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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $391 per month in Al Kut vs $780 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $601 per month in Al Kut vs $1,178 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $811 per month in Al Kut vs $1,576 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

Al Kut is about 50% cheaper than Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Al Kut and Sulaymaniyah are more affordable than the global median – Al Kut 71% lower, Sulaymaniyah 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.75 IQD 2,287

$4.50 IQD 5,898

-61.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.28 IQD 30.5K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.07 IQD 9,261

Cappuccino

$2.43 IQD 3,183

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

$0.31 IQD 411

$0.45 IQD 593

-31.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.14 IQD 177

$0.21 IQD 274

-33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.70 IQD 6,160

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 IQD 3,048

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 IQD 1,464

$1.33 IQD 1,740

-15.79%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 IQD 1,283

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.48 IQD 1,937

$1.91 IQD 2,507

-22.51%

Eggs

$1.58 IQD 2,067

$1.76 IQD 2,299

-10.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.22 IQD 2,910

$4.95 IQD 6,477

-55.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.57 IQD 4,670

$3.55 IQD 4,645

0.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.24 IQD 12.1K

$15.75 IQD 20.6K

-41.33%

Apples (1kg)

$0.84 IQD 1,100

$1.32 IQD 1,724

-36.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,382

$1.30 IQD 1,701

-18.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 IQD 1,112

$1.15 IQD 1,500

-26.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 IQD 640

$0.70 IQD 911

-30.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.43 IQD 564

$0.55 IQD 721

-21.82%

Onion (1kg)

$0.43 IQD 560

$0.69 IQD 901

-37.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 IQD 509

$0.68 IQD 890

-42.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 IQD 378

$0.53 IQD 689

-45.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.02 IQD 1,334

$2.46 IQD 3,218

-58.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.60 IQD 15.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 IQD 2,450

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 IQD 2,232

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 725

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.88 IQD 30.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,045

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.24 IQD 2,936

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.06 IQD 13.2K

$5.47 IQD 7,168

83.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 IQD 944

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

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

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

$170 IQD 222.7K

$101 IQD 131.6K

69.16%

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

$15.04 IQD 19.7K

$10.98 IQD 14.4K

36.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.76 IQD 32.4K

$28.50 IQD 37.3K

-13.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.76 IQD 21.9K

$35.99 IQD 47.1K

-53.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.18 IQD 26.4K

Cinema Ticket

$5.09 IQD 6,662

$7.54 IQD 9,871

-32.49%

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

$176 IQD 231.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,400 IQD 1.8M

$2,879 IQD 3.8M

-51.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.36 IQD 26.7K

$19.43 IQD 25.4K

4.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.17 IQD 33.0K

$25.44 IQD 33.3K

-1.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$42.51 IQD 55.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.23 IQD 39.6K

$38.09 IQD 49.9K

-20.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$226 IQD 296.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 IQD 226.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$255 IQD 333.4K

$506 IQD 662.1K

-49.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$170 IQD 223.2K

$363 IQD 474.9K

-52.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,015 IQD 1.3M

$831 IQD 1.1M

22.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$495 IQD 647.9K

$587 IQD 768.7K

-15.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$580 IQD 759.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.77

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

Last update for Al Kut: September 14, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: September 14, 2026

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 Kut vs Sulaymaniyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $391 in Al Kut, $780 in Sulaymaniyah – roughly 100% apart. Sulaymaniyah costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $586 per month in Al Kut and $1,171 in Sulaymaniyah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $391 in Al Kut and $780 in Sulaymaniyah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 90% more in Sulaymaniyah, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $391 in Al Kut and $780 in Sulaymaniyah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Al Kut – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Al Kut. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sulaymaniyah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.