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 $1,017 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,150 per month in Tikrit vs $1,518 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,549 per month in Tikrit vs $2,019 in Erbil, rent included.

Tikrit is about 26% 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

$4.08 IQD 5,339

$7.59 IQD 9,938

-46.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.79 IQD 32.5K

$22.90 IQD 30.0K

8.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.93 IQD 9,081

$8.65 IQD 11.3K

-19.88%

Cappuccino

$2.58 IQD 3,384

$3.25 IQD 4,260

-20.62%

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

$0.39 IQD 513

$0.52 IQD 676

-25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 277

$0.20 IQD 261

5.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 IQD 3,865

$1.95 IQD 2,555

51.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 IQD 3,744

$2.04 IQD 2,675

40.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 IQD 1,796

$1.32 IQD 1,725

3.79%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 IQD 1,094

$0.81 IQD 1,062

3.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 IQD 2,157

$1.80 IQD 2,357

-8.33%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,344

$1.91 IQD 2,505

-6.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.62 IQD 6,044

$7.50 IQD 9,816

-38.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.63 IQD 6,067

$4.82 IQD 6,315

-3.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.08 IQD 17.1K

$14.10 IQD 18.5K

-7.23%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,505

$1.18 IQD 1,551

-2.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,522

$1.15 IQD 1,500

0.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 IQD 1,374

$1.14 IQD 1,494

-7.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 981

$0.80 IQD 1,045

-6.25%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 848

$0.66 IQD 863

-1.52%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 888

$0.77 IQD 1,002

-11.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 IQD 865

$0.77 IQD 1,008

-14.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 732

$0.55 IQD 721

1.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 IQD 2,538

$2.74 IQD 3,594

-29.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.38 IQD 16.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 IQD 2,385

$1.37 IQD 1,794

32.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,805

$2.00 IQD 2,619

7.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 518

$0.59 IQD 768

-32.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.84 IQD 40.4K

$34.99 IQD 45.8K

-11.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.23 IQD 2,922

$2.25 IQD 2,942

-0.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 IQD 1,948

$2.29 IQD 2,993

-34.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.14 IQD 8,041

$6.85 IQD 8,966

-10.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 735

$0.64 IQD 839

-12.50%

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

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

0.07%

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

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

$20.7K IQD 27.2M

-3.09%

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

$76.6 IQD 100.3K

$101 IQD 132.2K

-24.15%

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

$17.48 IQD 22.9K

$17.35 IQD 22.7K

0.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.05 IQD 45.9K

$30.25 IQD 39.6K

15.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.03 IQD 48.5K

$72.1 IQD 94.4K

-48.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.76 IQD 22.0K

$11.54 IQD 15.1K

45.23%

Cinema Ticket

$7.75 IQD 10.1K

$11.28 IQD 14.8K

-31.29%

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

$153 IQD 199.9K

$271 IQD 354.5K

-43.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,246 IQD 4.2M

$3,274 IQD 4.3M

-0.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.95 IQD 35.3K

$32.30 IQD 42.3K

-16.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.06 IQD 32.8K

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

-49.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.1 IQD 78.7K

$81.1 IQD 106.1K

-25.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.46 IQD 54.3K

$77.2 IQD 101.0K

-46.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$246 IQD 321.8K

$425 IQD 556.0K

-42.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.5K

$279 IQD 365.3K

-37.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$581 IQD 760.8K

$740 IQD 969.0K

-21.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$341 IQD 447.1K

$491 IQD 643.3K

-30.49%

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)

$332 IQD 435.1K

$591 IQD 773.3K

-43.73%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Erbil: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $246 in Tikrit versus $425 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 78% 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 – $159 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 35%, 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 $1,126 per month in Tikrit and $1,525 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 $751, than in Erbil at $1,017. 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.