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: $766 in Al-Rumaitha versus $747 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,181 in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,168 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,596 in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,589 in Sulaymaniyah.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Al-Rumaitha 43% lower, Sulaymaniyah 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.07 IQD 5,331

$5.32 IQD 6,969

-23.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.66 IQD 32.3K

$26.82 IQD 35.1K

-8.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.94 IQD 9,087

$7.08 IQD 9,272

-1.98%

Cappuccino

$2.57 IQD 3,369

$2.65 IQD 3,471

-3.02%

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

$0.39 IQD 516

$0.37 IQD 481

5.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 IQD 216

$0.18 IQD 236

-11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.86 IQD 3,743

$2.07 IQD 2,710

38.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 IQD 3,870

$2.73 IQD 3,570

8.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 IQD 1,736

$1.42 IQD 1,858

-6.34%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 IQD 1,112

$1.03 IQD 1,345

-17.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 IQD 2,060

$1.60 IQD 2,094

-1.88%

Eggs

$1.78 IQD 2,329

$1.78 IQD 2,325

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.38 IQD 5,741

$5.76 IQD 7,540

-23.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.73 IQD 6,192

$3.46 IQD 4,533

36.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.99 IQD 17.0K

$14.08 IQD 18.4K

-7.74%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 IQD 1,577

$1.17 IQD 1,532

2.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,500

$1.29 IQD 1,691

-10.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,383

$1.33 IQD 1,738

-20.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 919

$0.71 IQD 923

-1.41%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 920

$0.62 IQD 808

12.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 830

$0.67 IQD 878

-5.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 IQD 835

$0.58 IQD 764

10.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 722

$0.46 IQD 601

19.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 IQD 2,546

$1.89 IQD 2,481

2.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.18 IQD 17.3K

$11.23 IQD 14.7K

17.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 IQD 2,414

$1.50 IQD 1,971

22.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,806

$1.75 IQD 2,287

22.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 483

$0.55 IQD 721

-32.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.62 IQD 41.4K

$23.10 IQD 30.3K

36.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.34 IQD 3,070

$2.36 IQD 3,087

-0.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 IQD 1,935

$2.33 IQD 3,050

-36.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.14 IQD 8,044

$5.41 IQD 7,082

13.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 IQD 703

$0.72 IQD 943

-25.00%

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

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

-9.70%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

$21.0K IQD 27.5M

-4.83%

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

$76.9 IQD 100.7K

$76.0 IQD 99.5K

1.16%

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

$17.44 IQD 22.8K

$16.72 IQD 21.9K

4.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.89 IQD 45.7K

$26.19 IQD 34.3K

33.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.96 IQD 48.4K

$38.72 IQD 50.7K

-4.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.50 IQD 21.6K

$16.62 IQD 21.8K

-0.72%

Cinema Ticket

$7.64 IQD 10.0K

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

-1.80%

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

$150 IQD 196.0K

$155 IQD 202.4K

-3.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,219 IQD 4.2M

$3,464 IQD 4.5M

-7.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.34 IQD 35.8K

$23.54 IQD 30.8K

16.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.62 IQD 33.6K

$25.32 IQD 33.2K

1.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.5 IQD 81.9K

$44.08 IQD 57.7K

41.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.65 IQD 53.2K

$35.85 IQD 46.9K

13.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$244 IQD 319.4K

$237 IQD 309.9K

3.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 IQD 230.0K

$175 IQD 229.7K

0.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$570 IQD 746.9K

$581 IQD 760.3K

-1.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$343 IQD 449.5K

$346 IQD 453.6K

-0.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$799 IQD 1.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$569 IQD 745.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$567 IQD 742.3K

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $244 in Al-Rumaitha and $237 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. Groceries flip the comparison at $184 vs $182, 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-Rumaitha vs Sulaymaniyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sulaymaniyah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, 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 $1,150 in Al-Rumaitha and $1,121 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: $244 in Al-Rumaitha versus $237 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $766 per month in Al-Rumaitha versus $747 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 37% 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.