Cost of Living Comparison Between Sark and Erbil Cost of Living Comparison Between Sark and Erbil

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $643 per month in Sark vs $1,017 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,030 per month in Sark vs $1,518 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,418 per month in Sark vs $2,019 in Erbil, rent included.

Sark is about 37% cheaper than Erbil, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Sark and Erbil are more affordable than the global median – Sark 52% lower, Erbil 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.80 GGP 14.03

$7.59 IQD 9,938

147.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.9 GGP 61.1

$22.90 IQD 30.0K

257.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.65 IQD 11.3K

Cappuccino

$2.32 GGP 1.73

$3.25 IQD 4,260

-28.62%

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

$2.79 GGP 2.08

$0.52 IQD 676

436.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 GGP 1.47

$0.20 IQD 261

890.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.79 GGP 2.83

$1.95 IQD 2,555

94.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 GGP 2.77

$2.04 IQD 2,675

81.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.59 GGP 1.93

$1.32 IQD 1,725

96.21%

White Bread (500g)

$2.84 GGP 2.12

$0.81 IQD 1,062

250.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.69 GGP 2.75

$1.80 IQD 2,357

105.00%

Eggs

$5.15 GGP 3.84

$1.91 IQD 2,505

169.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.50 IQD 9,816

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.51 GGP 6.35

$4.82 IQD 6,315

76.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.08 GGP 6.03

$14.10 IQD 18.5K

-42.70%

Apples (1kg)

$3.10 GGP 2.31

$1.18 IQD 1,551

162.71%

Banana (1kg)

$4.68 GGP 3.49

$1.15 IQD 1,500

306.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.03 GGP 3.00

$1.14 IQD 1,494

253.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.58 GGP 4.17

$0.80 IQD 1,045

597.50%

Potato (1kg)

$3.18 GGP 2.38

$0.66 IQD 863

381.82%

Onion (1kg)

$3.19 GGP 2.38

$0.77 IQD 1,002

314.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.25 GGP 1.68

$0.77 IQD 1,008

192.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 GGP 1.11

$0.55 IQD 721

170.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.32 GGP 7.70

$2.74 IQD 3,594

276.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.38 IQD 16.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 GGP 1.40

$1.37 IQD 1,794

37.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 GGP 1.58

$2.00 IQD 2,619

5.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.09 GGP 1.56

$0.59 IQD 768

254.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.99 IQD 45.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,942

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.29 IQD 2,993

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.79 GGP 10.29

$6.85 IQD 8,966

101.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 IQD 839

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

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

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

$20.7K IQD 27.2M

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

$101 IQD 132.2K

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

$21.96 GGP 16.38

$17.35 IQD 22.7K

26.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$93.0 GGP 69.4

$30.25 IQD 39.6K

207.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.1 IQD 94.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.54 IQD 15.1K

Cinema Ticket

$11.28 IQD 14.8K

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

$271 IQD 354.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,274 IQD 4.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.30 IQD 42.3K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 IQD 106.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.2 IQD 101.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$425 IQD 556.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$279 IQD 365.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,003 GGP 1,494

$740 IQD 969.0K

170.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,690 GGP 1,261

$491 IQD 643.3K

244.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,098 IQD 1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$646 IQD 845.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 IQD 773.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.33

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

Last update for Sark: June 7, 2026

Last update for Erbil: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $82.0 in Sark versus $23.00 in Erbil. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $301 vs $195 – 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

Sark vs Erbil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Erbil is pricier by about 58%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $965 per month in Sark and $1,525 in Erbil. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Interestingly, groceries are about 54% cheaper in Erbil – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $82.0 in Sark and $23.00 in Erbil. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sark, where all-in costs run around $643, than in Erbil at $1,017. In Sark it covers expenses comfortably, while in Erbil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sark – 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 Sark. 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.