😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $925 in Al Fallujah versus $750 in Sulaymaniyah.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,379 in Al Fallujah versus $1,166 in Sulaymaniyah.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,833 in Al Fallujah versus $1,581 in Sulaymaniyah.
😐Living in Al Fallujah is roughly 23% more expensive than Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Al Fallujah31% lower, Sulaymaniyah44% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Fallujah
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.50IQD 7,205
$5.26IQD 6,893
4.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.07IQD 47.2K
$26.81IQD 35.1K
34.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.71IQD 10.1K
$7.01IQD 9,180
9.99%
Cappuccino
$2.98IQD 3,903
$2.64IQD 3,461
12.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39IQD 514
$0.39IQD 514
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16IQD 214
$0.21IQD 269
-23.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.46IQD 4,526
$2.07IQD 2,713
67.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81IQD 3,685
$2.71IQD 3,549
3.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Fallujah
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32IQD 1,729
$1.41IQD 1,851
-6.38%
White Bread(500g)
$0.77IQD 1,008
$1.02IQD 1,332
-24.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64IQD 2,154
$1.61IQD 2,108
1.86%
Eggs
$1.80IQD 2,361
$1.78IQD 2,328
1.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.49IQD 5,878
$6.10IQD 7,996
-26.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.80IQD 6,281
$3.56IQD 4,666
34.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.86IQD 18.2K
$14.01IQD 18.4K
-1.07%
Apples(1kg)
$1.26IQD 1,656
$1.17IQD 1,531
7.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21IQD 1,580
$1.29IQD 1,693
-6.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.01IQD 1,326
$1.27IQD 1,662
-20.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.74IQD 964
$0.73IQD 957
1.37%
Potato(1kg)
$0.68IQD 893
$0.61IQD 798
11.48%
Onion(1kg)
$0.64IQD 838
$0.67IQD 879
-4.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.68IQD 887
$0.59IQD 777
15.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65IQD 852
$0.45IQD 590
44.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.08IQD 2,723
$1.94IQD 2,535
7.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.34IQD 17.5K
$11.61IQD 15.2K
14.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82IQD 2,384
$1.51IQD 1,974
20.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15IQD 2,813
$1.81IQD 2,367
18.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Al Fallujah
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36IQD 473
$0.55IQD 715
-34.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.93IQD 40.5K
$23.16IQD 30.3K
33.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.76IQD 4,927
$2.36IQD 3,096
59.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.55IQD 2,028
$2.33IQD 3,053
-33.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45IQD 9,762
$5.46IQD 7,149
36.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.53IQD 693
$0.77IQD 1,005
-31.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.9KIQD 26.1M
$20.3KIQD 26.6M
-1.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.6KIQD 25.6M
$20.6KIQD 26.9M
-4.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Fallujah
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$180IQD 235.4K
$76.6IQD 100.3K
134.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.68IQD 33.6K
$16.90IQD 22.1K
51.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.08IQD 52.5K
$26.27IQD 34.4K
52.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Fallujah
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.26IQD 47.5K
$39.65IQD 51.9K
-8.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.68IQD 21.8K
$16.92IQD 22.2K
-1.42%
Cinema Ticket
$7.46IQD 9,774
$7.47IQD 9,786
-0.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Fallujah
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$164IQD 215.2K
$151IQD 198.3K
8.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,582IQD 4.7M
$3,491IQD 4.6M
2.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Fallujah
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.67IQD 37.6K
$23.36IQD 30.6K
22.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.29IQD 39.7K
$24.92IQD 32.6K
21.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$65.1IQD 85.3K
$43.74IQD 57.3K
48.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.69IQD 55.9K
$36.40IQD 47.7K
17.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Fallujah
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$242IQD 316.9K
$240IQD 315.0K
0.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$177IQD 232.3K
$175IQD 229.3K
1.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$587IQD 769.2K
$572IQD 749.5K
2.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$338IQD 443.1K
$341IQD 446.3K
-0.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$810IQD 1.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$579IQD 758.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Fallujah
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$580IQD 759.5K
-
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Sulaymaniyah: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $242 in Al Fallujah and $240 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 $189 vs $184 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 23% 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 $1,387 in Al Fallujah and $1,126 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: $242 in Al Fallujah versus $240 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 $164 in Al Fallujah versus $151 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 3% 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 23% 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