Cost of Living Comparison Between An Nasiriyah and Sulaymaniyah Cost of Living Comparison Between An Nasiriyah and Sulaymaniyah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $645 per month in An Nasiriyah vs $765 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $885 per month in An Nasiriyah vs $1,170 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,125 per month in An Nasiriyah vs $1,575 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

An Nasiriyah is about 16% cheaper than Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both An Nasiriyah and Sulaymaniyah are more affordable than the global median – An Nasiriyah 53% lower, Sulaymaniyah 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.31 IQD 4,336

$4.55 IQD 5,959

-27.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.35 IQD 16.2K

$23.34 IQD 30.6K

-47.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.02 IQD 9,194

$6.94 IQD 9,095

1.15%

Cappuccino

$2.66 IQD 3,478

$2.47 IQD 3,240

7.69%

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

$0.37 IQD 484

$0.46 IQD 596

-19.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 228

$0.23 IQD 302

-26.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.90 IQD 5,107

$4.48 IQD 5,865

-12.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 IQD 4,963

$2.26 IQD 2,958

67.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 IQD 1,282

$1.38 IQD 1,803

-28.99%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,029

$0.90 IQD 1,183

-12.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,364

$1.94 IQD 2,546

-46.39%

Eggs

$1.82 IQD 2,378

$1.70 IQD 2,227

7.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.93 IQD 3,836

$5.03 IQD 6,585

-41.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.51 IQD 5,903

$3.57 IQD 4,682

26.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.62 IQD 12.6K

$16.05 IQD 21.0K

-40.06%

Apples (1kg)

$1.12 IQD 1,469

$1.30 IQD 1,707

-13.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 IQD 1,414

$1.30 IQD 1,696

-16.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.82 IQD 1,068

$1.19 IQD 1,563

-31.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 IQD 613

$0.68 IQD 891

-30.88%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 IQD 477

$0.58 IQD 760

-37.93%

Onion (1kg)

$0.59 IQD 775

$0.74 IQD 964

-20.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 IQD 732

$0.71 IQD 933

-21.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 IQD 650

$0.50 IQD 651

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.48 IQD 1,945

$2.42 IQD 3,165

-38.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.76 IQD 18.0K

$11.35 IQD 14.9K

21.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 IQD 2,830

$1.85 IQD 2,429

16.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 IQD 2,901

$1.67 IQD 2,185

32.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 IQD 361

$0.60 IQD 782

-53.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.06 IQD 30.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 IQD 3,073

$2.33 IQD 3,046

0.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 IQD 2,021

$2.35 IQD 3,083

-34.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 IQD 3,072

$5.50 IQD 7,198

-57.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 IQD 798

$0.67 IQD 877

-8.96%

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

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

$20.5K IQD 26.8M

-5.72%

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

$18.7K IQD 24.4M

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

-2.35%

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

$216 IQD 283.0K

$101 IQD 132.5K

113.57%

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

$21.76 IQD 28.5K

$11.03 IQD 14.4K

97.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.42 IQD 55.5K

$28.65 IQD 37.5K

48.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.86 IQD 24.7K

$35.86 IQD 47.0K

-47.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.57 IQD 26.9K

Cinema Ticket

$10.60 IQD 13.9K

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

35.03%

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

$170 IQD 222.4K

$175 IQD 229.1K

-2.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,508 IQD 4.6M

$2,899 IQD 3.8M

20.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.35 IQD 14.9K

$19.45 IQD 25.5K

-41.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.87 IQD 49.6K

$25.14 IQD 32.9K

50.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$26.51 IQD 34.7K

$42.60 IQD 55.8K

-37.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.23 IQD 50.1K

$37.79 IQD 49.5K

1.16%

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)

$770 IQD 1.0M

$572 IQD 749.1K

34.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

5.77

-28.60%

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

Last update for An Nasiriyah: September 7, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 35% higher in An Nasiriyah, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in An Nasiriyah versus $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $160 vs $188 – making An Nasiriyah the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

An Nasiriyah vs Sulaymaniyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $645 in An Nasiriyah, $765 in Sulaymaniyah – roughly 19% apart. Sulaymaniyah costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $968 per month in An Nasiriyah and $1,147 in Sulaymaniyah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $645 in An Nasiriyah and $765 in Sulaymaniyah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $170 per month in An Nasiriyah and $175 in Sulaymaniyah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $645 in An Nasiriyah and $765 in Sulaymaniyah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward An Nasiriyah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with An Nasiriyah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sulaymaniyah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.