Cost of Living Comparison Between Szombathely and Erbil Cost of Living Comparison Between Szombathely and Erbil

Monthly Cost of Living

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 – Szombathely 8% lower, Erbil 19% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Szombathely
Erbil
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.59 Ft 3,980
$7.69 IQD 10.1K
63.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.0 Ft 17.7K
$44.38 IQD 58.0K
26.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.98 Ft 2,839
$8.42 IQD 11.0K
6.65%
Cappuccino
$2.47 Ft 780
$3.84 IQD 5,021
-35.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 Ft 441
$1.03 IQD 1,352
35.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 Ft 422
$0.44 IQD 579
202.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.85 Ft 586
$6.05 IQD 7,911
-69.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 Ft 764
$4.71 IQD 6,159
-48.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Szombathely
Erbil
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 Ft 390
$1.27 IQD 1,655
-3.15%
White Bread (500g)
$1.71 Ft 540
$0.83 IQD 1,082
106.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.45 Ft 774
$1.68 IQD 2,195
45.83%
Eggs
$3.43 Ft 1,084
$1.79 IQD 2,342
91.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.60 Ft 3,352
$8.06 IQD 10.5K
31.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.99 Ft 2,211
$5.78 IQD 7,566
20.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.95 Ft 5,359
$14.84 IQD 19.4K
14.22%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 Ft 731
$1.13 IQD 1,481
104.42%
Banana (1kg)
$2.13 Ft 675
$1.10 IQD 1,442
93.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.56 Ft 811
$1.23 IQD 1,610
108.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.44 Ft 1,086
$0.82 IQD 1,067
319.51%
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 Ft 369
$0.70 IQD 910
67.14%
Onion (1kg)
$1.44 Ft 454
$0.69 IQD 904
108.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.90 Ft 601
$0.74 IQD 968
156.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 Ft 192
$0.55 IQD 722
10.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.56 Ft 2,708
$2.52 IQD 3,290
239.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.73 Ft 1,495
$12.54 IQD 16.4K
-62.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32 Ft 417
$1.69 IQD 2,215
-21.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 Ft 841
$2.09 IQD 2,732
27.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Szombathely
Erbil
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 Ft 273
$0.59 IQD 771
45.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.69 Ft 8,755
$43.81 IQD 57.3K
-36.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.85 Ft 901
$1.94 IQD 2,541
46.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.40 Ft 443
$1.82 IQD 2,378
-23.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.55 Ft 7,762
$6.56 IQD 8,579
274.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.89 Ft 598
$0.67 IQD 881
182.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K Ft 9.4M
$18.3K IQD 24.0M
62.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K Ft 10.7M
$20.1K IQD 26.3M
68.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Szombathely
Erbil
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$173 Ft 54.6K
$128 IQD 166.8K
35.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.19 Ft 6,700
$13.95 IQD 18.2K
51.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.29 Ft 6,730
$28.49 IQD 37.3K
-25.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Szombathely
Erbil
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.16 Ft 15.5K
$66.0 IQD 86.3K
-25.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.03 Ft 6,332
$14.62 IQD 19.1K
37.00%
Cinema Ticket
$4.63 Ft 1,464
$11.67 IQD 15.3K
-60.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Szombathely
Erbil
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$437 Ft 138.1K
$309 IQD 404.6K
41.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,042 Ft 2.5M
$3,144 IQD 4.1M
155.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Szombathely
Erbil
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 Ft 33.0K
$31.32 IQD 41.0K
233.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.5 Ft 16.9K
$44.84 IQD 58.7K
19.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.1 Ft 31.3K
$69.3 IQD 90.6K
42.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 Ft 36.7K
$67.4 IQD 88.2K
72.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Szombathely
Erbil
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$543 Ft 171.8K
$460 IQD 601.8K
18.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$353 Ft 111.7K
$297 IQD 389.0K
18.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$769 Ft 243.3K
$740 IQD 968.4K
3.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$681 Ft 215.2K
$432 IQD 565.5K
57.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,489 Ft 786.9K
$1,092 IQD 1.4M
127.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,030 Ft 641.9K
$665 IQD 869.8K
205.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Szombathely
Erbil
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,186 Ft 375.0K
$614 IQD 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.

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