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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $747 per month in 'aqrah vs $744 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,157 per month in 'aqrah vs $1,167 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,568 per month in 'aqrah vs $1,591 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

'aqrah and Sulaymaniyah have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both 'aqrah and Sulaymaniyah are more affordable than the global median – 'aqrah 44% lower, Sulaymaniyah 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.04 IQD 5,286

$5.32 IQD 6,971

-24.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.76 IQD 32.4K

$27.03 IQD 35.4K

-8.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.84 IQD 8,959

$6.90 IQD 9,040

-0.87%

Cappuccino

$2.60 IQD 3,410

$2.56 IQD 3,349

1.56%

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

$0.36 IQD 475

$0.37 IQD 482

-2.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 218

$0.21 IQD 277

-19.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.82 IQD 3,697

$2.05 IQD 2,683

37.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 IQD 3,741

$2.64 IQD 3,454

8.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 IQD 1,739

$1.42 IQD 1,862

-6.34%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 IQD 1,100

$0.98 IQD 1,277

-14.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 IQD 2,100

$1.66 IQD 2,172

-3.61%

Eggs

$1.81 IQD 2,372

$1.76 IQD 2,299

2.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.57 IQD 5,989

$5.80 IQD 7,598

-21.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.78 IQD 6,266

$3.44 IQD 4,501

38.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 IQD 17.4K

$14.30 IQD 18.7K

-7.34%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,558

$1.23 IQD 1,607

-3.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 IQD 1,585

$1.25 IQD 1,634

-3.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,388

$1.26 IQD 1,645

-15.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 974

$0.70 IQD 921

5.71%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 912

$0.63 IQD 821

11.11%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 885

$0.64 IQD 844

6.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 823

$0.54 IQD 711

16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 690

$0.45 IQD 591

17.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 IQD 2,575

$1.89 IQD 2,470

4.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.68 IQD 15.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 IQD 2,307

$1.58 IQD 2,072

11.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 IQD 2,832

$1.74 IQD 2,272

24.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 512

$0.55 IQD 724

-29.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.75 IQD 41.6K

$22.87 IQD 29.9K

38.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.26 IQD 2,954

$2.25 IQD 2,949

0.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 IQD 1,959

$2.24 IQD 2,929

-33.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 IQD 8,065

$5.37 IQD 7,033

14.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 IQD 702

$0.75 IQD 985

-28.00%

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

$18.9K IQD 24.7M

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

-8.95%

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

$19.8K IQD 26.0M

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

-3.91%

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

$78.7 IQD 103.1K

$75.9 IQD 99.4K

3.63%

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

$17.29 IQD 22.6K

$16.34 IQD 21.4K

5.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.72 IQD 45.5K

$26.04 IQD 34.1K

33.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.58 IQD 47.9K

$39.68 IQD 52.0K

-7.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.65 IQD 21.8K

$16.91 IQD 22.1K

-1.54%

Cinema Ticket

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

-0.51%

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

$149 IQD 195.7K

$154 IQD 201.3K

-2.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,313 IQD 4.3M

$3,539 IQD 4.6M

-6.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.58 IQD 36.1K

$24.16 IQD 31.6K

14.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.89 IQD 32.6K

$25.00 IQD 32.7K

-0.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.1 IQD 78.7K

$43.01 IQD 56.3K

39.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.61 IQD 53.2K

$35.77 IQD 46.8K

13.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$245 IQD 320.2K

$237 IQD 310.3K

3.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 IQD 230.7K

$181 IQD 236.9K

-2.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$571 IQD 747.7K

$569 IQD 744.6K

0.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$350 IQD 458.5K

$344 IQD 450.5K

1.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$805 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$587 IQD 768.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$562 IQD 735.6K

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $245 in 'aqrah versus $237 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: $159 vs $183 – 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

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,120 per month in 'aqrah and $1,116 in Sulaymaniyah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 15% cheaper in 'aqrah – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

Kindergarten costs $149 per month in 'aqrah and $154 in Sulaymaniyah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $747 in 'aqrah and $744 in Sulaymaniyah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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