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 $674 per month in Al-'amarah vs $761 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,091 per month in Al-'amarah vs $1,176 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,508 per month in Al-'amarah vs $1,591 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

Al-'amarah is about 12% cheaper than Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Al-'amarah and Sulaymaniyah are more affordable than the global median – Al-'amarah 49% lower, Sulaymaniyah 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.98 IQD 5,211

$5.42 IQD 7,098

-26.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.68 IQD 32.3K

$26.66 IQD 34.9K

-7.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.02 IQD 9,188

$6.84 IQD 8,953

2.63%

Cappuccino

$2.58 IQD 3,374

$2.65 IQD 3,468

-2.64%

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

$0.40 IQD 519

$0.39 IQD 515

2.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 274

$0.20 IQD 256

5.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 IQD 3,917

$2.05 IQD 2,681

45.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 IQD 3,693

$2.69 IQD 3,529

4.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 IQD 2,374

$1.46 IQD 1,913

23.97%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,029

$0.99 IQD 1,295

-20.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 IQD 1,408

$1.61 IQD 2,105

-32.92%

Eggs

$1.51 IQD 1,977

$1.71 IQD 2,244

-11.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.58 IQD 5,995

$6.05 IQD 7,920

-24.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.64 IQD 6,071

$3.53 IQD 4,617

31.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.96 IQD 17.0K

$14.46 IQD 18.9K

-10.37%

Apples (1kg)

$0.87 IQD 1,136

$1.17 IQD 1,527

-25.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 IQD 1,442

$1.23 IQD 1,615

-10.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.91 IQD 1,189

$1.28 IQD 1,671

-28.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.36 IQD 477

$0.75 IQD 985

-52.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 987

$0.67 IQD 871

11.94%

Onion (1kg)

$0.34 IQD 451

$0.65 IQD 845

-47.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 IQD 893

$0.55 IQD 715

23.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 IQD 564

$0.45 IQD 586

-4.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 IQD 2,575

$1.94 IQD 2,543

1.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.56 IQD 15.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 IQD 2,432

$1.51 IQD 1,976

23.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,803

$1.73 IQD 2,269

23.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 521

$0.55 IQD 724

-27.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.59 IQD 40.1K

$22.59 IQD 29.6K

35.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 IQD 2,105

$2.27 IQD 2,966

-29.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 IQD 2,007

$2.28 IQD 2,986

-32.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.83 IQD 7,633

$5.21 IQD 6,828

11.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.31 IQD 399

$0.75 IQD 985

-58.67%

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

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

-9.47%

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

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

$21.1K IQD 27.7M

-5.05%

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

$76.2 IQD 99.7K

$77.5 IQD 101.5K

-1.69%

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

$17.79 IQD 23.3K

$16.80 IQD 22.0K

5.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.10 IQD 44.6K

$26.70 IQD 35.0K

27.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.64 IQD 29.6K

$38.57 IQD 50.5K

-41.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.61 IQD 21.7K

$16.67 IQD 21.8K

-0.36%

Cinema Ticket

$7.46 IQD 9,772

$7.48 IQD 9,799

-0.27%

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

$152 IQD 198.4K

$150 IQD 196.2K

1.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,223 IQD 4.2M

$3,550 IQD 4.6M

-9.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.00 IQD 35.4K

$23.44 IQD 30.7K

15.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.67 IQD 33.6K

$24.93 IQD 32.6K

2.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.1 IQD 78.7K

$43.58 IQD 57.1K

37.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.26 IQD 54.0K

$36.28 IQD 47.5K

13.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$322 IQD 421.1K

$235 IQD 308.2K

36.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$134 IQD 175.5K

$180 IQD 236.2K

-25.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$447 IQD 585.4K

$568 IQD 744.4K

-21.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$347 IQD 454.1K

$340 IQD 445.3K

1.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$564 IQD 738.9K

$820 IQD 1.1M

-31.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$576 IQD 753.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$506 IQD 662.0K

$570 IQD 746.9K

-11.37%

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 Al-'amarah: July 28, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $322 in Al-'amarah 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 13% 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 $25.00 in Al-'amarah versus $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $153 vs $184 – making Al-'amarah 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

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

Yes – Sulaymaniyah is pricier by about 13%, 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 $1,010 per month in Al-'amarah 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 Al-'amarah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 20% more in Sulaymaniyah, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Al-'amarah and $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $674 in Al-'amarah and $761 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.