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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $750 per month in 'aqrah vs $761 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,160 per month in 'aqrah vs $1,176 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,570 per month in 'aqrah vs $1,591 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 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.13 IQD 5,408

$5.42 IQD 7,098

-23.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.77 IQD 32.4K

$26.66 IQD 34.9K

-7.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.87 IQD 8,996

$6.84 IQD 8,953

0.44%

Cappuccino

$2.64 IQD 3,462

$2.65 IQD 3,468

-0.38%

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

$0.40 IQD 522

$0.39 IQD 515

2.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 IQD 250

$0.20 IQD 256

-5.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.89 IQD 3,783

$2.05 IQD 2,681

40.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 IQD 3,854

$2.69 IQD 3,529

9.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 IQD 1,773

$1.46 IQD 1,913

-7.53%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,017

$0.99 IQD 1,295

-21.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 IQD 2,093

$1.61 IQD 2,105

-0.62%

Eggs

$1.81 IQD 2,368

$1.71 IQD 2,244

5.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.60 IQD 6,027

$6.05 IQD 7,920

-23.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.78 IQD 6,262

$3.53 IQD 4,617

35.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.32 IQD 17.4K

$14.46 IQD 18.9K

-7.88%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,552

$1.17 IQD 1,527

1.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 IQD 1,590

$1.23 IQD 1,615

-1.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,389

$1.28 IQD 1,671

-17.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 929

$0.75 IQD 985

-5.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 855

$0.67 IQD 871

-2.99%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 869

$0.65 IQD 845

1.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 813

$0.55 IQD 715

12.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 IQD 682

$0.45 IQD 586

15.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 IQD 2,541

$1.94 IQD 2,543

Wine (Bottle)

$11.56 IQD 15.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 IQD 2,401

$1.51 IQD 1,976

21.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 IQD 2,706

$1.73 IQD 2,269

19.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 482

$0.55 IQD 724

-32.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.55 IQD 41.3K

$22.59 IQD 29.6K

39.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 IQD 2,928

$2.27 IQD 2,966

-1.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 IQD 2,013

$2.28 IQD 2,986

-32.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.90 IQD 7,729

$5.21 IQD 6,828

13.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 IQD 701

$0.75 IQD 985

-28.00%

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

$19.3K IQD 25.2M

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

-7.04%

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

$19.7K IQD 25.7M

$21.1K IQD 27.7M

-7.00%

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

$76.5 IQD 100.1K

$77.5 IQD 101.5K

-1.29%

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

$17.41 IQD 22.8K

$16.80 IQD 22.0K

3.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.96 IQD 44.5K

$26.70 IQD 35.0K

27.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.59 IQD 47.9K

$38.57 IQD 50.5K

-5.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.49 IQD 21.6K

$16.67 IQD 21.8K

-1.08%

Cinema Ticket

$7.50 IQD 9,817

$7.48 IQD 9,799

0.27%

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

$150 IQD 197.1K

$150 IQD 196.2K

0.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,228 IQD 4.2M

$3,550 IQD 4.6M

-9.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.10 IQD 35.5K

$23.44 IQD 30.7K

15.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.99 IQD 32.7K

$24.93 IQD 32.6K

0.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.3 IQD 80.2K

$43.58 IQD 57.1K

40.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.99 IQD 53.7K

$36.28 IQD 47.5K

12.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$243 IQD 318.8K

$235 IQD 308.2K

3.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 IQD 237.3K

$180 IQD 236.2K

0.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$583 IQD 763.3K

$568 IQD 744.4K

2.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$348 IQD 455.2K

$340 IQD 445.3K

2.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$820 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$576 IQD 753.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$570 IQD 746.9K

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $243 in 'aqrah versus $235 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 $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 $1,125 per month in 'aqrah and $1,142 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 $750 in 'aqrah and $761 in Sulaymaniyah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 40% 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 $750 in 'aqrah and $761 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.