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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $855 per month in Lusaka vs $1,034 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,450 per month in Lusaka vs $1,522 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,045 per month in Lusaka vs $2,010 in Erbil, rent included.

Lusaka is about 17% cheaper than Erbil, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Lusaka and Erbil are more affordable than the global median – Lusaka 36% lower, Erbil 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.01 ZMW 128

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

-9.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.68 ZMW 449

$22.64 IQD 29.6K

9.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.70 ZMW 67.3

$8.88 IQD 11.6K

-58.33%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ZMW 35.10

$3.20 IQD 4,189

-39.69%

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

$0.67 ZMW 12.24

$0.48 IQD 630

39.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ZMW 6.16

$0.20 IQD 262

70.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.94 ZMW 17.14

$1.93 IQD 2,523

-51.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 ZMW 33.48

$2.14 IQD 2,803

-14.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 ZMW 24.30

$1.31 IQD 1,719

1.53%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 ZMW 14.63

$0.85 IQD 1,108

-5.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 ZMW 28.69

$1.86 IQD 2,439

-15.05%

Eggs

$1.77 ZMW 32.25

$1.98 IQD 2,590

-10.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.92 ZMW 144

$7.23 IQD 9,474

9.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.78 ZMW 68.8

$4.72 IQD 6,184

-19.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.74 ZMW 86.2

$14.24 IQD 18.7K

-66.71%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ZMW 46.79

$1.19 IQD 1,563

115.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 ZMW 28.62

$1.15 IQD 1,505

36.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 ZMW 49.35

$1.15 IQD 1,502

135.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ZMW 21.15

$0.81 IQD 1,057

43.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.80 ZMW 32.84

$0.68 IQD 888

164.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 ZMW 24.17

$0.75 IQD 980

77.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ZMW 16.80

$0.73 IQD 952

26.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ZMW 9.37

$0.57 IQD 742

-10.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.54 ZMW 46.29

$2.62 IQD 3,428

-3.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.63 ZMW 194

$12.19 IQD 16.0K

-12.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 ZMW 19.75

$1.39 IQD 1,824

-21.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ZMW 28.52

$1.97 IQD 2,579

-20.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ZMW 17.51

$0.59 IQD 776

62.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.17 ZMW 713

$35.14 IQD 46.0K

11.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.78 ZMW 50.7

$2.25 IQD 2,942

23.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.17 ZMW 21.32

$2.33 IQD 3,052

-49.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.20 ZMW 167

$6.75 IQD 8,845

36.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ZMW 21.75

$0.65 IQD 849

83.08%

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

$7,891 ZMW 143.6K

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

-59.33%

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

$28.4K ZMW 517.4K

$20.8K IQD 27.3M

36.42%

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

$90.7 ZMW 1,651

$102 IQD 133.2K

-10.80%

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

$53.4 ZMW 972

$17.42 IQD 22.8K

206.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$123 ZMW 2,239

$29.58 IQD 38.7K

315.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.44 ZMW 827

$73.8 IQD 96.6K

-38.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.65 ZMW 248

$11.55 IQD 15.1K

18.18%

Cinema Ticket

$4.25 ZMW 77.4

$11.41 IQD 14.9K

-62.75%

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

$178 ZMW 3,232

$263 IQD 343.7K

-32.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,462 ZMW 172.2K

$3,250 IQD 4.3M

191.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.67 ZMW 340

$33.46 IQD 43.8K

-44.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.20 ZMW 313

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

-65.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ZMW 1,539

$81.1 IQD 106.2K

4.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ZMW 1,314

$76.5 IQD 100.2K

-5.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$228 ZMW 4,157

$429 IQD 562.2K

-46.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$125 ZMW 2,273

$275 IQD 360.3K

-54.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,028 ZMW 18.7K

$732 IQD 958.5K

40.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$593 ZMW 10.8K

$495 IQD 647.8K

19.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,886 ZMW 34.3K

$1,130 IQD 1.5M

66.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$14.2K ZMW 258.2K

$660 IQD 864.4K

2049.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$287 ZMW 5,215

$581 IQD 760.9K

-50.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.33

74.46%

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

Last update for Lusaka: July 12, 2026

Last update for Erbil: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $228 in Lusaka versus $429 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 103% 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 $25.00 in Lusaka versus $23.00 in Erbil. Groceries tell a different story – $178 in Lusaka vs $195 in Erbil – so Lusaka 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 Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,283 per month in Lusaka and $1,551 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.

Groceries cost about 9% more in Erbil, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Lusaka and $23.00 in Erbil. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $855 in Lusaka and $1,034 in Erbil, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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.