 ZMW 180
$7.5 IQD 9,819
-2.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.24 ZMW 621
$23.23 IQD 30.4K
8.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.65 ZMW 89.8
$8.76 IQD 11.5K
-58.33%
Cappuccino
$1.94 ZMW 47.7
$3.14 IQD 4,111
-38.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 ZMW 17.91
$0.48 IQD 627
52.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ZMW 8.36
$0.2 IQD 261
70.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.88 ZMW 21.69
$1.95 IQD 2,556
-54.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 ZMW 45.19
$2.13 IQD 2,782
-13.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lusaka
Erbil
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 ZMW 31.34
$1.38 IQD 1,811
-7.97%
White Bread (500g)
$0.8 ZMW 19.66
$0.8 IQD 1,046
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.66 ZMW 40.9
$1.79 IQD 2,346
-7.26%
Eggs
$1.79 ZMW 44.03
$1.99 IQD 2,605
-10.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.84 ZMW 193
$7.57 IQD 9,907
3.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.81 ZMW 93.7
$4.75 IQD 6,218
-19.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.73 ZMW 116
$14.08 IQD 18.4K
-66.41%
Apples (1kg)
$2.49 ZMW 61.2
$1.19 IQD 1,561
109.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 ZMW 40.93
$1.13 IQD 1,486
46.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 ZMW 68.6
$1.19 IQD 1,559
134.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.12 ZMW 27.52
$0.77 IQD 1,008
45.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.87 ZMW 46.08
$0.67 IQD 880
179.10%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ZMW 33.86
$0.76 IQD 997
81.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.93 ZMW 22.89
$0.77 IQD 1,004
20.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ZMW 12.01
$0.52 IQD 682
-5.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.43 ZMW 59.7
$2.75 IQD 3,600
-11.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.7 ZMW 165
$13.84 IQD 18.1K
-51.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 ZMW 26.83
$1.4 IQD 1,827
-22.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 ZMW 38.64
$2.03 IQD 2,654
-22.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Lusaka
Erbil
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.02 ZMW 25.19
$0.59 IQD 773
72.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.27 ZMW 942
$34.92 IQD 45.7K
9.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.67 ZMW 65.6
$2.34 IQD 3,068
14.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.15 ZMW 28.23
$2.34 IQD 3,060
-50.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.45 ZMW 232
$7.02 IQD 9,189
34.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.2 ZMW 29.51
$0.64 IQD 843
87.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$8,101 ZMW 199.3K
$19.2K IQD 25.1M
-57.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K ZMW 692K
$20.7K IQD 27.1M
35.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lusaka
Erbil
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.5 ZMW 2,250
$99.7 IQD 130.5K
-8.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.1 ZMW 1,305
$17.86 IQD 23.4K
197.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$127 ZMW 3,118
$30.14 IQD 39.4K
320.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lusaka
Erbil
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.64 ZMW 1,123
$72 IQD 94.2K
-36.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.97 ZMW 344
$11.72 IQD 15.3K
19.20%
Cinema Ticket
$4.13 ZMW 102
$11.67 IQD 15.3K
-64.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lusaka
Erbil
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$174 ZMW 4,278
$270 IQD 353.4K
-35.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,526 ZMW 234.3K
$3,274 IQD 4.3M
190.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lusaka
Erbil
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.76 ZMW 461
$32.88 IQD 43K
-42.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.25 ZMW 424
$48.43 IQD 63.4K
-64.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.2 ZMW 2,072
$80.8 IQD 105.8K
4.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2 ZMW 1,775
$76.6 IQD 100.2K
-5.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lusaka
Erbil
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$223 ZMW 5,475
$439 IQD 574.6K
-49.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$124 ZMW 3,052
$279 IQD 365.2K
-55.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,034 ZMW 25.4K
$718 IQD 939.3K
44.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$605 ZMW 14.9K
$493 IQD 646K
22.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,020 ZMW 49.7K
$1,061 IQD 1.4M
90.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,856 ZMW 119.5K
$651 IQD 851.8K
646.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lusaka
Erbil
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$314 ZMW 7,714
$503 IQD 658.7K
-37.68%
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: October 27, 2025

Last update for Erbil: October 28, 2025

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