Cost of Living Comparison Between Mashhad and Erbil Cost of Living Comparison Between Mashhad and Erbil

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $859 per month in Mashhad vs $1,034 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,281 per month in Mashhad vs $1,522 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,703 per month in Mashhad vs $2,010 in Erbil, rent included.

Mashhad is about 17% cheaper than Erbil, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.50 IQD 7,205

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

-28.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.68 IQD 46.7K

$22.64 IQD 29.6K

57.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 IQD 9,799

$8.88 IQD 11.6K

-15.77%

Cappuccino

$2.98 IQD 3,900

$3.20 IQD 4,189

-6.88%

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

$0.39 IQD 512

$0.48 IQD 630

-18.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 284

$0.20 IQD 262

10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.38 IQD 4,423

$1.93 IQD 2,523

75.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 IQD 3,849

$2.14 IQD 2,803

37.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,735

$1.31 IQD 1,719

0.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,081

$0.85 IQD 1,108

-2.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 IQD 2,101

$1.86 IQD 2,439

-13.98%

Eggs

$0.87 IQD 1,134

$1.98 IQD 2,590

-56.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 IQD 5,747

$7.23 IQD 9,474

-39.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.03 IQD 2,657

$4.72 IQD 6,184

-56.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.03 IQD 3,966

$14.24 IQD 18.7K

-78.72%

Apples (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,275

$1.19 IQD 1,563

-18.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,528

$1.15 IQD 1,505

1.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,324

$1.15 IQD 1,502

-12.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.72 IQD 947

$0.81 IQD 1,057

-11.11%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 913

$0.68 IQD 888

2.94%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 893

$0.75 IQD 980

-9.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 IQD 376

$0.73 IQD 952

-60.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 228

$0.57 IQD 742

-70.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.77 IQD 1,013

$2.62 IQD 3,428

-70.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.54 IQD 17.7K

$12.19 IQD 16.0K

11.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 IQD 2,393

$1.39 IQD 1,824

31.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 IQD 2,748

$1.97 IQD 2,579

6.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 484

$0.59 IQD 776

-37.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.56 IQD 41.3K

$35.14 IQD 46.0K

-10.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.91 IQD 5,114

$2.25 IQD 2,942

73.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 IQD 2,018

$2.33 IQD 3,052

-33.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.52 IQD 9,848

$6.75 IQD 8,845

11.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 IQD 747

$0.65 IQD 849

-12.31%

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

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

5.03%

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

$19.6K IQD 25.7M

$20.8K IQD 27.3M

-5.88%

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

$177 IQD 232.4K

$102 IQD 133.2K

74.51%

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

$26.31 IQD 34.5K

$17.42 IQD 22.8K

51.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.77 IQD 52.1K

$29.58 IQD 38.7K

34.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.85 IQD 48.3K

$73.8 IQD 96.6K

-50.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.48 IQD 21.6K

$11.55 IQD 15.1K

42.68%

Cinema Ticket

$7.62 IQD 9,977

$11.41 IQD 14.9K

-33.22%

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

$166 IQD 216.8K

$263 IQD 343.7K

-36.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,570 IQD 4.7M

$3,250 IQD 4.3M

9.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.86 IQD 37.8K

$33.46 IQD 43.8K

-13.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.13 IQD 40.8K

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

-37.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.2 IQD 85.4K

$81.1 IQD 106.2K

-19.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.92 IQD 56.2K

$76.5 IQD 100.2K

-43.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$247 IQD 322.8K

$429 IQD 562.2K

-42.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 IQD 236.6K

$275 IQD 360.3K

-34.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 IQD 764.5K

$732 IQD 958.5K

-20.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$341 IQD 447.0K

$495 IQD 647.8K

-30.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,130 IQD 1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$660 IQD 864.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$581 IQD 760.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

14.33

-60.43%

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

Last update for Mashhad: July 12, 2026

Last update for Erbil: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $247 in Mashhad 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Mashhad versus $23.00 in Erbil. Groceries tell a different story – $130 in Mashhad vs $195 in Erbil – so Mashhad 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

Mashhad vs Erbil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Erbil is pricier by about 20%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,289 per month in Mashhad 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 Mashhad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 50% 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 $36.00 in Mashhad 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 $859 in Mashhad and $1,034 in Erbil, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Mashhad – 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 Mashhad. 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.