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: $656 in Al Kufah versus $747 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,043 in Al Kufah versus $1,168 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,429 in Al Kufah versus $1,589 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in Al Kufah costs roughly 12% less than in Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al Kufah 51% lower, Sulaymaniyah 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.45 IQD 7,142

$5.32 IQD 6,969

2.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.32 IQD 47.6K

$26.82 IQD 35.1K

35.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.50 IQD 9,815

$7.08 IQD 9,272

5.93%

Cappuccino

$3.05 IQD 3,990

$2.65 IQD 3,471

15.09%

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

$0.39 IQD 517

$0.37 IQD 481

5.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 266

$0.18 IQD 236

11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.34 IQD 4,375

$2.07 IQD 2,710

61.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 IQD 3,711

$2.73 IQD 3,570

3.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 IQD 1,454

$1.42 IQD 1,858

-21.83%

White Bread (500g)

$0.66 IQD 861

$1.03 IQD 1,345

-35.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 IQD 2,135

$1.60 IQD 2,094

1.87%

Eggs

$1.74 IQD 2,283

$1.78 IQD 2,325

-2.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.24 IQD 2,934

$5.76 IQD 7,540

-61.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.08 IQD 4,038

$3.46 IQD 4,533

-10.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.18 IQD 13.3K

$14.08 IQD 18.4K

-27.70%

Apples (1kg)

$0.52 IQD 683

$1.17 IQD 1,532

-55.56%

Banana (1kg)

$0.92 IQD 1,209

$1.29 IQD 1,691

-28.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 933

$1.33 IQD 1,737

-46.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 IQD 646

$0.71 IQD 923

-30.99%

Potato (1kg)

$0.40 IQD 527

$0.62 IQD 808

-35.48%

Onion (1kg)

$0.31 IQD 401

$0.67 IQD 878

-53.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 IQD 884

$0.58 IQD 764

17.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 IQD 545

$0.46 IQD 601

-8.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.96 IQD 2,566

$1.89 IQD 2,481

3.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.80 IQD 18.1K

$11.23 IQD 14.7K

22.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 IQD 2,388

$1.50 IQD 1,971

21.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 IQD 2,771

$1.75 IQD 2,287

21.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 488

$0.55 IQD 721

-32.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.06 IQD 40.7K

$23.10 IQD 30.3K

34.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.34 IQD 3,068

$2.36 IQD 3,087

-0.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 IQD 2,004

$2.33 IQD 3,050

-34.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

$5.41 IQD 7,082

42.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 IQD 704

$0.72 IQD 943

-25.00%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

-3.54%

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

$19.6K IQD 25.7M

$21.0K IQD 27.5M

-6.37%

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

$40.32 IQD 52.8K

$76.0 IQD 99.5K

-46.95%

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

$26.29 IQD 34.4K

$16.72 IQD 21.9K

57.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.61 IQD 29.6K

$26.19 IQD 34.3K

-13.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.46 IQD 33.3K

$38.72 IQD 50.7K

-34.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.55 IQD 21.7K

$16.62 IQD 21.8K

-0.42%

Cinema Ticket

$7.43 IQD 9,724

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

-4.50%

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

$87.4 IQD 114.4K

$155 IQD 202.4K

-43.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,386 IQD 3.1M

$3,464 IQD 4.5M

-31.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.39 IQD 28.0K

$23.54 IQD 30.8K

-9.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.55 IQD 40.0K

$25.32 IQD 33.2K

20.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.88 IQD 26.0K

$44.08 IQD 57.7K

-54.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$27.88 IQD 36.5K

$35.85 IQD 46.9K

-22.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$210 IQD 275.6K

$237 IQD 309.9K

-11.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 IQD 237.0K

$175 IQD 229.7K

3.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 IQD 555.4K

$581 IQD 760.3K

-26.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$290 IQD 379.6K

$346 IQD 453.6K

-16.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,193 IQD 4.2M

$799 IQD 1.0M

299.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,688 IQD 2.2M

$569 IQD 745.3K

196.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$776 IQD 1.0M

$567 IQD 742.3K

36.84%

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 Kufah: May 31, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $210 in Al Kufah and $237 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Kufah pays 37% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $36.00 in Al Kufah vs $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah. Groceries flip the comparison at $148 vs $182, 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. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Al Kufah pays 37% more on average, 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: $210 in Al Kufah 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 Kufah – a meal for two runs $36.00 versus $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $656 per month in Al Kufah versus $747 in Sulaymaniyah – a 14% 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 14% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.