🙂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-mawsil45% lower, Sulaymaniyah44% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Al-mawsil
Sulaymaniyah
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.50IQD 9,825
$5.26IQD 6,895
42.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.23IQD 16.0K
$26.81IQD 35.1K
-54.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.65IQD 7,402
$7.01IQD 9,182
-19.40%
Cappuccino
$0.73IQD 959
$2.64IQD 3,461
-72.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36IQD 478
$0.39IQD 514
-7.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18IQD 235
$0.21IQD 269
-14.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.95IQD 1,242
$2.07IQD 2,714
-54.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52IQD 1,986
$2.71IQD 3,550
-43.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al-mawsil
Sulaymaniyah
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$0.90IQD 1,177
$1.41IQD 1,851
-36.17%
White Bread(500g)
$0.75IQD 989
$1.02IQD 1,332
-26.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.06IQD 1,391
$1.61IQD 2,109
-34.16%
Eggs
$1.92IQD 2,521
$1.78IQD 2,329
7.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.31IQD 9,583
$6.10IQD 7,998
19.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.30IQD 4,327
$3.56IQD 4,667
-7.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.96IQD 9,122
$14.01IQD 18.4K
-50.32%
Apples(1kg)
$0.90IQD 1,185
$1.17IQD 1,532
-23.08%
Banana(1kg)
$0.90IQD 1,173
$1.29IQD 1,694
-30.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.80IQD 1,055
$1.27IQD 1,662
-37.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.39IQD 516
$0.73IQD 957
-46.58%
Potato(1kg)
$0.38IQD 501
$0.61IQD 798
-37.70%
Onion(1kg)
$0.46IQD 596
$0.67IQD 879
-31.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.48IQD 625
$0.59IQD 777
-18.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49IQD 640
$0.45IQD 590
8.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.97IQD 2,583
$1.94IQD 2,536
1.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.39IQD 16.2K
$11.61IQD 15.2K
6.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43IQD 1,874
$1.51IQD 1,975
-5.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93IQD 2,532
$1.81IQD 2,367
6.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Al-mawsil
Sulaymaniyah
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36IQD 476
$0.55IQD 715
-34.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.31IQD 41.0K
$23.16IQD 30.3K
35.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.11IQD 2,759
$2.36IQD 3,096
-10.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.06IQD 2,693
$2.33IQD 3,053
-11.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.26IQD 4,265
$5.46IQD 7,150
-40.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.33IQD 429
$0.77IQD 1,006
-57.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.0KIQD 19.7M
$20.3KIQD 26.6M
-26.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.9KIQD 23.5M
$20.6KIQD 26.9M
-12.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al-mawsil
Sulaymaniyah
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$100IQD 131.3K
$76.6IQD 100.4K
30.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.45IQD 22.9K
$16.90IQD 22.1K
3.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.64IQD 34.9K
$26.27IQD 34.4K
1.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al-mawsil
Sulaymaniyah
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.52IQD 30.8K
$39.65IQD 51.9K
-40.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.63IQD 24.4K
$16.92IQD 22.2K
10.11%
Cinema Ticket
$11.17IQD 14.6K
$7.47IQD 9,788
49.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al-mawsil
Sulaymaniyah
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$200IQD 261.6K
$151IQD 198.4K
31.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$699IQD 916.2K
$3,491IQD 4.6M
-79.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al-mawsil
Sulaymaniyah
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.26IQD 18.7K
$23.36IQD 30.6K
-38.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.36IQD 22.7K
$24.92IQD 32.6K
-30.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.7IQD 109.6K
$43.74IQD 57.3K
91.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$19.20IQD 25.2K
$36.40IQD 47.7K
-47.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al-mawsil
Sulaymaniyah
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$242IQD 317.4K
$240IQD 315.0K
0.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$176IQD 230.0K
$175IQD 229.4K
0.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$588IQD 769.8K
$572IQD 749.7K
2.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$348IQD 455.7K
$341IQD 446.4K
2.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,987IQD 2.6M
$810IQD 1.1M
145.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,490IQD 2.0M
$579IQD 758.5K
157.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al-mawsil
Sulaymaniyah
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$602IQD 789.0K
$580IQD 759.7K
3.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.67
9
-37.00%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Al-mawsil: April 26, 2026
Última actualización para 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.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Al-mawsil vs Sulaymaniyah: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Sulaymaniyah cheaper than Al-mawsil?
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.
Where can you earn more: Al-mawsil or Sulaymaniyah?
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.
What is the rent difference between Al-mawsil and Sulaymaniyah?
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.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
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.
How do food prices compare in Al-mawsil and Sulaymaniyah?
Supermarket bills run roughly 24% higher in Sulaymaniyah. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,000 enough for either Al-mawsil or Sulaymaniyah?
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.
Is it better to live in Al-mawsil or Sulaymaniyah?
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.
Which city is safer, Al-mawsil or Sulaymaniyah?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
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.
Al-mawsil vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado