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 $819 per month in Al Hillah vs $747 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,263 per month in Al Hillah vs $1,168 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,708 per month in Al Hillah vs $1,589 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

Al Hillah costs about 10% 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

$5.28 IQD 6,917

$5.32 IQD 6,969

-0.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.53 IQD 40.0K

$26.82 IQD 35.1K

13.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.00 IQD 7,851

$7.08 IQD 9,272

-15.25%

Cappuccino

$3.11 IQD 4,073

$2.65 IQD 3,471

17.36%

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

$0.40 IQD 518

$0.37 IQD 481

8.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 265

$0.18 IQD 236

11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.97 IQD 3,896

$2.07 IQD 2,710

43.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 IQD 3,706

$2.73 IQD 3,570

3.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,713

$1.42 IQD 1,858

-7.75%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 IQD 967

$1.03 IQD 1,345

-28.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 IQD 2,151

$1.60 IQD 2,094

2.50%

Eggs

$1.74 IQD 2,280

$1.78 IQD 2,325

-2.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.38 IQD 5,733

$5.76 IQD 7,540

-23.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.06 IQD 6,623

$3.46 IQD 4,533

46.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.96 IQD 18.3K

$14.08 IQD 18.4K

-0.85%

Apples (1kg)

$1.28 IQD 1,673

$1.17 IQD 1,532

9.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,516

$1.29 IQD 1,691

-10.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,385

$1.33 IQD 1,737

-20.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 920

$0.71 IQD 923

-1.41%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 862

$0.62 IQD 808

6.45%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 890

$0.67 IQD 878

1.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 IQD 720

$0.58 IQD 764

-5.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 722

$0.46 IQD 601

19.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.95 IQD 2,552

$1.89 IQD 2,481

3.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.56 IQD 17.8K

$11.23 IQD 14.7K

20.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 IQD 2,300

$1.50 IQD 1,971

17.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 IQD 2,863

$1.75 IQD 2,287

25.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 522

$0.55 IQD 721

-27.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.8 IQD 83.6K

$23.10 IQD 30.3K

176.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.26 IQD 2,957

$2.36 IQD 3,087

-4.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 IQD 2,016

$2.33 IQD 3,050

-33.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.33 IQD 4,358

$5.41 IQD 7,082

-38.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 689

$0.72 IQD 943

-26.39%

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

$17.0K IQD 22.2M

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

-18.25%

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

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

$21.0K IQD 27.5M

-4.36%

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

$76.0 IQD 99.6K

$76.0 IQD 99.5K

0.03%

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

$15.24 IQD 20.0K

$16.72 IQD 21.9K

-8.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.99 IQD 49.8K

$26.19 IQD 34.3K

45.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.35 IQD 30.6K

$38.72 IQD 50.7K

-39.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.37 IQD 25.4K

$16.62 IQD 21.8K

16.55%

Cinema Ticket

$7.55 IQD 9,883

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

-2.96%

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

$96.5 IQD 126.4K

$155 IQD 202.4K

-37.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$754 IQD 986.7K

$3,464 IQD 4.5M

-78.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.29 IQD 35.7K

$23.54 IQD 30.8K

15.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.83 IQD 36.4K

$25.32 IQD 33.2K

9.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.2 IQD 80.1K

$44.08 IQD 57.7K

38.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.90 IQD 57.5K

$35.85 IQD 46.9K

22.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$378 IQD 494.8K

$237 IQD 309.9K

59.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$191 IQD 249.6K

$175 IQD 229.7K

8.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$662 IQD 867.5K

$581 IQD 760.3K

14.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$322 IQD 422.1K

$346 IQD 453.6K

-6.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,702 IQD 2.2M

$799 IQD 1.0M

113.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$562 IQD 736.0K

$569 IQD 745.3K

-1.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$515 IQD 674.7K

$567 IQD 742.3K

-9.11%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $378 in Al Hillah versus $237 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 10% 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: $188 vs $182 – 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 10%, 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 $1,228 per month in Al Hillah and $1,121 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 176% less in Sulaymaniyah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $96.5 per month in Al Hillah and $155 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 $819 in Al Hillah and $747 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.