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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $751 per month in Tikrit vs $1,043 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,152 per month in Tikrit vs $1,545 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,553 per month in Tikrit vs $2,046 in Erbil, rent included.

Tikrit is about 28% cheaper than Erbil, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Tikrit and Erbil are more affordable than the global median – Tikrit 44% lower, Erbil 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.99 IQD 5,219

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

-49.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.41 IQD 32.0K

$23.11 IQD 30.3K

5.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.81 IQD 8,924

$9.01 IQD 11.8K

-24.42%

Cappuccino

$2.57 IQD 3,362

$3.24 IQD 4,240

-20.68%

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

$0.36 IQD 476

$0.49 IQD 640

-26.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 229

$0.22 IQD 288

-18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.97 IQD 3,890

$1.96 IQD 2,562

51.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 IQD 3,868

$2.16 IQD 2,824

36.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,709

$1.31 IQD 1,718

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,027

$0.79 IQD 1,034

-1.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 IQD 2,098

$1.87 IQD 2,450

-14.44%

Eggs

$1.71 IQD 2,240

$1.95 IQD 2,557

-12.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 IQD 5,763

$7.26 IQD 9,502

-39.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.61 IQD 6,040

$4.69 IQD 6,144

-1.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.41 IQD 17.6K

$14.08 IQD 18.4K

-4.76%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,510

$1.15 IQD 1,502

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,532

$1.18 IQD 1,547

-0.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 IQD 1,371

$1.13 IQD 1,480

-7.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 965

$0.75 IQD 982

-1.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 843

$0.72 IQD 948

-11.11%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 868

$0.76 IQD 990

-13.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 IQD 892

$0.76 IQD 1,001

-10.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 728

$0.56 IQD 738

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.96 IQD 2,565

$2.66 IQD 3,486

-26.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.28 IQD 16.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,349

$1.44 IQD 1,880

24.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 IQD 2,836

$1.94 IQD 2,538

11.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 519

$0.59 IQD 767

-32.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.53 IQD 40.0K

$34.79 IQD 45.6K

-12.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,051

$2.27 IQD 2,971

2.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 IQD 1,942

$2.32 IQD 3,033

-36.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.91 IQD 7,738

$7.05 IQD 9,233

-16.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 739

$0.64 IQD 837

-12.50%

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

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

0.07%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.5M

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

-1.59%

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

$76.4 IQD 100.1K

$101 IQD 132.5K

-24.50%

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

$17.79 IQD 23.3K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.93 IQD 44.4K

$29.56 IQD 38.7K

14.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.77 IQD 48.2K

$73.8 IQD 96.7K

-50.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.55 IQD 21.7K

$11.76 IQD 15.4K

40.73%

Cinema Ticket

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

$11.25 IQD 14.7K

-30.58%

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

$151 IQD 197.9K

$269 IQD 351.6K

-43.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,306 IQD 4.3M

$3,330 IQD 4.4M

-0.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.51 IQD 36.0K

$32.93 IQD 43.1K

-16.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.02 IQD 32.8K

$49.13 IQD 64.3K

-49.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.8 IQD 80.9K

$80.7 IQD 105.7K

-23.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.18 IQD 53.9K

$77.9 IQD 102.0K

-47.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$238 IQD 312.2K

$436 IQD 571.5K

-45.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 IQD 238.0K

$275 IQD 360.4K

-33.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$571 IQD 747.1K

$739 IQD 968.0K

-22.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$339 IQD 444.1K

$496 IQD 649.8K

-31.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,089 IQD 1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$653 IQD 855.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$319 IQD 418.2K

$580 IQD 759.9K

-44.96%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Erbil: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $238 in Tikrit versus $436 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 82% 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 $24.00 in Tikrit versus $23.00 in Erbil. Groceries tell a different story – $157 in Tikrit vs $194 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 39%, 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 $1,127 per month in Tikrit and $1,565 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 $24.00 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 $751, than in Erbil at $1,043. 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.