Cost of Living Comparison Between Olsztyn and Erbil Cost of Living Comparison Between Olsztyn and Erbil

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,804 per month in Olsztyn vs $1,095 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,768 per month in Olsztyn vs $1,654 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,732 per month in Olsztyn vs $2,213 in Erbil, rent included.

Olsztyn costs about 65% more than Erbil, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Olsztyn sits 31% above the global median, while Erbil is 20% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Olsztyn
Erbil
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.26 zł 49.58
$7.67 IQD 10.0K
72.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6 zł 193
$44.94 IQD 58.8K
14.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 zł 35.53
$8.21 IQD 10.7K
15.71%
Cappuccino
$3.51 zł 13.14
$3.78 IQD 4,955
-7.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 zł 9.83
$1.02 IQD 1,338
157.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 zł 7.68
$0.41 IQD 541
400.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 zł 12.13
$5.97 IQD 7,823
-45.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.04 zł 15.11
$4.45 IQD 5,829
-9.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Olsztyn
Erbil
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 zł 3.96
$1.27 IQD 1,669
-16.54%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 zł 4.90
$0.79 IQD 1,033
65.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.44 zł 5.39
$1.70 IQD 2,227
-15.29%
Eggs
$3.95 zł 14.77
$1.76 IQD 2,307
124.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.25 zł 38.33
$8.29 IQD 10.9K
23.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.44 zł 27.80
$5.54 IQD 7,252
34.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.96 zł 59.7
$14.68 IQD 19.2K
8.72%
Apples (1kg)
$1.28 zł 4.77
$1.10 IQD 1,446
16.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 zł 6.61
$1.15 IQD 1,503
53.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.91 zł 7.15
$1.22 IQD 1,599
56.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.58 zł 13.37
$0.81 IQD 1,061
341.98%
Potato (1kg)
$0.99 zł 3.72
$0.74 IQD 974
33.78%
Onion (1kg)
$1.28 zł 4.79
$0.69 IQD 901
85.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.42 zł 5.30
$0.79 IQD 1,034
79.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 zł 2.73
$0.58 IQD 761
25.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.99 zł 22.41
$2.51 IQD 3,293
138.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.21 zł 30.70
$12.64 IQD 16.5K
-35.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 zł 4.35
$1.68 IQD 2,196
-30.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 zł 5.98
$2.06 IQD 2,693
-22.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Olsztyn
Erbil
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.08 zł 4.05
$0.60 IQD 781
80.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.93 zł 101
$43.88 IQD 57.5K
-38.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.17 zł 8.11
$1.93 IQD 2,533
12.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.79 zł 2.94
$1.74 IQD 2,279
-54.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.60 zł 39.63
$6.51 IQD 8,521
62.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.66 zł 6.19
$0.67 IQD 876
147.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K zł 127.4K
$17.9K IQD 23.5M
89.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.7K zł 114.9K
$19.7K IQD 25.8M
56.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Olsztyn
Erbil
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$311 zł 1,162
$130 IQD 170.4K
138.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.22 zł 38.21
$14.06 IQD 18.4K
-27.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.80 zł 70.3
$27.92 IQD 36.6K
-32.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Olsztyn
Erbil
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.2 zł 199
$64.5 IQD 84.5K
-17.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.66 zł 88.4
$14.50 IQD 19.0K
63.17%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19 zł 34.34
$11.23 IQD 14.7K
-18.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Olsztyn
Erbil
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$399 zł 1,491
$312 IQD 409.1K
27.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K zł 56.1K
$3,080 IQD 4.0M
386.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Olsztyn
Erbil
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$106 zł 394
$31.09 IQD 40.7K
239.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.3 zł 192
$45.06 IQD 59.0K
13.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 zł 394
$68.2 IQD 89.3K
54.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 zł 418
$68.0 IQD 89.0K
64.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Olsztyn
Erbil
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$902 zł 3,371
$473 IQD 619.0K
90.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$726 zł 2,712
$287 IQD 375.5K
152.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,809 zł 6,763
$732 IQD 958.7K
147.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,432 zł 5,355
$426 IQD 558.4K
235.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,004 zł 15.0K
$1,115 IQD 1.5M
259.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,717 zł 10.2K
$643 IQD 841.7K
322.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Olsztyn
Erbil
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,454 zł 5,436
$613 IQD 803.3K
137.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.52
2.53
197.23%

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

Last update for Olsztyn: September 1, 2026

Last update for Erbil: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $902 in Olsztyn versus $473 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 137% higher in Olsztyn, 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 $52.0 in Olsztyn versus $45.00 in Erbil. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $204 – making Erbil 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
Olsztyn vs Erbil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Erbil cheaper than Olsztyn?
Yes – Olsztyn is pricier by about 65%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,706 per month in Olsztyn and $1,643 in Erbil. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Erbil, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Olsztyn and in Erbil?
Groceries cost about 22% more in Olsztyn, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Olsztyn or in Erbil?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Olsztyn and $45.00 in Erbil. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Olsztyn or in Erbil?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Erbil, where all-in costs run around $1,095, than in Olsztyn at $1,804. In Erbil it covers expenses comfortably, while in Olsztyn it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Olsztyn or Erbil more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Erbil – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Olsztyn or Erbil?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Erbil. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Olsztyn makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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