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: $732 in Al Kazimiyah versus $747 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,160 in Al Kazimiyah versus $1,168 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,589 in Al Kazimiyah versus $1,589 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in Al Kazimiyah costs roughly 2% less than in Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al Kazimiyah 45% lower, Sulaymaniyah 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.99 IQD 5,226

$5.32 IQD 6,969

-25.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.69 IQD 32.3K

$26.82 IQD 35.1K

-7.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.81 IQD 8,912

$7.08 IQD 9,272

-3.81%

Cappuccino

$2.64 IQD 3,455

$2.65 IQD 3,471

-0.38%

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

$0.37 IQD 483

$0.37 IQD 481

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 280

$0.18 IQD 236

16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.89 IQD 3,779

$2.07 IQD 2,710

39.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 IQD 3,683

$2.73 IQD 3,570

2.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 IQD 1,741

$1.42 IQD 1,858

-6.34%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,015

$1.03 IQD 1,345

-24.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 IQD 2,064

$1.60 IQD 2,094

-1.25%

Eggs

$1.72 IQD 2,258

$1.78 IQD 2,325

-3.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.48 IQD 5,860

$5.76 IQD 7,540

-22.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.64 IQD 6,082

$3.46 IQD 4,533

34.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.08 IQD 17.1K

$14.08 IQD 18.4K

-7.10%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,510

$1.17 IQD 1,532

-1.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,505

$1.29 IQD 1,691

-10.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 IQD 1,380

$1.33 IQD 1,737

-21.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 979

$0.71 IQD 923

5.63%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 892

$0.62 IQD 808

9.68%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 875

$0.67 IQD 878

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 IQD 884

$0.58 IQD 764

17.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 720

$0.46 IQD 601

19.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.88 IQD 2,460

$1.89 IQD 2,481

-0.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.23 IQD 14.7K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 IQD 2,438

$1.50 IQD 1,971

24.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 IQD 2,714

$1.75 IQD 2,287

18.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 518

$0.55 IQD 721

-27.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.41 IQD 41.1K

$23.10 IQD 30.3K

35.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.34 IQD 3,069

$2.36 IQD 3,087

-0.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 IQD 1,960

$2.33 IQD 3,050

-35.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.86 IQD 7,678

$5.41 IQD 7,082

8.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 IQD 704

$0.72 IQD 943

-25.00%

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

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

-9.74%

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

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

$21.0K IQD 27.5M

-5.85%

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

$76.2 IQD 99.8K

$76.0 IQD 99.5K

0.29%

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

$17.58 IQD 23.0K

$16.72 IQD 21.9K

5.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.07 IQD 44.6K

$26.19 IQD 34.3K

30.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.20 IQD 48.7K

$38.72 IQD 50.7K

-3.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.68 IQD 21.8K

$16.62 IQD 21.8K

0.36%

Cinema Ticket

$7.56 IQD 9,905

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

-2.83%

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

$152 IQD 199.3K

$155 IQD 202.4K

-1.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,248 IQD 4.3M

$3,464 IQD 4.5M

-6.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.60 IQD 34.8K

$23.54 IQD 30.8K

13.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.38 IQD 33.2K

$25.32 IQD 33.2K

0.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.1 IQD 78.7K

$44.08 IQD 57.7K

36.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.64 IQD 54.5K

$35.85 IQD 46.9K

16.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$247 IQD 322.9K

$237 IQD 309.9K

4.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 IQD 232.4K

$175 IQD 229.7K

1.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$572 IQD 748.4K

$581 IQD 760.3K

-1.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$350 IQD 458.5K

$346 IQD 453.6K

1.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$799 IQD 1.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$569 IQD 745.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$567 IQD 742.3K

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $247 in Al Kazimiyah and $237 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 $157 vs $182 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 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,098 in Al Kazimiyah and $1,121 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: $247 in Al Kazimiyah versus $237 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 $732 per month in Al Kazimiyah versus $747 in Sulaymaniyah – a 2% 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 2% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.