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 $620 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $744 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $873 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $1,167 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,127 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $1,591 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 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.01 IQD 3,943

$5.32 IQD 6,971

-43.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.58 IQD 15.2K

$27.03 IQD 35.4K

-57.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.04 IQD 6,602

$6.90 IQD 9,040

-26.96%

Cappuccino

$1.47 IQD 1,926

$2.56 IQD 3,349

-42.58%

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

$0.37 IQD 484

$0.37 IQD 482

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 IQD 245

$0.21 IQD 277

-9.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.87 IQD 3,756

$2.05 IQD 2,683

40.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 IQD 3,867

$2.64 IQD 3,454

11.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 IQD 1,796

$1.42 IQD 1,862

-3.52%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 IQD 975

$0.98 IQD 1,277

-24.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 IQD 1,774

$1.66 IQD 2,172

-18.67%

Eggs

$1.73 IQD 2,265

$1.76 IQD 2,299

-1.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.59 IQD 6,009

$5.80 IQD 7,598

-20.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.00 IQD 6,546

$3.44 IQD 4,501

45.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.40 IQD 13.6K

$14.30 IQD 18.7K

-27.27%

Apples (1kg)

$0.80 IQD 1,048

$1.23 IQD 1,607

-34.96%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,266

$1.25 IQD 1,634

-22.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 IQD 1,184

$1.26 IQD 1,645

-28.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 IQD 727

$0.70 IQD 921

-20.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 857

$0.63 IQD 821

3.17%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 868

$0.64 IQD 844

3.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 IQD 643

$0.54 IQD 711

-9.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 IQD 811

$0.45 IQD 591

37.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.93 IQD 2,534

$1.89 IQD 2,470

2.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.09 IQD 9,290

$11.68 IQD 15.3K

-39.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,338

$1.58 IQD 2,072

13.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 IQD 2,859

$1.74 IQD 2,272

25.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 519

$0.55 IQD 724

-27.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.85 IQD 40.4K

$22.87 IQD 29.9K

34.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 IQD 2,567

$2.25 IQD 2,949

-12.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.24 IQD 1,630

$2.24 IQD 2,929

-44.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.80 IQD 10.2K

$5.37 IQD 7,033

45.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.38 IQD 504

$0.75 IQD 985

-49.33%

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

$9,802 IQD 12.8M

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

-52.68%

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

$18.2K IQD 23.8M

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

-11.81%

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

$38.14 IQD 49.9K

$75.9 IQD 99.4K

-49.78%

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

$17.12 IQD 22.4K

$16.34 IQD 21.4K

4.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.65 IQD 50.6K

$26.04 IQD 34.1K

48.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.24 IQD 22.6K

$39.68 IQD 52.0K

-56.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.01 IQD 11.8K

$16.91 IQD 22.1K

-46.72%

Cinema Ticket

$5.51 IQD 7,219

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

-29.81%

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

$91.8 IQD 120.1K

$154 IQD 201.3K

-40.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$756 IQD 989.9K

$3,539 IQD 4.6M

-78.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.63 IQD 25.7K

$24.16 IQD 31.6K

-18.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.39 IQD 39.8K

$25.00 IQD 32.7K

21.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.73 IQD 25.8K

$43.01 IQD 56.3K

-54.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$24.74 IQD 32.4K

$35.77 IQD 46.8K

-30.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$138 IQD 180.1K

$237 IQD 310.3K

-41.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 IQD 237.3K

$181 IQD 236.9K

0.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$237 IQD 310.8K

$569 IQD 744.6K

-58.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$196 IQD 256.5K

$344 IQD 450.5K

-43.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$743 IQD 972.5K

$805 IQD 1.1M

-7.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$298 IQD 389.6K

$587 IQD 768.2K

-49.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$482 IQD 631.3K

$562 IQD 735.6K

-14.18%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

Salaries run about 17% 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 $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $160 vs $183 – 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 20%, 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 $930 per month in Ad Diwaniyah 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 Ad Diwaniyah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $91.8 per month in Ad Diwaniyah and $154 in Sulaymaniyah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 14% 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 $620 in Ad Diwaniyah and $744 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.