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: $677 in Al Kufah versus $752 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,056 in Al Kufah versus $1,169 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,434 in Al Kufah versus $1,586 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in Al Kufah costs roughly 10% less than in Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al Kufah 49% lower, Sulaymaniyah 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.24 IQD 6,865

$5.40 IQD 7,068

-2.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.37 IQD 47.6K

$26.96 IQD 35.3K

34.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.74 IQD 10.1K

$6.98 IQD 9,142

10.89%

Cappuccino

$2.99 IQD 3,919

$2.68 IQD 3,507

11.57%

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

$0.39 IQD 515

$0.39 IQD 512

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 276

$0.21 IQD 274

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.47 IQD 4,539

$2.04 IQD 2,675

70.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 IQD 3,858

$2.67 IQD 3,492

10.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 IQD 1,416

$1.49 IQD 1,948

-27.52%

White Bread (500g)

$0.61 IQD 801

$1.03 IQD 1,346

-40.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 IQD 2,058

$1.60 IQD 2,100

-1.88%

Eggs

$1.73 IQD 2,262

$1.69 IQD 2,219

2.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.24 IQD 2,932

$5.79 IQD 7,586

-61.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.93 IQD 3,836

$3.43 IQD 4,492

-14.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.66 IQD 12.6K

$14.35 IQD 18.8K

-32.68%

Apples (1kg)

$0.52 IQD 674

$1.17 IQD 1,529

-55.56%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,267

$1.30 IQD 1,703

-25.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 952

$1.26 IQD 1,651

-42.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 IQD 645

$0.71 IQD 925

-30.99%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 IQD 495

$0.67 IQD 875

-43.28%

Onion (1kg)

$0.31 IQD 402

$0.68 IQD 893

-54.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 IQD 890

$0.59 IQD 772

15.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 587

$0.45 IQD 589

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.95 IQD 2,555

$1.93 IQD 2,532

1.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.76 IQD 18.0K

$11.63 IQD 15.2K

18.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 IQD 2,355

$1.52 IQD 1,992

18.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 IQD 2,733

$1.76 IQD 2,305

18.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 IQD 454

$0.55 IQD 725

-36.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.86 IQD 40.4K

$23.33 IQD 30.5K

32.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.32 IQD 3,036

$2.28 IQD 2,983

1.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 IQD 2,005

$2.29 IQD 2,993

-33.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 IQD 10.1K

$5.20 IQD 6,812

49.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 IQD 704

$0.71 IQD 931

-23.94%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

$21.0K IQD 27.4M

-4.80%

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

$20.2K IQD 26.4M

$20.9K IQD 27.4M

-3.56%

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

$39.68 IQD 52.0K

$76.1 IQD 99.6K

-47.82%

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

$25.46 IQD 33.3K

$16.47 IQD 21.6K

54.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.60 IQD 29.6K

$26.94 IQD 35.3K

-16.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.81 IQD 33.8K

$38.52 IQD 50.4K

-33.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.52 IQD 21.6K

$17.02 IQD 22.3K

-2.94%

Cinema Ticket

$7.46 IQD 9,765

$7.47 IQD 9,776

-0.13%

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

$86.1 IQD 112.8K

$154 IQD 201.3K

-43.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,377 IQD 3.1M

$3,465 IQD 4.5M

-31.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.91 IQD 27.4K

$23.94 IQD 31.4K

-12.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.43 IQD 38.5K

$25.45 IQD 33.3K

15.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.98 IQD 26.2K

$43.60 IQD 57.1K

-54.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$27.57 IQD 36.1K

$36.26 IQD 47.5K

-23.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$213 IQD 279.0K

$236 IQD 309.5K

-9.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 IQD 237.0K

$177 IQD 232.3K

2.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$427 IQD 558.5K

$574 IQD 751.2K

-25.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$296 IQD 387.1K

$351 IQD 459.5K

-15.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,335 IQD 1.7M

$828 IQD 1.1M

61.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$380 IQD 497.8K

$571 IQD 748.3K

-33.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,014 IQD 1.3M

$575 IQD 753.3K

76.30%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $213 in Al Kufah and $236 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Kufah pays 76% 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 $145 vs $184, 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 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 76% 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: $213 in Al Kufah 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 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 $677 per month in Al Kufah versus $752 in Sulaymaniyah – a 11% 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 11% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.