😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $928 in Al Fallujah versus $744 in Sulaymaniyah.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,408 in Al Fallujah versus $1,167 in Sulaymaniyah.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,889 in Al Fallujah versus $1,591 in Sulaymaniyah.
😐Living in Al Fallujah is roughly 25% more expensive than Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Al Fallujah31% lower, Sulaymaniyah45% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Fallujah
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.35IQD 7,001
$5.32IQD 6,971
0.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.88IQD 47.0K
$27.03IQD 35.4K
32.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.61IQD 9,966
$6.90IQD 9,040
10.29%
Cappuccino
$3.07IQD 4,020
$2.56IQD 3,349
19.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36IQD 477
$0.37IQD 482
-2.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19IQD 246
$0.21IQD 277
-9.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.39IQD 4,445
$2.05IQD 2,683
65.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85IQD 3,729
$2.64IQD 3,454
7.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Fallujah
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36IQD 1,785
$1.42IQD 1,862
-4.23%
White Bread(500g)
$0.80IQD 1,043
$0.98IQD 1,277
-18.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.66IQD 2,175
$1.66IQD 2,172
-
Eggs
$1.78IQD 2,336
$1.76IQD 2,299
1.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.54IQD 5,947
$5.80IQD 7,598
-21.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.90IQD 6,422
$3.44IQD 4,501
42.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.26IQD 18.7K
$14.30IQD 18.7K
-0.28%
Apples(1kg)
$1.23IQD 1,608
$1.23IQD 1,607
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.17IQD 1,530
$1.25IQD 1,634
-6.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.06IQD 1,388
$1.26IQD 1,645
-15.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.73IQD 956
$0.70IQD 921
4.29%
Potato(1kg)
$0.64IQD 836
$0.63IQD 821
1.59%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67IQD 878
$0.64IQD 844
4.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.68IQD 884
$0.54IQD 711
25.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67IQD 878
$0.45IQD 591
48.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.13IQD 2,789
$1.89IQD 2,470
12.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.46IQD 17.6K
$11.68IQD 15.3K
15.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86IQD 2,434
$1.58IQD 2,072
17.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17IQD 2,843
$1.74IQD 2,272
24.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Al Fallujah
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36IQD 474
$0.55IQD 724
-34.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.19IQD 40.8K
$22.87IQD 29.9K
36.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.75IQD 4,913
$2.25IQD 2,949
66.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.55IQD 2,029
$2.24IQD 2,929
-30.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74IQD 10.1K
$5.37IQD 7,033
44.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.53IQD 689
$0.75IQD 985
-29.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7KIQD 25.8M
$20.7KIQD 27.1M
-4.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3KIQD 26.5M
$20.6KIQD 27.0M
-1.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Fallujah
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$179IQD 234.3K
$75.9IQD 99.4K
135.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.20IQD 34.3K
$16.34IQD 21.4K
60.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.33IQD 52.8K
$26.04IQD 34.1K
54.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Fallujah
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.46IQD 49.1K
$39.68IQD 52.0K
-5.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.70IQD 21.9K
$16.91IQD 22.1K
-1.24%
Cinema Ticket
$7.70IQD 10.1K
$7.85IQD 10.3K
-1.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Fallujah
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$167IQD 218.7K
$154IQD 201.3K
8.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,548IQD 4.6M
$3,539IQD 4.6M
0.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Fallujah
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.50IQD 37.3K
$24.16IQD 31.6K
17.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.82IQD 40.4K
$25.00IQD 32.7K
23.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$65.0IQD 85.1K
$43.01IQD 56.3K
51.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$43.45IQD 56.9K
$35.77IQD 46.8K
21.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Fallujah
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$247IQD 323.5K
$237IQD 310.3K
4.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$177IQD 231.1K
$181IQD 236.9K
-2.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$574IQD 751.7K
$569IQD 744.6K
0.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$347IQD 454.4K
$344IQD 450.5K
0.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$805IQD 1.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$587IQD 768.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Fallujah
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$562IQD 735.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.67
9
-37.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Al Fallujah: June 8, 2026
Last update for Sulaymaniyah: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $247 in Al Fallujah and $237 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $36.00 in Al Fallujah vs $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $192 vs $183 per month, with Sulaymaniyah cheaper across the board.
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 Fallujah vs Sulaymaniyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Al Fallujah or Sulaymaniyah?
Sulaymaniyah wins on cost – living expenses run 25% lower than in Al Fallujah. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Sulaymaniyah the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Al Fallujah vs Sulaymaniyah?
You'd need roughly $1,391 in Al Fallujah and $1,116 in Sulaymaniyah to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Al Fallujah vs Sulaymaniyah?
Rent for a central apartment: $247 in Al Fallujah versus $237 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Al Fallujah and Sulaymaniyah?
Childcare runs $167 in Al Fallujah versus $154 in Sulaymaniyah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Al Fallujah or Sulaymaniyah?
Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Al Fallujah. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Al Fallujah or Sulaymaniyah?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Sulaymaniyah gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Al Fallujah or Sulaymaniyah?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Al Fallujah compared to Sulaymaniyah?
Safety-wise, Al Fallujah and Sulaymaniyah are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Sulaymaniyah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Al Fallujah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Al Fallujah vs other spots: cost of living compared