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 $606 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $761 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $860 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $1,176 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,114 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $1,591 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

Ad Diwaniyah is about 20% 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 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.07 IQD 4,024

$5.42 IQD 7,098

-43.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.59 IQD 15.2K

$26.66 IQD 34.9K

-56.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.08 IQD 6,651

$6.84 IQD 8,953

-25.73%

Cappuccino

$1.47 IQD 1,930

$2.65 IQD 3,468

-44.53%

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

$0.40 IQD 522

$0.39 IQD 515

2.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 260

$0.20 IQD 256

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 IQD 3,875

$2.05 IQD 2,681

44.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 IQD 3,868

$2.69 IQD 3,529

9.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,735

$1.46 IQD 1,913

-9.59%

White Bread (500g)

$0.76 IQD 1,001

$0.99 IQD 1,295

-23.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 IQD 1,759

$1.61 IQD 2,105

-16.77%

Eggs

$1.81 IQD 2,367

$1.71 IQD 2,244

5.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.52 IQD 5,913

$6.05 IQD 7,920

-25.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.90 IQD 6,414

$3.53 IQD 4,617

38.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.43 IQD 13.7K

$14.46 IQD 18.9K

-27.87%

Apples (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 999

$1.17 IQD 1,527

-35.04%

Banana (1kg)

$0.89 IQD 1,169

$1.23 IQD 1,615

-27.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,270

$1.28 IQD 1,671

-24.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 IQD 780

$0.75 IQD 985

-20.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 846

$0.67 IQD 871

-2.99%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 836

$0.65 IQD 845

-1.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 IQD 640

$0.55 IQD 715

-10.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 871

$0.45 IQD 586

46.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.87 IQD 2,443

$1.94 IQD 2,543

-3.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.72 IQD 4,870

$11.56 IQD 15.1K

-67.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 IQD 2,308

$1.51 IQD 1,976

16.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 IQD 2,715

$1.73 IQD 2,269

19.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 515

$0.55 IQD 724

-29.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.61 IQD 40.1K

$22.59 IQD 29.6K

35.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.98 IQD 2,589

$2.27 IQD 2,966

-12.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.19 IQD 1,559

$2.28 IQD 2,986

-47.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.63 IQD 9,993

$5.21 IQD 6,828

46.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.39 IQD 506

$0.75 IQD 985

-48.00%

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

$9,833 IQD 12.9M

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

-52.55%

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

$18.2K IQD 23.8M

$21.1K IQD 27.7M

-14.04%

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

$38.45 IQD 50.4K

$77.5 IQD 101.5K

-50.37%

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

$17.23 IQD 22.6K

$16.80 IQD 22.0K

2.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.07 IQD 49.8K

$26.70 IQD 35.0K

42.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.81 IQD 22.0K

$38.57 IQD 50.5K

-56.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.99 IQD 11.8K

$16.67 IQD 21.8K

-46.07%

Cinema Ticket

$5.47 IQD 7,167

$7.48 IQD 9,799

-26.87%

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

$92.0 IQD 120.5K

$150 IQD 196.2K

-38.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$743 IQD 973.4K

$3,550 IQD 4.6M

-79.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.82 IQD 26.0K

$23.44 IQD 30.7K

-15.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.71 IQD 40.2K

$24.93 IQD 32.6K

23.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$20.23 IQD 26.5K

$43.58 IQD 57.1K

-53.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.24 IQD 33.1K

$36.28 IQD 47.5K

-30.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$140 IQD 183.4K

$235 IQD 308.2K

-40.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 IQD 231.9K

$180 IQD 236.2K

-1.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$241 IQD 315.3K

$568 IQD 744.4K

-57.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$203 IQD 266.1K

$340 IQD 445.3K

-40.24%

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)

$389 IQD 509.3K

$570 IQD 746.9K

-31.82%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $140 in Ad Diwaniyah 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.

Salaries run about 47% 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: $152 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 26%, 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 $909 per month in Ad Diwaniyah 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 Ad Diwaniyah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $92.0 per month in Ad Diwaniyah and $150 in Sulaymaniyah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 21% 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 $606 in Ad Diwaniyah and $761 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.