Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-mawsil and Sulaymaniyah Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-mawsil and Sulaymaniyah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $735 in Al-mawsil versus $750 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,098 in Al-mawsil versus $1,166 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,460 in Al-mawsil versus $1,581 in Sulaymaniyah.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.50 IQD 9,823

$5.26 IQD 6,893

42.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.23 IQD 16.0K

$26.81 IQD 35.1K

-54.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 IQD 7,400

$7.01 IQD 9,180

-19.40%

Cappuccino

$0.73 IQD 958

$2.64 IQD 3,461

-72.35%

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

$0.36 IQD 478

$0.39 IQD 514

-7.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 235

$0.21 IQD 269

-14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.95 IQD 1,241

$2.07 IQD 2,713

-54.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 IQD 1,986

$2.71 IQD 3,549

-43.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 IQD 1,177

$1.41 IQD 1,851

-36.17%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 IQD 988

$1.02 IQD 1,332

-26.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,390

$1.61 IQD 2,108

-34.16%

Eggs

$1.92 IQD 2,521

$1.78 IQD 2,328

7.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.31 IQD 9,581

$6.10 IQD 7,996

19.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.30 IQD 4,326

$3.56 IQD 4,666

-7.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.96 IQD 9,120

$14.01 IQD 18.4K

-50.32%

Apples (1kg)

$0.90 IQD 1,185

$1.17 IQD 1,531

-23.08%

Banana (1kg)

$0.90 IQD 1,173

$1.29 IQD 1,693

-30.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.80 IQD 1,054

$1.27 IQD 1,662

-37.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.39 IQD 516

$0.73 IQD 957

-46.58%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 IQD 501

$0.61 IQD 798

-37.70%

Onion (1kg)

$0.46 IQD 596

$0.67 IQD 879

-31.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 IQD 625

$0.59 IQD 777

-18.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 IQD 640

$0.45 IQD 590

8.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 IQD 2,582

$1.94 IQD 2,535

1.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.39 IQD 16.2K

$11.61 IQD 15.2K

6.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 IQD 1,873

$1.51 IQD 1,974

-5.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 IQD 2,531

$1.81 IQD 2,367

6.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 476

$0.55 IQD 715

-34.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.31 IQD 41.0K

$23.16 IQD 30.3K

35.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.11 IQD 2,759

$2.36 IQD 3,096

-10.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.06 IQD 2,693

$2.33 IQD 3,053

-11.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 IQD 4,264

$5.46 IQD 7,149

-40.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.33 IQD 429

$0.77 IQD 1,005

-57.14%

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

$15.0K IQD 19.7M

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

-26.00%

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

$17.9K IQD 23.5M

$20.6K IQD 26.9M

-12.72%

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

$100 IQD 131.3K

$76.6 IQD 100.3K

30.85%

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

$17.45 IQD 22.9K

$16.90 IQD 22.1K

3.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.64 IQD 34.9K

$26.27 IQD 34.4K

1.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.52 IQD 30.8K

$39.65 IQD 51.9K

-40.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.63 IQD 24.4K

$16.92 IQD 22.2K

10.11%

Cinema Ticket

$11.17 IQD 14.6K

$7.47 IQD 9,786

49.53%

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

$200 IQD 261.6K

$151 IQD 198.3K

31.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$699 IQD 916.0K

$3,491 IQD 4.6M

-79.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.26 IQD 18.7K

$23.36 IQD 30.6K

-38.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.36 IQD 22.7K

$24.92 IQD 32.6K

-30.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.7 IQD 109.6K

$43.74 IQD 57.3K

91.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$19.20 IQD 25.1K

$36.40 IQD 47.7K

-47.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$242 IQD 317.3K

$240 IQD 315.0K

0.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 IQD 230.0K

$175 IQD 229.3K

0.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$588 IQD 769.6K

$572 IQD 749.5K

2.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$348 IQD 455.6K

$341 IQD 446.3K

2.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,987 IQD 2.6M

$810 IQD 1.1M

145.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,490 IQD 2.0M

$579 IQD 758.4K

157.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 IQD 788.8K

$580 IQD 759.5K

3.85%

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-mawsil: April 26, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $242 in Al-mawsil and $240 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al-mawsil pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $12.00 in Al-mawsil vs $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $149 vs $184 per month, with Al-mawsil 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-mawsil vs Sulaymaniyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al-mawsil 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.

Al-mawsil pays 4% 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: $242 in Al-mawsil versus $240 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $200 in Al-mawsil versus $151 in Sulaymaniyah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 24% higher in Sulaymaniyah. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Al-mawsil 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-mawsil 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-mawsil 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.