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: $691 in Al-miqdadiyah versus $765 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,085 in Al-miqdadiyah versus $1,170 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,479 in Al-miqdadiyah versus $1,575 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in Al-miqdadiyah costs roughly 10% less than in Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al-miqdadiyah 50% lower, Sulaymaniyah 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.59 IQD 9,945

$4.55 IQD 5,959

66.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.52 IQD 57.0K

$23.34 IQD 30.6K

86.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.38 IQD 11.0K

$6.94 IQD 9,095

20.75%

Cappuccino

$3.76 IQD 4,920

$2.47 IQD 3,240

52.23%

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

$1.04 IQD 1,357

$0.46 IQD 596

126.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 591

$0.23 IQD 302

95.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.13 IQD 8,034

$4.48 IQD 5,865

36.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.65 IQD 6,094

$2.26 IQD 2,958

105.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 IQD 1,678

$1.38 IQD 1,803

-7.25%

White Bread (500g)

$0.77 IQD 1,013

$0.90 IQD 1,183

-14.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 IQD 2,300

$1.94 IQD 2,546

-9.28%

Eggs

$1.84 IQD 2,415

$1.70 IQD 2,227

8.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.33 IQD 10.9K

$5.03 IQD 6,585

65.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.54 IQD 7,254

$3.57 IQD 4,682

55.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.79 IQD 19.4K

$16.05 IQD 21.0K

-7.85%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,505

$1.30 IQD 1,707

-11.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 IQD 1,446

$1.30 IQD 1,696

-15.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,555

$1.19 IQD 1,563

Tomato (1kg)

$0.82 IQD 1,070

$0.68 IQD 891

20.59%

Potato (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 993

$0.58 IQD 760

31.03%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 905

$0.74 IQD 964

-6.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 IQD 964

$0.71 IQD 933

4.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 IQD 776

$0.50 IQD 651

18.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.42 IQD 3,165

Wine (Bottle)

$12.69 IQD 16.6K

$11.35 IQD 14.9K

11.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 IQD 2,133

$1.85 IQD 2,429

-11.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 IQD 2,727

$1.67 IQD 2,185

24.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 IQD 782

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.06 IQD 30.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 IQD 2,442

$2.33 IQD 3,046

-20.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 IQD 2,400

$2.35 IQD 3,083

-22.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.54 IQD 8,564

$5.50 IQD 7,198

18.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.62 IQD 813

$0.67 IQD 877

-7.46%

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

$18.1K IQD 23.7M

$20.5K IQD 26.8M

-11.52%

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

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

6.51%

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

$130 IQD 170.0K

$101 IQD 132.5K

28.29%

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

$13.90 IQD 18.2K

$11.03 IQD 14.4K

26.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.70 IQD 36.3K

$28.65 IQD 37.5K

-3.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.86 IQD 47.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.57 IQD 26.9K

Cinema Ticket

$11.23 IQD 14.7K

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

43.06%

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

$312 IQD 409.2K

$175 IQD 229.1K

78.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,084 IQD 4.0M

$2,899 IQD 3.8M

6.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.12 IQD 40.8K

$19.45 IQD 25.5K

60.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.33 IQD 58.1K

$25.14 IQD 32.9K

76.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.1 IQD 91.7K

$42.60 IQD 55.8K

64.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.2 IQD 90.6K

$37.79 IQD 49.5K

82.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$234 IQD 306.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 IQD 672.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$362 IQD 473.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$800 IQD 1.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$574 IQD 751.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$572 IQD 749.1K

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-miqdadiyah: September 7, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $44.00 in Al-miqdadiyah vs $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $188 per month, with Sulaymaniyah 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-miqdadiyah vs Sulaymaniyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al-miqdadiyah and Sulaymaniyah differ by about 11% in total monthly costs ($691 vs $765 including rent). Al-miqdadiyah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,036 in Al-miqdadiyah and $1,147 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.

Shoppers in Sulaymaniyah pay roughly 9% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $691 per month in Al-miqdadiyah versus $765 in Sulaymaniyah – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Al-miqdadiyah 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 Al-miqdadiyah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.