Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-'amarah and Sulaymaniyah Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-'amarah and Sulaymaniyah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $346 per month in Al-'amarah vs $773 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $527 per month in Al-'amarah vs $1,184 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $708 per month in Al-'amarah vs $1,595 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

Al-'amarah is about 55% cheaper than Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Al-'amarah and Sulaymaniyah are more affordable than the global median – Al-'amarah 74% lower, Sulaymaniyah 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.95 IQD 2,555

$4.54 IQD 5,944

-57.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.22 IQD 30.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.46 IQD 5,840

$6.67 IQD 8,733

-33.13%

Cappuccino

$2.45 IQD 3,204

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

$0.45 IQD 593

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 IQD 302

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.59 IQD 6,017

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 IQD 3,064

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 IQD 2,438

$1.37 IQD 1,790

35.77%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 IQD 979

$0.92 IQD 1,201

-18.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 IQD 1,457

$2.00 IQD 2,624

-44.50%

Eggs

$1.47 IQD 1,930

$1.74 IQD 2,280

-15.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$1.95 IQD 2,554

$5.03 IQD 6,583

-61.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.37 IQD 9,649

$3.59 IQD 4,698

105.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.00 IQD 10.5K

$15.64 IQD 20.5K

-48.85%

Apples (1kg)

$0.85 IQD 1,108

$1.38 IQD 1,802

-38.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 IQD 1,378

$1.25 IQD 1,635

-16.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.84 IQD 1,099

$1.17 IQD 1,530

-28.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.37 IQD 481

$0.64 IQD 838

-42.19%

Potato (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 989

$0.59 IQD 778

28.81%

Onion (1kg)

$0.38 IQD 495

$0.68 IQD 890

-44.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 IQD 627

$0.73 IQD 959

-34.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 IQD 614

$0.49 IQD 646

-4.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.46 IQD 3,216

Wine (Bottle)

$11.36 IQD 14.9K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 IQD 2,534

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 IQD 2,312

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 722

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.19 IQD 30.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.69 IQD 2,209

$2.35 IQD 3,084

-28.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.24 IQD 1,618

$2.27 IQD 2,970

-45.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.71 IQD 12.7K

$5.37 IQD 7,035

80.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.31 IQD 404

$0.70 IQD 923

-55.71%

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

$20.5K IQD 26.8M

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

$20.2K IQD 26.5M

$19.6K IQD 25.6M

3.39%

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

$99.8 IQD 130.7K

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

$10.67 IQD 14.0K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.29 IQD 34.4K

$29.20 IQD 38.2K

-9.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.99 IQD 30.1K

$35.91 IQD 47.0K

-35.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.29 IQD 26.6K

Cinema Ticket

$7.76 IQD 10.2K

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

$177 IQD 232.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,936 IQD 3.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.72 IQD 24.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.69 IQD 33.6K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$42.43 IQD 55.6K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.01 IQD 49.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$319 IQD 418.2K

$230 IQD 301.0K

38.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$132 IQD 172.4K

$176 IQD 230.0K

-25.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$445 IQD 582.3K

$497 IQD 650.2K

-10.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$253 IQD 331.2K

$359 IQD 469.6K

-29.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$567 IQD 741.9K

$820 IQD 1.1M

-30.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$574 IQD 751.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$497 IQD 650.6K

$572 IQD 748.5K

-13.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.77

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

Last update for Al-'amarah: August 3, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: August 3, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $319 in Al-'amarah versus $230 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 15% higher in Sulaymaniyah, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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

Al-'amarah vs Sulaymaniyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sulaymaniyah is pricier by about 123%, 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 $519 per month in Al-'amarah and $1,159 in Sulaymaniyah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Al-'amarah, 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 $346 in Al-'amarah and $773 in Sulaymaniyah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 45% 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 $346 in Al-'amarah and $773 in Sulaymaniyah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Al-'amarah – 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 Al-'amarah. 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.