Cost of Living Comparison Between 'aqrah and Sulaymaniyah Cost of Living Comparison Between 'aqrah and Sulaymaniyah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $743 per month in 'aqrah vs $750 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,157 per month in 'aqrah vs $1,166 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,571 per month in 'aqrah vs $1,581 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

'aqrah is about 1% cheaper than Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both 'aqrah and Sulaymaniyah are more affordable than the global median – 'aqrah 44% lower, Sulaymaniyah 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.12 IQD 5,394

$5.26 IQD 6,893

-21.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.25 IQD 33.1K

$26.81 IQD 35.1K

-5.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.04 IQD 9,224

$7.01 IQD 9,180

0.43%

Cappuccino

$2.59 IQD 3,397

$2.64 IQD 3,461

-1.89%

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

$0.39 IQD 516

$0.39 IQD 514

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 282

$0.21 IQD 269

4.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.84 IQD 3,720

$2.07 IQD 2,713

37.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 IQD 3,716

$2.71 IQD 3,549

4.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 IQD 1,785

$1.41 IQD 1,851

-3.55%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,028

$1.02 IQD 1,332

-23.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 IQD 2,159

$1.61 IQD 2,108

2.48%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,342

$1.78 IQD 2,328

0.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.43 IQD 5,805

$6.10 IQD 7,996

-27.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.78 IQD 6,260

$3.56 IQD 4,666

34.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.06 IQD 17.1K

$14.01 IQD 18.4K

-6.78%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 IQD 1,566

$1.17 IQD 1,531

2.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,509

$1.29 IQD 1,693

-10.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 IQD 1,378

$1.27 IQD 1,662

-17.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 990

$0.73 IQD 957

4.11%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 841

$0.61 IQD 798

4.92%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 824

$0.67 IQD 879

-5.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 812

$0.59 IQD 777

5.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 690

$0.45 IQD 590

17.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.89 IQD 2,478

$1.94 IQD 2,535

-2.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.61 IQD 15.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 IQD 2,442

$1.51 IQD 1,974

23.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 IQD 2,762

$1.81 IQD 2,367

16.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 519

$0.55 IQD 715

-27.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.94 IQD 40.5K

$23.16 IQD 30.3K

33.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.26 IQD 2,958

$2.36 IQD 3,096

-4.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 IQD 1,939

$2.33 IQD 3,053

-36.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.17 IQD 8,075

$5.46 IQD 7,149

13.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 696

$0.77 IQD 1,005

-31.17%

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

$19.2K IQD 25.2M

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

-5.38%

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

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

$20.6K IQD 26.9M

-2.41%

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

$76.8 IQD 100.7K

$76.6 IQD 100.3K

0.31%

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

$17.87 IQD 23.4K

$16.90 IQD 22.1K

5.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.74 IQD 45.5K

$26.27 IQD 34.4K

32.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.42 IQD 49.0K

$39.65 IQD 51.9K

-5.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.00 IQD 22.3K

$16.92 IQD 22.2K

0.47%

Cinema Ticket

$7.47 IQD 9,779

$7.47 IQD 9,786

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

$151 IQD 197.3K

$151 IQD 198.3K

-0.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,295 IQD 4.3M

$3,491 IQD 4.6M

-5.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.67 IQD 34.9K

$23.36 IQD 30.6K

14.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.37 IQD 33.2K

$24.92 IQD 32.6K

1.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.0 IQD 81.2K

$43.74 IQD 57.3K

41.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.81 IQD 53.5K

$36.40 IQD 47.7K

12.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$243 IQD 318.3K

$240 IQD 315.0K

1.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$178 IQD 232.9K

$175 IQD 229.3K

1.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$588 IQD 770.3K

$572 IQD 749.5K

2.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$341 IQD 447.1K

$341 IQD 446.3K

0.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$810 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$579 IQD 758.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$580 IQD 759.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

-37.00%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for 'aqrah: April 27, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $243 in 'aqrah versus $240 in Sulaymaniyah. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in 'aqrah versus $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $158 vs $184 – making 'aqrah the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

'aqrah vs Sulaymaniyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sulaymaniyah costs about 1% more than 'aqrah, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,115 per month in 'aqrah and $1,126 in Sulaymaniyah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $743 in 'aqrah and $750 in Sulaymaniyah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 34% less in 'aqrah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $743 in 'aqrah and $750 in Sulaymaniyah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward 'aqrah – 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 'aqrah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sulaymaniyah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.