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 17.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Lusaka is 4.8% cheaper than Erbil without rent, and 3.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lusaka
Erbil
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.23 ZMW 138
$7.87 IQD 10.3K
-8.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.83 ZMW 475
$22.86 IQD 29.9K
8.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.68 ZMW 70.4
$8.58 IQD 11.2K
-57.11%
Cappuccino
$1.99 ZMW 38.11
$3.26 IQD 4,266
-38.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 ZMW 13.85
$0.51 IQD 674
41.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ZMW 6.50
$0.20 IQD 262
70.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.92 ZMW 17.66
$1.95 IQD 2,547
-52.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ZMW 33.24
$2.16 IQD 2,824
-19.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lusaka
Erbil
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.32 ZMW 25.17
$1.33 IQD 1,745
-0.75%
White Bread (500g)
$0.73 ZMW 14.02
$0.80 IQD 1,044
-8.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.60 ZMW 30.67
$1.80 IQD 2,359
-11.11%
Eggs
$1.84 ZMW 35.25
$1.92 IQD 2,508
-4.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.70 ZMW 147
$7.49 IQD 9,801
2.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.98 ZMW 76.1
$4.85 IQD 6,345
-17.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.74 ZMW 90.7
$14.32 IQD 18.8K
-66.90%
Apples (1kg)
$2.48 ZMW 47.52
$1.19 IQD 1,554
108.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 ZMW 31.91
$1.19 IQD 1,564
40.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.80 ZMW 53.5
$1.19 IQD 1,563
135.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.17 ZMW 22.40
$0.81 IQD 1,059
44.44%
Potato (1kg)
$1.89 ZMW 36.17
$0.67 IQD 880
182.09%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 ZMW 26.09
$0.75 IQD 982
81.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.94 ZMW 17.92
$0.74 IQD 968
27.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ZMW 9.17
$0.57 IQD 742
-15.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.53 ZMW 48.34
$2.71 IQD 3,545
-6.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.07 ZMW 154
$12.53 IQD 16.4K
-35.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 ZMW 21.61
$1.45 IQD 1,899
-22.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53 ZMW 29.26
$2.03 IQD 2,654
-24.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Lusaka
Erbil
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.00 ZMW 19.17
$0.59 IQD 778
69.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.65 ZMW 739
$35.17 IQD 46.0K
9.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 ZMW 52.2
$2.36 IQD 3,096
15.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.13 ZMW 21.63
$2.31 IQD 3,019
-51.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.99 ZMW 172
$6.79 IQD 8,893
32.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ZMW 23.50
$0.65 IQD 845
89.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$8,140 ZMW 155.7K
$18.9K IQD 24.8M
-56.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.5K ZMW 544.9K
$20.4K IQD 26.7M
39.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lusaka
Erbil
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$92.9 ZMW 1,778
$98.8 IQD 129.4K
-5.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.1 ZMW 1,016
$17.50 IQD 22.9K
203.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$126 ZMW 2,402
$30.35 IQD 39.7K
313.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lusaka
Erbil
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.23 ZMW 865
$73.9 IQD 96.7K
-38.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.75 ZMW 263
$11.75 IQD 15.4K
17.02%
Cinema Ticket
$4.27 ZMW 81.6
$11.31 IQD 14.8K
-62.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lusaka
Erbil
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$175 ZMW 3,349
$262 IQD 343.1K
-33.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,583 ZMW 183.3K
$3,323 IQD 4.4M
188.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lusaka
Erbil
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.74 ZMW 358
$33.22 IQD 43.5K
-43.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.19 ZMW 329
$48.02 IQD 62.9K
-64.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.8 ZMW 1,642
$81.5 IQD 106.8K
5.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.9 ZMW 1,414
$77.1 IQD 100.9K
-4.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lusaka
Erbil
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$222 ZMW 4,251
$430 IQD 562.7K
-48.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$120 ZMW 2,299
$276 IQD 361.4K
-56.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,042 ZMW 19.9K
$724 IQD 947.4K
43.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$600 ZMW 11.5K
$496 IQD 649.5K
20.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,997 ZMW 38.2K
$1,111 IQD 1.5M
79.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,895 ZMW 74.5K
$653 IQD 854.3K
496.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lusaka
Erbil
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$344 ZMW 6,576
$566 IQD 741.0K
-39.26%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Erbil: April 11, 2026

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 other spots: cost of living compared

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