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 $621 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $750 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $872 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $1,166 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,123 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $1,581 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

Ad Diwaniyah is about 17% cheaper than Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ad Diwaniyah and Sulaymaniyah are more affordable than the global median – Ad Diwaniyah 54% lower, Sulaymaniyah 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.04 IQD 3,984

$5.26 IQD 6,895

-42.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.37 IQD 14.9K

$26.81 IQD 35.1K

-57.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.31 IQD 6,963

$7.01 IQD 9,182

-24.25%

Cappuccino

$1.49 IQD 1,948

$2.64 IQD 3,461

-43.56%

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

$0.40 IQD 521

$0.39 IQD 514

2.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 IQD 249

$0.21 IQD 269

-9.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.97 IQD 3,886

$2.07 IQD 2,714

43.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 IQD 3,678

$2.71 IQD 3,550

3.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 IQD 1,785

$1.41 IQD 1,851

-3.55%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 IQD 983

$1.02 IQD 1,332

-26.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 IQD 1,768

$1.61 IQD 2,109

-16.15%

Eggs

$1.74 IQD 2,284

$1.78 IQD 2,329

-2.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 IQD 5,762

$6.10 IQD 7,998

-27.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.05 IQD 6,621

$3.56 IQD 4,667

41.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.21 IQD 13.4K

$14.01 IQD 18.4K

-27.12%

Apples (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,067

$1.17 IQD 1,532

-30.77%

Banana (1kg)

$0.92 IQD 1,201

$1.29 IQD 1,694

-28.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.89 IQD 1,172

$1.27 IQD 1,662

-29.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 IQD 787

$0.73 IQD 957

-17.81%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 844

$0.61 IQD 798

4.92%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 816

$0.67 IQD 879

-7.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 IQD 586

$0.59 IQD 777

-23.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 859

$0.45 IQD 590

46.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.96 IQD 2,565

$1.94 IQD 2,536

1.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.02 IQD 9,199

$11.61 IQD 15.2K

-39.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 IQD 2,389

$1.51 IQD 1,975

20.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,820

$1.81 IQD 2,367

18.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 474

$0.55 IQD 715

-34.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.64 IQD 40.1K

$23.16 IQD 30.3K

32.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 IQD 2,542

$2.36 IQD 3,096

-17.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.25 IQD 1,632

$2.33 IQD 3,053

-46.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.87 IQD 10.3K

$5.46 IQD 7,150

44.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.38 IQD 498

$0.77 IQD 1,006

-50.65%

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

$9,902 IQD 13.0M

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

-51.25%

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

$17.9K IQD 23.4M

$20.6K IQD 26.9M

-13.06%

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

$37.55 IQD 49.2K

$76.6 IQD 100.4K

-50.98%

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

$17.19 IQD 22.5K

$16.90 IQD 22.1K

1.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.47 IQD 50.4K

$26.27 IQD 34.4K

46.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.10 IQD 22.4K

$39.65 IQD 51.9K

-56.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.85 IQD 11.6K

$16.92 IQD 22.2K

-47.70%

Cinema Ticket

$5.62 IQD 7,364

$7.47 IQD 9,788

-24.77%

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

$92.9 IQD 121.7K

$151 IQD 198.4K

-38.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$738 IQD 966.2K

$3,491 IQD 4.6M

-78.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.20 IQD 26.5K

$23.36 IQD 30.6K

-13.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.87 IQD 40.4K

$24.92 IQD 32.6K

23.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$20.14 IQD 26.4K

$43.74 IQD 57.3K

-53.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.08 IQD 32.9K

$36.40 IQD 47.7K

-31.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$138 IQD 180.2K

$240 IQD 315.0K

-42.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 IQD 237.2K

$175 IQD 229.4K

3.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$241 IQD 315.1K

$572 IQD 749.7K

-57.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$199 IQD 261.0K

$341 IQD 446.4K

-41.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$757 IQD 991.2K

$810 IQD 1.1M

-6.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$302 IQD 395.4K

$579 IQD 758.5K

-47.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 IQD 630.1K

$580 IQD 759.7K

-17.06%

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 Ad Diwaniyah: April 26, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $138 in Ad Diwaniyah 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.

Salaries run about 21% 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 $11.00 in Ad Diwaniyah versus $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $159 vs $184 – 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 21%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $931 per month in Ad Diwaniyah 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 Ad Diwaniyah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $92.9 per month in Ad Diwaniyah and $151 in Sulaymaniyah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% more in Sulaymaniyah, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $621 in Ad Diwaniyah and $750 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.