😐A single person spends $1,258 per month in Szombathely vs $1,101 in Erbil, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,005 per month in Szombathely vs $1,630 in Erbil, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,753 per month in Szombathely vs $2,158 in Erbil, rent included.
😐Szombathely costs about 14% more than Erbil, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Szombathely and Erbil are more affordable than the global median – Szombathely8% lower, Erbil19% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Szombathely
Erbil
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.59Ft 3,980
$7.69IQD 10.1K
63.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.0Ft 17.7K
$44.38IQD 58.0K
26.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.98Ft 2,839
$8.42IQD 11.0K
6.65%
Cappuccino
$2.47Ft 780
$3.84IQD 5,021
-35.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40Ft 441
$1.03IQD 1,352
35.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33Ft 422
$0.44IQD 579
202.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.85Ft 586
$6.05IQD 7,911
-69.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42Ft 764
$4.71IQD 6,159
-48.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Szombathely
Erbil
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23Ft 390
$1.27IQD 1,655
-3.15%
White Bread(500g)
$1.71Ft 540
$0.83IQD 1,082
106.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.45Ft 774
$1.68IQD 2,195
45.83%
Eggs
$3.43Ft 1,084
$1.79IQD 2,342
91.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.60Ft 3,352
$8.06IQD 10.5K
31.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.99Ft 2,211
$5.78IQD 7,566
20.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.95Ft 5,359
$14.84IQD 19.4K
14.22%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31Ft 731
$1.13IQD 1,481
104.42%
Banana(1kg)
$2.13Ft 675
$1.10IQD 1,442
93.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.56Ft 811
$1.23IQD 1,610
108.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.44Ft 1,086
$0.82IQD 1,067
319.51%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17Ft 369
$0.70IQD 910
67.14%
Onion(1kg)
$1.44Ft 454
$0.69IQD 904
108.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.90Ft 601
$0.74IQD 968
156.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61Ft 192
$0.55IQD 722
10.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.56Ft 2,708
$2.52IQD 3,290
239.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.73Ft 1,495
$12.54IQD 16.4K
-62.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32Ft 417
$1.69IQD 2,215
-21.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66Ft 841
$2.09IQD 2,732
27.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Szombathely
Erbil
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86Ft 273
$0.59IQD 771
45.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$27.69Ft 8,755
$43.81IQD 57.3K
-36.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.85Ft 901
$1.94IQD 2,541
46.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.40Ft 443
$1.82IQD 2,378
-23.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.55Ft 7,762
$6.56IQD 8,579
274.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89Ft 598
$0.67IQD 881
182.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KFt 9.4M
$18.3KIQD 24.0M
62.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9KFt 10.7M
$20.1KIQD 26.3M
68.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Szombathely
Erbil
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$173Ft 54.6K
$128IQD 166.8K
35.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.19Ft 6,700
$13.95IQD 18.2K
51.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.29Ft 6,730
$28.49IQD 37.3K
-25.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Szombathely
Erbil
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.16Ft 15.5K
$66.0IQD 86.3K
-25.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.03Ft 6,332
$14.62IQD 19.1K
37.00%
Cinema Ticket
$4.63Ft 1,464
$11.67IQD 15.3K
-60.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Szombathely
Erbil
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$437Ft 138.1K
$309IQD 404.6K
41.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,042Ft 2.5M
$3,144IQD 4.1M
155.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Szombathely
Erbil
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104Ft 33.0K
$31.32IQD 41.0K
233.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.5Ft 16.9K
$44.84IQD 58.7K
19.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.1Ft 31.3K
$69.3IQD 90.6K
42.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116Ft 36.7K
$67.4IQD 88.2K
72.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Szombathely
Erbil
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$543Ft 171.8K
$460IQD 601.8K
18.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$353Ft 111.7K
$297IQD 389.0K
18.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$769Ft 243.3K
$740IQD 968.4K
3.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$681Ft 215.2K
$432IQD 565.5K
57.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,489Ft 786.9K
$1,092IQD 1.4M
127.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,030Ft 641.9K
$665IQD 869.8K
205.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Szombathely
Erbil
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,186Ft 375.0K
$614IQD 802.9K
93.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.5
2.53
196.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Szombathely: September 12, 2026
Last update for Erbil: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $543 in Szombathely versus $460 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 93% higher in Szombathely, 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 $56.0 in Szombathely versus $44.00 in Erbil. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $265 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
Szombathely vs Erbil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Erbil cheaper than Szombathely?
Yes – Szombathely is pricier by about 14%, 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 $1,887 per month in Szombathely and $1,652 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 Szombathely and in Erbil?
Groceries cost about 30% more in Szombathely, 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 Szombathely or in Erbil?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $56.0 in Szombathely and $44.00 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 Szombathely or in Erbil?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Erbil, where all-in costs run around $1,101, than in Szombathely at $1,258. In Erbil it covers expenses comfortably, while in Szombathely it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Szombathely 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, Szombathely 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, Szombathely makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Szombathely vs other spots: cost of living compared