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: $617 in Al-mawsil versus $780 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $827 in Al-mawsil versus $1,178 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,038 in Al-mawsil versus $1,576 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in Al-mawsil costs roughly 21% less than in Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al-mawsil 55% lower, Sulaymaniyah 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.55 IQD 9,891

$4.50 IQD 5,898

67.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.36 IQD 16.2K

$23.28 IQD 30.5K

-46.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.61 IQD 7,344

$7.07 IQD 9,261

-20.65%

Cappuccino

$0.75 IQD 981

$2.43 IQD 3,183

-69.14%

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

$0.37 IQD 484

$0.45 IQD 593

-17.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 IQD 252

$0.21 IQD 274

-9.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.97 IQD 1,265

$4.70 IQD 6,159

-79.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 IQD 1,982

$2.33 IQD 3,048

-35.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 IQD 1,015

$1.33 IQD 1,740

-41.35%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 IQD 959

$0.98 IQD 1,283

-25.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 815

$1.91 IQD 2,507

-67.54%

Eggs

$1.13 IQD 1,482

$1.76 IQD 2,299

-35.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.97 IQD 10.4K

$4.95 IQD 6,477

61.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.48 IQD 4,551

$3.55 IQD 4,645

-1.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.22 IQD 12.1K

$15.75 IQD 20.6K

-41.46%

Apples (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 956

$1.32 IQD 1,723

-44.70%

Banana (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 965

$1.30 IQD 1,701

-43.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.60 IQD 781

$1.15 IQD 1,500

-47.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.28 IQD 368

$0.70 IQD 911

-60.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.32 IQD 425

$0.55 IQD 721

-41.82%

Onion (1kg)

$0.37 IQD 482

$0.69 IQD 901

-46.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,028

$0.68 IQD 890

14.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 IQD 772

$0.53 IQD 689

11.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.87 IQD 2,444

$2.46 IQD 3,218

-23.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.38 IQD 16.2K

$11.60 IQD 15.2K

6.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 IQD 2,210

$1.87 IQD 2,450

-9.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 IQD 2,720

$1.70 IQD 2,232

22.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 514

$0.55 IQD 725

-29.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.48 IQD 39.9K

$22.88 IQD 30.0K

33.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 IQD 2,426

$2.33 IQD 3,045

-20.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 IQD 2,382

$2.24 IQD 2,936

-18.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.54 IQD 5,945

$5.47 IQD 7,168

-17.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.33 IQD 430

$0.72 IQD 944

-54.17%

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

$15.3K IQD 20.0M

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

-25.92%

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

$17.8K IQD 23.3M

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

-6.64%

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

$109 IQD 142.3K

$101 IQD 131.6K

8.12%

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

$13.97 IQD 18.3K

$10.98 IQD 14.4K

27.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.34 IQD 34.5K

$28.50 IQD 37.3K

-7.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.02 IQD 30.1K

$35.99 IQD 47.1K

-36.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.44 IQD 9,736

$20.18 IQD 26.4K

-63.13%

Cinema Ticket

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

$7.54 IQD 9,871

3.58%

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

$306 IQD 401.0K

$176 IQD 231.0K

73.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$688 IQD 900.4K

$2,879 IQD 3.8M

-76.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.01 IQD 24.9K

$19.43 IQD 25.4K

-2.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.44 IQD 20.2K

$25.44 IQD 33.3K

-39.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.5 IQD 92.3K

$42.51 IQD 55.7K

65.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$18.06 IQD 23.6K

$38.09 IQD 49.9K

-52.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$113 IQD 148.3K

$226 IQD 296.1K

-49.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$76.3 IQD 100.0K

$173 IQD 226.6K

-55.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$301 IQD 393.7K

$506 IQD 662.0K

-40.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$363 IQD 474.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$831 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$587 IQD 768.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$608 IQD 795.7K

$580 IQD 759.1K

4.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.53

5.77

-56.15%

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

Last update for Al-mawsil: September 14, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $113 in Al-mawsil and $226 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al-mawsil pays 5% 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 $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $152 vs $188 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, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 5% higher in Al-mawsil, 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: $113 in Al-mawsil versus $226 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $306 in Al-mawsil versus $176 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 27% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.