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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $867 in Al-miqdadiyah versus $752 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,334 in Al-miqdadiyah versus $1,169 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,800 in Al-miqdadiyah versus $1,586 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in Al-miqdadiyah is roughly 15% more expensive than in Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al-miqdadiyah 35% lower, Sulaymaniyah 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.74 IQD 10.1K

$5.40 IQD 7,068

43.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.30 IQD 30.5K

$26.96 IQD 35.3K

-13.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.61 IQD 11.3K

$6.98 IQD 9,142

23.35%

Cappuccino

$3.15 IQD 4,123

$2.68 IQD 3,507

17.54%

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

$0.52 IQD 683

$0.39 IQD 512

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 262

$0.21 IQD 274

-4.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.94 IQD 2,535

$2.04 IQD 2,675

-4.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 IQD 2,670

$2.67 IQD 3,492

-23.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,726

$1.49 IQD 1,948

-11.41%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 IQD 1,046

$1.03 IQD 1,346

-22.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 IQD 2,362

$1.60 IQD 2,100

12.50%

Eggs

$1.91 IQD 2,506

$1.69 IQD 2,219

13.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.50 IQD 9,820

$5.79 IQD 7,586

29.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.81 IQD 6,297

$3.43 IQD 4,492

40.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.95 IQD 18.3K

$14.35 IQD 18.8K

-2.79%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 IQD 1,575

$1.17 IQD 1,529

2.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,497

$1.30 IQD 1,703

-12.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,541

$1.26 IQD 1,651

-6.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,057

$0.71 IQD 925

14.08%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 IQD 948

$0.67 IQD 875

7.46%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 932

$0.68 IQD 893

4.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 IQD 942

$0.59 IQD 772

22.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 IQD 682

$0.45 IQD 589

15.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.70 IQD 3,535

$1.93 IQD 2,532

39.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.57 IQD 16.5K

$11.63 IQD 15.2K

8.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 IQD 1,794

$1.52 IQD 1,992

-9.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 IQD 2,655

$1.76 IQD 2,305

15.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 480

$0.55 IQD 725

-32.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.79 IQD 40.3K

$23.33 IQD 30.5K

31.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 IQD 2,937

$2.28 IQD 2,983

-1.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 IQD 3,047

$2.29 IQD 2,993

1.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.08 IQD 9,270

$5.20 IQD 6,812

36.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.69 IQD 899

$0.71 IQD 931

-2.82%

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

$18.9K IQD 24.7M

$21.0K IQD 27.4M

-10.02%

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

$20.9K IQD 27.3M

$20.9K IQD 27.4M

-0.23%

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

$103 IQD 134.5K

$76.1 IQD 99.6K

35.04%

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

$17.78 IQD 23.3K

$16.47 IQD 21.6K

7.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.62 IQD 38.8K

$26.94 IQD 35.3K

9.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.50 IQD 47.8K

$38.52 IQD 50.4K

-5.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.77 IQD 22.0K

$17.02 IQD 22.3K

-1.47%

Cinema Ticket

$11.63 IQD 15.2K

$7.47 IQD 9,776

55.69%

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

$269 IQD 352.6K

$154 IQD 201.3K

75.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,226 IQD 4.2M

$3,465 IQD 4.5M

-6.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.94 IQD 43.1K

$23.94 IQD 31.4K

37.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.23 IQD 64.5K

$25.45 IQD 33.3K

93.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.8 IQD 109.7K

$43.60 IQD 57.1K

92.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.3 IQD 101.2K

$36.26 IQD 47.5K

113.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$240 IQD 313.9K

$236 IQD 309.5K

1.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 IQD 238.1K

$177 IQD 232.3K

2.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$588 IQD 769.4K

$574 IQD 751.2K

2.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 IQD 452.7K

$351 IQD 459.5K

-1.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$828 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$571 IQD 748.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$575 IQD 753.3K

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-miqdadiyah: July 12, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $240 in Al-miqdadiyah and $236 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $23.00 in Al-miqdadiyah vs $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah. Groceries flip the comparison at $195 vs $184, with Sulaymaniyah cheaper for home cooking.

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-miqdadiyah vs Sulaymaniyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al-miqdadiyah and Sulaymaniyah differ by about 15% in total monthly costs ($867 vs $752 including rent). Sulaymaniyah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,301 in Al-miqdadiyah and $1,128 in Sulaymaniyah to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $240 in Al-miqdadiyah versus $236 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $269 in Al-miqdadiyah 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 6% higher in Al-miqdadiyah. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Sulaymaniyah 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-miqdadiyah 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 Sulaymaniyah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Al-miqdadiyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.