Cost of Living Comparison Between Ad Diwaniyah and Sulaymaniyah Cost of Living Comparison Between Ad Diwaniyah and Sulaymaniyah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $574 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $780 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $882 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $1,178 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,189 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $1,576 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

Ad Diwaniyah is about 26% cheaper than Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ad Diwaniyah and Sulaymaniyah are more affordable than the global median – Ad Diwaniyah 58% lower, Sulaymaniyah 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.32 IQD 4,342

$4.50 IQD 5,898

-26.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.67 IQD 15.3K

$23.28 IQD 30.5K

-49.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.38 IQD 7,041

$7.07 IQD 9,261

-23.90%

Cappuccino

$1.95 IQD 2,559

$2.43 IQD 3,183

-19.75%

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

$0.37 IQD 481

$0.45 IQD 593

-17.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 IQD 343

$0.21 IQD 274

23.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.91 IQD 5,121

$4.70 IQD 6,159

-16.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.84 IQD 5,024

$2.33 IQD 3,048

64.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 IQD 1,368

$1.33 IQD 1,740

-21.80%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 IQD 981

$0.98 IQD 1,283

-23.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.37 IQD 1,796

$1.91 IQD 2,507

-28.27%

Eggs

$1.91 IQD 2,495

$1.76 IQD 2,299

8.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.93 IQD 5,152

$4.95 IQD 6,477

-20.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.73 IQD 4,882

$3.55 IQD 4,645

5.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.42 IQD 14.9K

$15.75 IQD 20.6K

-27.49%

Apples (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 958

$1.32 IQD 1,723

-44.70%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 IQD 1,020

$1.30 IQD 1,701

-40.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.79 IQD 1,037

$1.15 IQD 1,500

-31.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.78 IQD 1,027

$0.70 IQD 911

11.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 922

$0.55 IQD 721

27.27%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 838

$0.69 IQD 901

-7.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 IQD 514

$0.68 IQD 890

-42.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 IQD 854

$0.53 IQD 689

22.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.80 IQD 2,356

$2.46 IQD 3,218

-26.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.79 IQD 4,966

$11.60 IQD 15.2K

-67.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,798

$1.87 IQD 2,450

14.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 IQD 2,841

$1.70 IQD 2,232

27.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 725

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.88 IQD 30.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 IQD 3,083

$2.33 IQD 3,045

0.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.00 IQD 1,306

$2.24 IQD 2,936

-55.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.58 IQD 9,930

$5.47 IQD 7,168

38.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.33 IQD 430

$0.72 IQD 944

-54.17%

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

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

-8.06%

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

$18.9K IQD 24.7M

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

-0.91%

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

$37.82 IQD 49.5K

$101 IQD 131.6K

-62.38%

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

$17.08 IQD 22.4K

$10.98 IQD 14.4K

55.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.02 IQD 49.8K

$28.50 IQD 37.3K

33.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.73 IQD 24.5K

$35.99 IQD 47.1K

-47.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.76 IQD 10.2K

$20.18 IQD 26.4K

-61.55%

Cinema Ticket

$7.56 IQD 9,897

$7.54 IQD 9,871

0.27%

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

$74.9 IQD 98.1K

$176 IQD 231.0K

-57.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,527 IQD 4.6M

$2,879 IQD 3.8M

22.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.14 IQD 38.2K

$19.43 IQD 25.4K

49.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.50 IQD 49.1K

$25.44 IQD 33.3K

47.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.8 IQD 95.3K

$42.51 IQD 55.7K

71.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.48 IQD 62.2K

$38.09 IQD 49.9K

24.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$76.5 IQD 100.2K

$226 IQD 296.1K

-66.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$114 IQD 149.8K

$173 IQD 226.6K

-33.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$154 IQD 201.7K

$506 IQD 662.0K

-69.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$226 IQD 295.9K

$363 IQD 474.9K

-37.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$831 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$587 IQD 768.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 IQD 507.4K

$580 IQD 759.1K

-33.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

5.77

-28.60%

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

Last update for Ad Diwaniyah: September 13, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $76.5 in Ad Diwaniyah versus $226 in Sulaymaniyah. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 50% higher in Sulaymaniyah, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Ad Diwaniyah versus $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $147 vs $188 – making Ad Diwaniyah 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

Ad Diwaniyah vs Sulaymaniyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sulaymaniyah is pricier by about 36%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $862 per month in Ad Diwaniyah and $1,171 in Sulaymaniyah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ad Diwaniyah, 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 $574 in Ad Diwaniyah and $780 in Sulaymaniyah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $74.9 per month in Ad Diwaniyah and $176 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 $574 in Ad Diwaniyah and $780 in Sulaymaniyah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Ad Diwaniyah – 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 Ad Diwaniyah. 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.