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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $777 in Al-Rumaitha versus $752 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,176 in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,169 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,574 in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,586 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in Al-Rumaitha is roughly 3% more expensive than in Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al-Rumaitha 42% lower, Sulaymaniyah 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.00 IQD 5,239

$5.40 IQD 7,068

-25.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.15 IQD 32.9K

$26.96 IQD 35.3K

-6.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.71 IQD 8,785

$6.98 IQD 9,142

-3.87%

Cappuccino

$2.60 IQD 3,408

$2.68 IQD 3,507

-2.99%

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

$0.39 IQD 515

$0.39 IQD 512

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 265

$0.21 IQD 274

-4.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.86 IQD 3,745

$2.04 IQD 2,675

40.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 IQD 3,809

$2.67 IQD 3,492

8.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 IQD 1,738

$1.49 IQD 1,948

-10.74%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,031

$1.03 IQD 1,346

-23.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 IQD 2,168

$1.60 IQD 2,100

3.75%

Eggs

$1.74 IQD 2,274

$1.69 IQD 2,219

2.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.37 IQD 5,727

$5.79 IQD 7,586

-24.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.61 IQD 6,039

$3.43 IQD 4,492

34.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.31 IQD 17.4K

$14.35 IQD 18.8K

-7.25%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 IQD 1,570

$1.17 IQD 1,529

2.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,507

$1.30 IQD 1,703

-11.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,330

$1.26 IQD 1,651

-19.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 964

$0.71 IQD 925

4.23%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 845

$0.67 IQD 875

-2.99%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 872

$0.68 IQD 893

-1.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 813

$0.59 IQD 772

5.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 722

$0.45 IQD 589

22.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.89 IQD 2,479

$1.93 IQD 2,532

-2.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.90 IQD 16.9K

$11.63 IQD 15.2K

10.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 IQD 2,421

$1.52 IQD 1,992

21.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 IQD 2,727

$1.76 IQD 2,305

18.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 478

$0.55 IQD 725

-34.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.29 IQD 41.0K

$23.33 IQD 30.5K

34.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,054

$2.28 IQD 2,983

2.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 IQD 1,957

$2.29 IQD 2,993

-34.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.92 IQD 7,756

$5.20 IQD 6,812

13.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 IQD 751

$0.71 IQD 931

-19.72%

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

$19.2K IQD 25.2M

$21.0K IQD 27.4M

-8.26%

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

$19.6K IQD 25.7M

$20.9K IQD 27.4M

-6.37%

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

$78.1 IQD 102.3K

$76.1 IQD 99.6K

2.72%

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

$17.49 IQD 22.9K

$16.47 IQD 21.6K

6.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.43 IQD 45.1K

$26.94 IQD 35.3K

27.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.84 IQD 48.2K

$38.52 IQD 50.4K

-4.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 IQD 22.4K

$17.02 IQD 22.3K

0.59%

Cinema Ticket

$7.63 IQD 9,995

$7.47 IQD 9,776

2.14%

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

$153 IQD 200.1K

$154 IQD 201.3K

-0.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,328 IQD 4.4M

$3,465 IQD 4.5M

-3.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.81 IQD 35.1K

$23.94 IQD 31.4K

11.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.05 IQD 32.8K

$25.45 IQD 33.3K

-1.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.3 IQD 81.5K

$43.60 IQD 57.1K

42.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.45 IQD 53.0K

$36.26 IQD 47.5K

11.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$239 IQD 313.3K

$236 IQD 309.5K

1.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 IQD 234.9K

$177 IQD 232.3K

1.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 IQD 764.6K

$574 IQD 751.2K

1.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$338 IQD 442.7K

$351 IQD 459.5K

-3.65%

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-Rumaitha: July 13, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $239 in Al-Rumaitha and $236 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $25.00 in Al-Rumaitha vs $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $183 vs $184 per month, with Al-Rumaitha 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-Rumaitha vs Sulaymaniyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sulaymaniyah is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,165 in Al-Rumaitha 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: $239 in Al-Rumaitha versus $236 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $777 per month in Al-Rumaitha versus $752 in Sulaymaniyah – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Sulaymaniyah runs roughly 34% less than in Al-Rumaitha. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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-Rumaitha 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 3% less than in Al-Rumaitha. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.