Introducing “What’s Your Money Worth?” – a series that sheds light on the cost-of-living crisis by featuring individuals who have been impacted by it and sharing their monthly expenses. Meet Mumen Barzanji, a 24-year-old taxi driver who supports his family of six. He lives with his father, mother, two brothers, and a sister in a two-storey house located on the outskirts of Erbil, the capital of northern Iraq’s Kurdish region. Mumen does not have his own bedroom and usually sleeps on a mattress under the stairs in the living room or on the roof.
Mumen’s combined income with his brother Ahmed in April was 2,143,100 Iraqi dinars ($1,614 at the official rate, and $1,478 using the street value). Mumen’s income alone was 693,100 dinars ($522), earned from working for the Careem taxi app and taking passengers on longer trips during Eid al-Fitr. As a self-employed taxi driver, Mumen’s income varies each month.
In April, Mumen’s total expenses were 1,976,150 dinars ($1,488), which covered household utilities, groceries, fuel for his taxi, and a costly car repair. Additionally, Mumen’s father needed medical treatment for his back during the typically more expensive Muslim month of Ramadan and Eid. The cost of living during this time also resulted in price hikes, such as sugar increasing from 1,250 dinars ($0.94) to 2,000 dinars ($1.51) per kilogram.
Overall, Mumen’s story highlights the struggles that many individuals and families face in affording basic necessities and dealing with unexpected expenses.