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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $907 per month in Lusaka vs $1,095 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,534 per month in Lusaka vs $1,654 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,161 per month in Lusaka vs $2,213 in Erbil, rent included.

Lusaka is about 17% cheaper than Erbil, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Lusaka and Erbil are more affordable than the global median – Lusaka 34% lower, Erbil 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.70 ZMW 109

$7.67 IQD 10.0K

-25.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.91 ZMW 609

$44.94 IQD 58.8K

-28.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.31 ZMW 101

$8.21 IQD 10.7K

-35.32%

Cappuccino

$2.98 ZMW 57.0

$3.78 IQD 4,955

-21.16%

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

$0.82 ZMW 15.73

$1.02 IQD 1,338

-19.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ZMW 9.02

$0.41 IQD 541

14.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.36 ZMW 25.95

$5.97 IQD 7,823

-77.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ZMW 44.68

$4.45 IQD 5,829

-47.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 ZMW 35.53

$1.27 IQD 1,669

46.46%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ZMW 23.79

$0.79 IQD 1,033

58.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.19 ZMW 41.74

$1.70 IQD 2,227

28.82%

Eggs

$2.05 ZMW 39.17

$1.76 IQD 2,307

16.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.75 ZMW 205

$8.29 IQD 10.9K

29.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.54 ZMW 125

$5.54 IQD 7,252

18.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.75 ZMW 129

$14.68 IQD 19.2K

-54.02%

Apples (1kg)

$3.55 ZMW 67.9

$1.10 IQD 1,446

222.73%

Banana (1kg)

$2.50 ZMW 47.66

$1.15 IQD 1,503

117.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.72 ZMW 71.0

$1.22 IQD 1,599

204.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ZMW 30.34

$0.81 IQD 1,061

96.30%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 ZMW 52.3

$0.74 IQD 974

270.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.97 ZMW 37.63

$0.69 IQD 901

185.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 ZMW 21.91

$0.79 IQD 1,034

45.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ZMW 15.77

$0.58 IQD 761

43.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.22 ZMW 61.4

$2.51 IQD 3,293

28.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.52 ZMW 201

$12.64 IQD 16.5K

-16.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 ZMW 28.18

$1.68 IQD 2,196

-11.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 ZMW 47.26

$2.06 IQD 2,693

19.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.02 ZMW 19.56

$0.60 IQD 781

70.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.1 ZMW 995

$43.88 IQD 57.5K

18.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 ZMW 51.1

$1.93 IQD 2,533

38.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.56 ZMW 29.78

$1.74 IQD 2,279

-10.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.23 ZMW 99.9

$6.51 IQD 8,521

-19.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.58 ZMW 30.13

$0.67 IQD 876

135.82%

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

$7,791 ZMW 148.8K

$17.9K IQD 23.5M

-56.57%

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

$27.7K ZMW 529.1K

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

40.59%

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

$83.7 ZMW 1,598

$130 IQD 170.4K

-35.73%

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

$11.07 ZMW 211

$14.06 IQD 18.4K

-21.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.7 ZMW 1,083

$27.92 IQD 36.6K

103.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.4 ZMW 1,076

$64.5 IQD 84.5K

-12.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.97 ZMW 305

$14.50 IQD 19.0K

10.14%

Cinema Ticket

$6.37 ZMW 122

$11.23 IQD 14.7K

-43.28%

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

$147 ZMW 2,802

$312 IQD 409.1K

-53.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ZMW 317.2K

$3,080 IQD 4.0M

439.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.76 ZMW 473

$31.09 IQD 40.7K

-20.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.00 ZMW 306

$45.06 IQD 59.0K

-64.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.84 ZMW 914

$68.2 IQD 89.3K

-29.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.1 ZMW 1,472

$68.0 IQD 89.0K

13.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$389 ZMW 7,424

$473 IQD 619.0K

-17.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$183 ZMW 3,492

$287 IQD 375.5K

-36.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,118 ZMW 21.3K

$732 IQD 958.7K

52.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$596 ZMW 11.4K

$426 IQD 558.4K

39.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,896 ZMW 36.2K

$1,115 IQD 1.5M

70.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,285 ZMW 100.9K

$643 IQD 841.7K

722.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$336 ZMW 6,414

$613 IQD 803.3K

-45.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.53

1046.25%

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

Last update for Lusaka: August 31, 2026

Last update for Erbil: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $389 in Lusaka versus $473 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 83% higher in Erbil, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Lusaka versus $45.00 in Erbil. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Lusaka vs $204 in Erbil – so Erbil wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Lusaka vs Erbil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Erbil is pricier by about 21%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,360 per month in Lusaka and $1,643 in Erbil. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 22% cheaper in Erbil – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Lusaka and $45.00 in Erbil. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lusaka, where all-in costs run around $907, than in Erbil at $1,095. In Lusaka it covers expenses comfortably, while in Erbil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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