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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $723 in Al Kazimiyah versus $752 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,154 in Al Kazimiyah versus $1,169 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,585 in Al Kazimiyah versus $1,586 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in Al Kazimiyah costs roughly 4% less than in Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al Kazimiyah 46% lower, Sulaymaniyah 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.94 IQD 5,161

$5.40 IQD 7,068

-27.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.95 IQD 32.7K

$26.96 IQD 35.3K

-7.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.91 IQD 9,055

$6.98 IQD 9,142

-1.00%

Cappuccino

$2.55 IQD 3,337

$2.68 IQD 3,507

-4.85%

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

$0.37 IQD 483

$0.39 IQD 512

-5.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 IQD 214

$0.21 IQD 274

-23.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 IQD 3,917

$2.04 IQD 2,675

46.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 IQD 3,741

$2.67 IQD 3,492

7.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 IQD 1,788

$1.49 IQD 1,948

-8.05%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 IQD 1,100

$1.03 IQD 1,346

-18.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 IQD 2,146

$1.60 IQD 2,100

2.50%

Eggs

$1.80 IQD 2,357

$1.69 IQD 2,219

6.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.42 IQD 5,790

$5.79 IQD 7,586

-23.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.78 IQD 6,259

$3.43 IQD 4,492

39.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.42 IQD 17.6K

$14.35 IQD 18.8K

-6.48%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 IQD 1,578

$1.17 IQD 1,529

2.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 IQD 1,585

$1.30 IQD 1,703

-6.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 IQD 1,313

$1.26 IQD 1,651

-20.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 961

$0.71 IQD 925

2.82%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 841

$0.67 IQD 875

-4.48%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 814

$0.68 IQD 893

-8.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 829

$0.59 IQD 772

6.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 737

$0.45 IQD 589

24.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.88 IQD 2,457

$1.93 IQD 2,532

-2.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.63 IQD 15.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 IQD 2,416

$1.52 IQD 1,992

21.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,822

$1.76 IQD 2,305

22.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 518

$0.55 IQD 725

-27.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.10 IQD 40.7K

$23.33 IQD 30.5K

33.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,048

$2.28 IQD 2,983

2.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 IQD 2,007

$2.29 IQD 2,993

-33.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.96 IQD 7,801

$5.20 IQD 6,812

14.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 IQD 752

$0.71 IQD 931

-19.72%

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

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

$21.0K IQD 27.4M

-10.25%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

$20.9K IQD 27.4M

-4.80%

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

$76.3 IQD 99.9K

$76.1 IQD 99.6K

0.34%

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

$17.47 IQD 22.9K

$16.47 IQD 21.6K

6.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.12 IQD 44.7K

$26.94 IQD 35.3K

26.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.07 IQD 47.2K

$38.52 IQD 50.4K

-6.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.91 IQD 22.1K

$17.02 IQD 22.3K

-0.65%

Cinema Ticket

$7.73 IQD 10.1K

$7.47 IQD 9,776

3.48%

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

$151 IQD 197.3K

$154 IQD 201.3K

-1.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,327 IQD 4.4M

$3,465 IQD 4.5M

-3.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.55 IQD 36.1K

$23.94 IQD 31.4K

15.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.18 IQD 33.0K

$25.45 IQD 33.3K

-1.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.0 IQD 81.2K

$43.60 IQD 57.1K

42.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.64 IQD 53.2K

$36.26 IQD 47.5K

12.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$241 IQD 315.8K

$236 IQD 309.5K

2.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 IQD 234.1K

$177 IQD 232.3K

0.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$580 IQD 759.4K

$574 IQD 751.2K

1.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$348 IQD 456.2K

$351 IQD 459.5K

-0.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$828 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$571 IQD 748.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$575 IQD 753.3K

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 Kazimiyah: July 12, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $241 in Al Kazimiyah and $236 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $25.00 in Al Kazimiyah vs $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $160 vs $184 per month, with Al Kazimiyah 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 Kazimiyah vs Sulaymaniyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al Kazimiyah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,084 in Al Kazimiyah and $1,128 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $241 in Al Kazimiyah versus $236 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Al Kazimiyah – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $723 per month in Al Kazimiyah versus $752 in Sulaymaniyah – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Al Kazimiyah gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

Safety-wise, Al Kazimiyah 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.

Expats usually find Al Kazimiyah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.