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: $714 in Al-mawsil versus $744 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,063 in Al-mawsil versus $1,167 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,412 in Al-mawsil versus $1,591 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in Al-mawsil costs roughly 4% less than in Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al-mawsil 47% lower, Sulaymaniyah 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.48 IQD 9,795

$5.32 IQD 6,971

40.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.45 IQD 16.3K

$27.03 IQD 35.4K

-53.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.61 IQD 7,350

$6.90 IQD 9,040

-18.70%

Cappuccino

$0.74 IQD 965

$2.56 IQD 3,349

-71.09%

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

$0.36 IQD 473

$0.37 IQD 482

-2.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 229

$0.21 IQD 277

-14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 IQD 1,288

$2.05 IQD 2,683

-52.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 IQD 2,025

$2.64 IQD 3,454

-41.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 IQD 1,206

$1.42 IQD 1,862

-35.21%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 IQD 959

$0.98 IQD 1,277

-25.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.10 IQD 1,441

$1.66 IQD 2,172

-33.73%

Eggs

$1.90 IQD 2,482

$1.76 IQD 2,299

7.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.24 IQD 9,476

$5.80 IQD 7,598

24.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.27 IQD 4,287

$3.44 IQD 4,501

-4.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.26 IQD 9,502

$14.30 IQD 18.7K

-49.23%

Apples (1kg)

$0.90 IQD 1,177

$1.23 IQD 1,607

-26.83%

Banana (1kg)

$0.87 IQD 1,136

$1.25 IQD 1,634

-30.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.80 IQD 1,049

$1.26 IQD 1,645

-36.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.36 IQD 476

$0.70 IQD 921

-48.57%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 IQD 498

$0.63 IQD 821

-39.68%

Onion (1kg)

$0.46 IQD 602

$0.64 IQD 844

-28.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 IQD 685

$0.54 IQD 711

-3.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 IQD 647

$0.45 IQD 591

8.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.02 IQD 2,642

$1.89 IQD 2,470

6.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.27 IQD 16.1K

$11.68 IQD 15.3K

5.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 IQD 1,804

$1.58 IQD 2,072

-12.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 IQD 2,536

$1.74 IQD 2,272

11.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 514

$0.55 IQD 724

-29.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.80 IQD 40.3K

$22.87 IQD 29.9K

34.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.19 IQD 2,867

$2.25 IQD 2,949

-2.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.02 IQD 2,639

$2.24 IQD 2,929

-9.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 IQD 4,266

$5.37 IQD 7,033

-39.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.35 IQD 458

$0.75 IQD 985

-53.33%

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

$15.3K IQD 20.0M

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

-26.25%

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

$17.6K IQD 23.0M

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

-14.96%

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

$102 IQD 134.1K

$75.9 IQD 99.4K

34.83%

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

$17.73 IQD 23.2K

$16.34 IQD 21.4K

8.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.00 IQD 35.4K

$26.04 IQD 34.1K

3.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.44 IQD 32.0K

$39.68 IQD 52.0K

-38.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.72 IQD 24.5K

$16.91 IQD 22.1K

10.70%

Cinema Ticket

$11.16 IQD 14.6K

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

42.17%

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

$204 IQD 267.1K

$154 IQD 201.3K

32.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$681 IQD 891.8K

$3,539 IQD 4.6M

-80.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.92 IQD 18.2K

$24.16 IQD 31.6K

-42.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.64 IQD 23.1K

$25.00 IQD 32.7K

-29.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.6 IQD 109.5K

$43.01 IQD 56.3K

94.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$18.91 IQD 24.8K

$35.77 IQD 46.8K

-47.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$245 IQD 320.9K

$237 IQD 310.3K

3.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 IQD 236.1K

$181 IQD 236.9K

-0.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$574 IQD 752.2K

$569 IQD 744.6K

1.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 IQD 453.1K

$344 IQD 450.5K

0.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$805 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$587 IQD 768.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$621 IQD 813.8K

$562 IQD 735.6K

10.64%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $245 in Al-mawsil and $237 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al-mawsil pays 11% 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 $148 vs $183 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 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Al-mawsil pays 11% 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: $245 in Al-mawsil versus $237 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $204 in Al-mawsil versus $154 in Sulaymaniyah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 23% 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 4% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.