Cost of Living Comparison Between Ar Ramadi and Sulaymaniyah Cost of Living Comparison Between Ar Ramadi and Sulaymaniyah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $711 per month in Ar Ramadi vs $744 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,104 per month in Ar Ramadi vs $1,167 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,497 per month in Ar Ramadi vs $1,591 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

Ar Ramadi is about 4% cheaper than Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ar Ramadi and Sulaymaniyah are more affordable than the global median – Ar Ramadi 47% lower, Sulaymaniyah 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.09 IQD 5,359

$5.32 IQD 6,971

-23.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.30 IQD 33.1K

$27.03 IQD 35.4K

-6.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.82 IQD 8,925

$6.90 IQD 9,040

-1.16%

Cappuccino

$2.59 IQD 3,392

$2.56 IQD 3,349

1.17%

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

$0.39 IQD 511

$0.37 IQD 482

5.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 265

$0.21 IQD 277

-4.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 IQD 3,829

$2.05 IQD 2,683

42.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 IQD 3,670

$2.64 IQD 3,454

6.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 IQD 1,198

$1.42 IQD 1,862

-35.21%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,027

$0.98 IQD 1,277

-20.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 IQD 2,254

$1.66 IQD 2,172

3.61%

Eggs

$1.89 IQD 2,471

$1.76 IQD 2,299

7.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.83 IQD 5,012

$5.80 IQD 7,598

-33.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.33 IQD 3,048

$3.44 IQD 4,501

-32.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.16 IQD 13.3K

$14.30 IQD 18.7K

-28.95%

Apples (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,388

$1.23 IQD 1,607

-13.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 IQD 1,422

$1.25 IQD 1,634

-12.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.09 IQD 1,422

$1.26 IQD 1,645

-13.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 IQD 788

$0.70 IQD 921

-14.29%

Potato (1kg)

$0.52 IQD 680

$0.63 IQD 821

-17.46%

Onion (1kg)

$0.46 IQD 603

$0.64 IQD 844

-28.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 IQD 948

$0.54 IQD 711

33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 IQD 615

$0.45 IQD 591

4.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 IQD 2,535

$1.89 IQD 2,470

2.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.80 IQD 4,978

$11.68 IQD 15.3K

-67.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 IQD 2,275

$1.58 IQD 2,072

10.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 IQD 2,722

$1.74 IQD 2,272

19.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 478

$0.55 IQD 724

-32.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.23 IQD 40.9K

$22.87 IQD 29.9K

36.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,051

$2.25 IQD 2,949

3.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 IQD 2,023

$2.24 IQD 2,929

-30.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.13 IQD 8,022

$5.37 IQD 7,033

14.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 IQD 701

$0.75 IQD 985

-28.00%

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

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

-7.79%

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

$19.6K IQD 25.7M

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

-5.04%

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

$76.5 IQD 100.2K

$75.9 IQD 99.4K

0.75%

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

$17.78 IQD 23.3K

$16.34 IQD 21.4K

8.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.97 IQD 44.5K

$26.04 IQD 34.1K

30.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.25 IQD 48.8K

$39.68 IQD 52.0K

-6.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.95 IQD 22.2K

$16.91 IQD 22.1K

0.24%

Cinema Ticket

$7.87 IQD 10.3K

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

0.25%

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

$151 IQD 197.6K

$154 IQD 201.3K

-1.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,215 IQD 4.2M

$3,539 IQD 4.6M

-9.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.84 IQD 35.2K

$24.16 IQD 31.6K

11.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.00 IQD 32.7K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.9 IQD 79.7K

$43.01 IQD 56.3K

41.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.08 IQD 53.8K

$35.77 IQD 46.8K

14.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$243 IQD 317.7K

$237 IQD 310.3K

2.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 IQD 235.1K

$181 IQD 236.9K

-0.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$583 IQD 763.8K

$569 IQD 744.6K

2.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$348 IQD 455.4K

$344 IQD 450.5K

1.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$805 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$587 IQD 768.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$562 IQD 735.6K

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 Ar Ramadi: June 7, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $243 in Ar Ramadi versus $237 in Sulaymaniyah. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Ar Ramadi versus $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $136 vs $183 – making Ar Ramadi 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

Ar Ramadi vs Sulaymaniyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sulaymaniyah costs about 5% more than Ar Ramadi, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,066 per month in Ar Ramadi and $1,116 in Sulaymaniyah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ar Ramadi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $711 in Ar Ramadi and $744 in Sulaymaniyah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 37% less in Ar Ramadi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $711 in Ar Ramadi and $744 in Sulaymaniyah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Ar Ramadi – 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 Ar Ramadi. 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.