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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $842 per month in Mashhad vs $1,034 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,280 per month in Mashhad vs $1,548 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,718 per month in Mashhad vs $2,061 in Erbil, rent included.

Mashhad is about 19% cheaper than Erbil, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mashhad and Erbil are more affordable than the global median – Mashhad 37% lower, Erbil 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.22 IQD 6,839

$7.72 IQD 10.1K

-32.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.92 IQD 47.0K

$22.83 IQD 29.9K

57.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.60 IQD 9,956

$8.98 IQD 11.8K

-15.37%

Cappuccino

$3.08 IQD 4,038

$3.13 IQD 4,096

-1.60%

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

$0.36 IQD 474

$0.49 IQD 640

-26.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 225

$0.20 IQD 261

-15.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.48 IQD 4,554

$2.00 IQD 2,624

74.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 IQD 3,704

$2.14 IQD 2,797

32.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 IQD 1,777

$1.32 IQD 1,730

3.03%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,035

$0.84 IQD 1,103

-5.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 IQD 2,180

$1.80 IQD 2,355

-7.22%

Eggs

$0.87 IQD 1,143

$1.98 IQD 2,599

-56.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 IQD 5,750

$7.54 IQD 9,879

-41.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.01 IQD 2,636

$4.80 IQD 6,282

-58.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.94 IQD 3,848

$14.29 IQD 18.7K

-79.43%

Apples (1kg)

$0.98 IQD 1,284

$1.14 IQD 1,491

-14.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,519

$1.20 IQD 1,567

-3.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,274

$1.19 IQD 1,561

-18.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 882

$0.76 IQD 994

-11.84%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 854

$0.70 IQD 918

-7.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 830

$0.72 IQD 938

-12.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 IQD 411

$0.78 IQD 1,018

-60.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.23 IQD 296

$0.53 IQD 688

-56.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.78 IQD 1,028

$2.63 IQD 3,449

-70.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.70 IQD 17.9K

$12.55 IQD 16.4K

9.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 IQD 2,355

$1.45 IQD 1,899

24.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 IQD 2,834

$2.01 IQD 2,633

7.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 477

$0.54 IQD 709

-33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.16 IQD 40.8K

$34.09 IQD 44.6K

-8.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.85 IQD 5,045

$2.35 IQD 3,084

63.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,928

$2.20 IQD 2,885

-33.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

$6.87 IQD 8,999

13.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 699

$0.70 IQD 911

-24.29%

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

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

3.59%

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

$20.2K IQD 26.4M

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

-2.55%

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

$176 IQD 230.6K

$102 IQD 134.1K

71.93%

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

$25.50 IQD 33.4K

$17.93 IQD 23.5K

42.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.29 IQD 52.8K

$29.33 IQD 38.4K

37.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.45 IQD 47.7K

$72.7 IQD 95.2K

-49.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.58 IQD 21.7K

$11.77 IQD 15.4K

40.87%

Cinema Ticket

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

$11.62 IQD 15.2K

-33.65%

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

$166 IQD 216.9K

$269 IQD 352.1K

-38.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,528 IQD 4.6M

$3,278 IQD 4.3M

7.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.65 IQD 37.5K

$32.74 IQD 42.9K

-12.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.05 IQD 39.3K

$48.36 IQD 63.3K

-37.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 IQD 84.0K

$81.0 IQD 106.0K

-20.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.33 IQD 56.7K

$76.8 IQD 100.5K

-43.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$241 IQD 315.7K

$426 IQD 557.6K

-43.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 IQD 236.0K

$278 IQD 364.4K

-35.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$589 IQD 770.9K

$726 IQD 951.1K

-18.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$341 IQD 446.7K

$485 IQD 635.3K

-29.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,123 IQD 1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$658 IQD 862.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$584 IQD 765.0K

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Erbil: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $241 in Mashhad versus $426 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 – $131 in Mashhad vs $197 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 23%, 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 $1,263 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 51% 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.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mashhad, where all-in costs run around $842, than in Erbil at $1,034. 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.