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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $640 per month in Mashhad vs $1,101 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $931 per month in Mashhad vs $1,630 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,223 per month in Mashhad vs $2,158 in Erbil, rent included.

Mashhad is about 42% cheaper than Erbil, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mashhad and Erbil are more affordable than the global median – Mashhad 53% lower, Erbil 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.67 IQD 6,120

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

-39.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.11 IQD 44.7K

$44.38 IQD 58.1K

-23.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.65 IQD 10.0K

$8.42 IQD 11.0K

-9.14%

Cappuccino

$3.08 IQD 4,035

$3.84 IQD 5,027

-19.79%

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

$0.40 IQD 519

$1.03 IQD 1,353

-61.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 IQD 312

$0.44 IQD 580

-45.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.88 IQD 5,082

$6.05 IQD 7,920

-35.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.89 IQD 5,088

$4.71 IQD 6,166

-17.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 IQD 1,371

$1.27 IQD 1,657

-17.32%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 IQD 1,076

$0.83 IQD 1,083

-1.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 IQD 2,067

$1.68 IQD 2,197

-5.95%

Eggs

$0.81 IQD 1,063

$1.79 IQD 2,345

-54.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.80 IQD 4,981

$8.06 IQD 10.6K

-52.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.04 IQD 2,676

$5.78 IQD 7,574

-64.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.92 IQD 3,820

$14.84 IQD 19.4K

-80.32%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,325

$1.13 IQD 1,483

-10.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 IQD 1,467

$1.10 IQD 1,443

1.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.98 IQD 1,281

$1.23 IQD 1,612

-20.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 889

$0.82 IQD 1,068

-17.07%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 873

$0.70 IQD 911

-4.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 837

$0.69 IQD 905

-7.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 IQD 407

$0.74 IQD 969

-58.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 274

$0.55 IQD 723

-61.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.76 IQD 996

$2.52 IQD 3,294

-69.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.55 IQD 17.7K

$12.54 IQD 16.4K

8.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,799

$1.69 IQD 2,217

26.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 IQD 2,954

$2.09 IQD 2,735

8.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 772

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.81 IQD 57.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,947

$1.94 IQD 2,544

15.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 IQD 1,979

$1.82 IQD 2,381

-17.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.52 IQD 9,851

$6.56 IQD 8,589

14.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 IQD 857

$0.67 IQD 882

-2.99%

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

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

$18.3K IQD 24.0M

3.30%

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

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

-5.97%

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

$215 IQD 281.7K

$128 IQD 167.0K

68.72%

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

$21.21 IQD 27.8K

$13.95 IQD 18.3K

52.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.34 IQD 55.4K

$28.49 IQD 37.3K

48.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.0 IQD 86.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.62 IQD 19.1K

Cinema Ticket

$10.60 IQD 13.9K

$11.67 IQD 15.3K

-9.17%

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

$165 IQD 216.6K

$309 IQD 405.1K

-46.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,514 IQD 4.6M

$3,144 IQD 4.1M

11.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.67 IQD 38.8K

$31.32 IQD 41.0K

-5.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.11 IQD 49.9K

$44.84 IQD 58.7K

-15.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.5 IQD 97.6K

$69.3 IQD 90.7K

7.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.47 IQD 60.9K

$67.4 IQD 88.3K

-31.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$460 IQD 602.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$297 IQD 389.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$740 IQD 969.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$432 IQD 566.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,092 IQD 1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$665 IQD 870.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$614 IQD 803.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

2.53

62.85%

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

Last update for Mashhad: September 13, 2026

Last update for Erbil: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Mashhad versus $44.00 in Erbil. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $127 vs $204 – making Mashhad the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 72%, 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 $960 per month in Mashhad and $1,652 in Erbil. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $640 in Mashhad and $1,101 in Erbil. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $165 per month in Mashhad and $309 in Erbil. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mashhad, where all-in costs run around $640, than in Erbil at $1,101. In Mashhad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Erbil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.