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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $630 in Al Kufah versus $765 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,038 in Al Kufah versus $1,170 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,446 in Al Kufah versus $1,575 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in Al Kufah costs roughly 18% less than in Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al Kufah 54% lower, Sulaymaniyah 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.83 IQD 6,320

$4.55 IQD 5,959

6.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.07 IQD 44.6K

$23.34 IQD 30.6K

45.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 IQD 9,795

$6.94 IQD 9,095

7.78%

Cappuccino

$3.20 IQD 4,191

$2.47 IQD 3,240

29.55%

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

$0.36 IQD 474

$0.46 IQD 596

-21.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 IQD 312

$0.23 IQD 302

4.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.86 IQD 5,055

$4.48 IQD 5,865

-13.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.89 IQD 5,100

$2.26 IQD 2,958

72.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 IQD 1,347

$1.38 IQD 1,803

-25.36%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,035

$0.90 IQD 1,183

-12.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 IQD 1,993

$1.94 IQD 2,546

-21.65%

Eggs

$1.82 IQD 2,390

$1.70 IQD 2,227

7.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.33 IQD 3,046

$5.03 IQD 6,585

-53.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.57 IQD 5,980

$3.57 IQD 4,682

28.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.29 IQD 12.2K

$16.05 IQD 21.0K

-42.12%

Apples (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 976

$1.30 IQD 1,707

-42.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 IQD 1,370

$1.30 IQD 1,696

-19.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.61 IQD 801

$1.19 IQD 1,563

-48.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 IQD 739

$0.68 IQD 891

-17.65%

Potato (1kg)

$0.51 IQD 668

$0.58 IQD 760

-12.07%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 IQD 431

$0.74 IQD 964

-55.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.20 IQD 267

$0.71 IQD 933

-71.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 716

$0.50 IQD 651

10.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.59 IQD 2,077

$2.42 IQD 3,165

-34.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.80 IQD 18.1K

$11.35 IQD 14.9K

21.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 IQD 2,908

$1.85 IQD 2,429

20.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 IQD 2,893

$1.67 IQD 2,185

32.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 482

$0.60 IQD 782

-38.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.06 IQD 30.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.22 IQD 2,909

$2.33 IQD 3,046

-4.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 IQD 2,027

$2.35 IQD 3,083

-34.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

$5.50 IQD 7,198

39.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.58 IQD 762

$0.67 IQD 877

-13.43%

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

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

$20.5K IQD 26.8M

-5.27%

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

$19.6K IQD 25.6M

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

2.39%

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

$218 IQD 285.9K

$101 IQD 132.5K

115.70%

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

$21.02 IQD 27.5K

$11.03 IQD 14.4K

90.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.69 IQD 29.7K

$28.65 IQD 37.5K

-20.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.54 IQD 20.3K

$35.86 IQD 47.0K

-56.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.57 IQD 26.9K

Cinema Ticket

$9.96 IQD 13.0K

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

26.88%

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

$72.7 IQD 95.2K

$175 IQD 229.1K

-58.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,401 IQD 3.1M

$2,899 IQD 3.8M

-17.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.86 IQD 12.9K

$19.45 IQD 25.5K

-49.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.84 IQD 39.1K

$25.14 IQD 32.9K

18.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$20.17 IQD 26.4K

$42.60 IQD 55.8K

-52.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$34.50 IQD 45.2K

$37.79 IQD 49.5K

-8.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$189 IQD 247.3K

$234 IQD 306.0K

-19.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$250 IQD 327.9K

$513 IQD 672.3K

-51.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$204 IQD 266.8K

$362 IQD 473.7K

-43.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,333 IQD 1.7M

$800 IQD 1.0M

66.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$382 IQD 499.8K

$574 IQD 751.4K

-33.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,017 IQD 1.3M

$572 IQD 749.1K

77.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

5.77

-28.60%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Al Kufah: September 7, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $189 in Al Kufah and $234 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Kufah pays 78% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $34.00 in Al Kufah vs $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah. Groceries flip the comparison at $157 vs $188, with Al Kufah cheaper for home cooking.

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 Kufah vs Sulaymaniyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al Kufah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 78% higher in Al Kufah, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $189 in Al Kufah versus $234 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 20% higher in Sulaymaniyah. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $630 per month in Al Kufah versus $765 in Sulaymaniyah – a 21% 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 Kufah 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 Kufah 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 Kufah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.