Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Hillah and Sulaymaniyah Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Hillah and Sulaymaniyah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $810 per month in Al Hillah vs $752 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,264 per month in Al Hillah vs $1,169 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,718 per month in Al Hillah vs $1,586 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

Al Hillah costs about 8% more than Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Al Hillah and Sulaymaniyah are more affordable than the global median – Al Hillah 39% lower, Sulaymaniyah 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.45 IQD 7,132

$5.40 IQD 7,068

0.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.09 IQD 40.7K

$26.96 IQD 35.3K

15.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.12 IQD 8,019

$6.98 IQD 9,142

-12.32%

Cappuccino

$3.06 IQD 4,005

$2.68 IQD 3,507

14.18%

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

$0.40 IQD 518

$0.39 IQD 512

2.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 242

$0.21 IQD 274

-14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 IQD 3,833

$2.04 IQD 2,675

43.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 IQD 3,793

$2.67 IQD 3,492

8.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 IQD 1,800

$1.49 IQD 1,948

-8.05%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 IQD 963

$1.03 IQD 1,346

-28.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 IQD 2,156

$1.60 IQD 2,100

3.12%

Eggs

$1.80 IQD 2,359

$1.69 IQD 2,219

6.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 IQD 5,874

$5.79 IQD 7,586

-22.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.80 IQD 6,290

$3.43 IQD 4,492

39.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.01 IQD 18.3K

$14.35 IQD 18.8K

-2.37%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,607

$1.17 IQD 1,529

5.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,564

$1.30 IQD 1,703

-8.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,368

$1.26 IQD 1,651

-17.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 899

$0.71 IQD 925

-2.82%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 863

$0.67 IQD 875

-1.49%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 820

$0.68 IQD 893

-7.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 IQD 778

$0.59 IQD 772

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 721

$0.45 IQD 589

22.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 IQD 2,485

$1.93 IQD 2,532

-1.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.82 IQD 18.1K

$11.63 IQD 15.2K

18.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 IQD 2,415

$1.52 IQD 1,992

21.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 IQD 2,840

$1.76 IQD 2,305

23.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 520

$0.55 IQD 725

-27.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.4 IQD 85.6K

$23.33 IQD 30.5K

180.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 IQD 3,092

$2.28 IQD 2,983

3.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 IQD 2,031

$2.29 IQD 2,993

-32.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.37 IQD 4,414

$5.20 IQD 6,812

-35.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 IQD 703

$0.71 IQD 931

-23.94%

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

$17.4K IQD 22.8M

$21.0K IQD 27.4M

-16.89%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.5M

$20.9K IQD 27.4M

-3.15%

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

$75.8 IQD 99.3K

$76.1 IQD 99.6K

-0.29%

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

$15.12 IQD 19.8K

$16.47 IQD 21.6K

-8.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.00 IQD 51.1K

$26.94 IQD 35.3K

44.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.41 IQD 30.7K

$38.52 IQD 50.4K

-39.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.19 IQD 25.1K

$17.02 IQD 22.3K

12.75%

Cinema Ticket

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

$7.47 IQD 9,776

4.02%

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

$95.6 IQD 125.2K

$154 IQD 201.3K

-37.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$779 IQD 1.0M

$3,465 IQD 4.5M

-77.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.22 IQD 35.6K

$23.94 IQD 31.4K

13.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.73 IQD 36.3K

$25.45 IQD 33.3K

8.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.6 IQD 80.7K

$43.60 IQD 57.1K

41.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.71 IQD 57.2K

$36.26 IQD 47.5K

20.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$364 IQD 476.8K

$236 IQD 309.5K

54.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$196 IQD 256.8K

$177 IQD 232.3K

10.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$667 IQD 874.0K

$574 IQD 751.2K

16.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$313 IQD 410.0K

$351 IQD 459.5K

-10.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,746 IQD 2.3M

$828 IQD 1.1M

110.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$545 IQD 713.5K

$571 IQD 748.3K

-4.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$517 IQD 677.5K

$575 IQD 753.3K

-10.05%

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 Hillah: July 12, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $364 in Al Hillah versus $236 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 11% higher in Sulaymaniyah, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Al Hillah versus $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $189 vs $184 – making Sulaymaniyah 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 Hillah vs Sulaymaniyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Al Hillah is pricier by about 8%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,215 per month in Al Hillah and $1,128 in Sulaymaniyah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sulaymaniyah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 180% less in Sulaymaniyah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $95.6 per month in Al Hillah and $154 in Sulaymaniyah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $810 in Al Hillah and $752 in Sulaymaniyah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Sulaymaniyah – 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 Sulaymaniyah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Al Hillah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.