Cost of Living Comparison Between Tikrit and Erbil Cost of Living Comparison Between Tikrit and Erbil

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $747 per month in Tikrit vs $1,019 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,153 per month in Tikrit vs $1,524 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,558 per month in Tikrit vs $2,029 in Erbil, rent included.

Tikrit is about 27% cheaper than Erbil, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Tikrit and Erbil are more affordable than the global median – Tikrit 44% lower, Erbil 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.11 IQD 5,379

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

-47.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.00 IQD 32.7K

$22.99 IQD 30.1K

8.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.82 IQD 8,935

$8.97 IQD 11.7K

-23.97%

Cappuccino

$2.65 IQD 3,473

$3.25 IQD 4,251

-18.46%

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

$0.36 IQD 478

$0.48 IQD 630

-25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 237

$0.22 IQD 289

-18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.98 IQD 3,910

$2.01 IQD 2,632

48.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 IQD 3,674

$2.04 IQD 2,671

37.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,731

$1.32 IQD 1,726

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 IQD 1,110

$0.85 IQD 1,115

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 IQD 2,092

$1.81 IQD 2,368

-11.60%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,345

$1.98 IQD 2,589

-9.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.58 IQD 6,000

$7.44 IQD 9,743

-38.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.62 IQD 6,058

$4.75 IQD 6,228

-2.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.21 IQD 17.3K

$13.99 IQD 18.3K

-5.58%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,505

$1.15 IQD 1,509

Banana (1kg)

$1.20 IQD 1,574

$1.16 IQD 1,513

3.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,387

$1.13 IQD 1,482

-6.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 923

$0.81 IQD 1,061

-13.58%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 914

$0.71 IQD 935

-1.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 828

$0.76 IQD 996

-17.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 IQD 871

$0.76 IQD 1,001

-13.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 IQD 674

$0.53 IQD 690

-3.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.96 IQD 2,566

$2.76 IQD 3,609

-28.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.29 IQD 16.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 IQD 2,434

$1.42 IQD 1,862

30.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 IQD 2,715

$2.00 IQD 2,626

3.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 515

$0.56 IQD 727

-30.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.07 IQD 40.7K

$34.51 IQD 45.2K

-9.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 IQD 3,078

$2.28 IQD 2,991

3.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 IQD 2,000

$2.29 IQD 2,996

-33.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.97 IQD 7,817

$6.92 IQD 9,058

-13.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 IQD 706

$0.70 IQD 910

-22.86%

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

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

1.45%

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

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

-3.13%

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

$78.2 IQD 102.4K

$100 IQD 131.3K

-22.00%

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

$17.96 IQD 23.5K

$17.57 IQD 23.0K

2.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.16 IQD 44.7K

$29.61 IQD 38.8K

15.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.04 IQD 48.5K

$74.2 IQD 97.2K

-50.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.99 IQD 22.3K

$11.82 IQD 15.5K

43.74%

Cinema Ticket

$7.52 IQD 9,856

$11.57 IQD 15.2K

-35.00%

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

$154 IQD 201.9K

$264 IQD 345.6K

-41.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,253 IQD 4.3M

$3,284 IQD 4.3M

-0.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.75 IQD 35.0K

$32.96 IQD 43.2K

-18.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.66 IQD 33.6K

$49.58 IQD 64.9K

-48.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.4 IQD 81.7K

$83.8 IQD 109.7K

-25.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.91 IQD 54.9K

$76.7 IQD 100.5K

-45.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$247 IQD 323.5K

$430 IQD 562.7K

-42.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.3K

$281 IQD 367.6K

-37.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$570 IQD 746.1K

$716 IQD 938.3K

-20.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$339 IQD 444.6K

$486 IQD 637.1K

-30.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,111 IQD 1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$652 IQD 853.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$341 IQD 446.2K

$576 IQD 754.0K

-40.82%

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 Tikrit: April 27, 2026

Last update for Erbil: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $247 in Tikrit versus $430 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 69% higher in Erbil, 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 $25.00 in Tikrit versus $23.00 in Erbil. Groceries tell a different story – $158 in Tikrit vs $195 in Erbil – so Tikrit 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

Tikrit vs Erbil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Erbil is pricier by about 36%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,121 per month in Tikrit and $1,528 in Erbil. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tikrit, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 23% 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 $25.00 in Tikrit 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 Tikrit, where all-in costs run around $747, than in Erbil at $1,019. In Tikrit it covers expenses comfortably, while in Erbil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tikrit – 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 Tikrit. 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.