ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The cost of living in the Kurdistan Region was higher than in the rest of federal Iraq during the first half of 2026, according to data from Baghdad's planning ministry obtained by Rudaw on Friday.
Using 2022 as the base year benchmark, the data shows that over the past four years, the cost of living in the Region rose by 11.3 percent, compared to 10.7 percent across the rest of federal Iraq. Price movement in Kurdistan's provinces followed a steady upward trajectory with January recording 107.3 points, February 109.6, March 111.6, April and May both 112.6, and June 111.3.
Cost of living by sector
The following figures, compiled by the Iraqi planning ministry in coordination with the Kurdistan Region Statistics Office, reflect the average cost of living across key sectors in the first six months of 2026.
In the food sector, the Region’s eastern Sulaimani province recorded the highest increase at 17 percent, followed by the northern Duhok province at 10.9 percent, while Erbil saw the lowest rise at 5.4 percent, bringing the Kurdistan Region average to 12 percent.
In housing, water, electricity, and fuel - a sector that saw a notable jump in May and June driven by rising electricity and water costs - Sulaimani again recorded the highest increase at 11.6 percent, while Duhok saw the lowest at 7.2 percent, with the Region's average at 8.9 percent.
In healthcare, treatment and medicine costs were highest in Duhok at 10 percent, followed by Erbil at 8.1 percent, while Sulaimani recorded the lowest rise at 7.3 percent, with the Region's average at 8.2 percent.
Cigarettes emerged as the most expensive commodity at the national level, rising 12.8 percent in June 2026 compared to the same month last year, with the increase in Kurdistan peaking at 9.7 percent in April.
In the food category, the largest monthly change came in April with a 3.3 percent increase. By June, however, the arrival of domestic produce drove significant price drops in some items, with fish falling 24.9 percent and vegetables 10.3 percent.
Meanwhile, the cost of stable services such as healthcare and education has been climbing steadily across Iraq's provinces, rising from 108.1 in January 2026 to 110.5 in June. Rising water, electricity, and fuel costs were among the main drivers, with those service costs in federal Iraq increasing 11.8 percent in May alone.
Cost of living in federal Iraq
The cost of living index across Iraq's provinces outside the Kurdistan Region also climbed steadily with January recording 108.1 points, February 109.5, March 111.3, April 112.8, May 111.2, and June 110.7.
Within federal Iraq, the western Anbar province recorded the highest overall cost of living, while the southern Maysan province recorded the lowest.
In the food sector, Anbar saw the steepest rise at 21.7 percent, followed by the northern Nineveh province at 18.1 percent, while the southern Karbala and Maysan provinces recorded the lowest increases at 7.4 percent and 5.1 percent respectively.
In housing, water, electricity, and fuel, Anbar again led with a 13.2 percent rise, followed by the northern Kirkuk province at 11.2 percent, while the southern Muthanna province and the capital Baghdad recorded the lowest increases at 2.1 percent and 0.8 percent respectively.
In healthcare, Nineveh recorded the sharpest rise at 27.4 percent, followed by the eastern Diyala province at 25.4 percent, while Kirkuk and Baghdad saw the lowest increases at 3.1 percent and 2.0 percent respectively.
