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 $720 per month in Ar Ramadi vs $761 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,096 per month in Ar Ramadi vs $1,176 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,471 per month in Ar Ramadi vs $1,591 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

Ar Ramadi is about 5% cheaper than Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ar Ramadi and Sulaymaniyah are more affordable than the global median – Ar Ramadi 46% lower, Sulaymaniyah 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.16 IQD 5,453

$5.42 IQD 7,098

-23.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.12 IQD 32.9K

$26.66 IQD 34.9K

-5.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.80 IQD 8,910

$6.84 IQD 8,953

-0.58%

Cappuccino

$2.65 IQD 3,466

$2.65 IQD 3,468

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

$0.37 IQD 484

$0.39 IQD 515

-5.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 278

$0.20 IQD 256

5.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.88 IQD 3,776

$2.05 IQD 2,681

40.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 IQD 3,745

$2.69 IQD 3,529

6.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 IQD 1,101

$1.46 IQD 1,913

-42.47%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,081

$0.99 IQD 1,295

-16.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 IQD 2,255

$1.61 IQD 2,105

6.83%

Eggs

$1.88 IQD 2,466

$1.71 IQD 2,244

9.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.80 IQD 4,971

$6.05 IQD 7,920

-37.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.37 IQD 3,098

$3.53 IQD 4,617

-32.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.26 IQD 13.4K

$14.46 IQD 18.9K

-29.05%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,359

$1.17 IQD 1,527

-11.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 IQD 1,424

$1.23 IQD 1,615

-11.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,367

$1.28 IQD 1,671

-18.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.61 IQD 793

$0.75 IQD 985

-18.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 IQD 735

$0.67 IQD 871

-16.42%

Onion (1kg)

$0.42 IQD 549

$0.65 IQD 845

-35.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 IQD 866

$0.55 IQD 715

20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 IQD 604

$0.45 IQD 586

2.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 IQD 2,485

$1.94 IQD 2,543

-2.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.93 IQD 5,151

$11.56 IQD 15.1K

-66.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 IQD 2,237

$1.51 IQD 1,976

13.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 IQD 2,751

$1.73 IQD 2,269

21.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 476

$0.55 IQD 724

-34.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.82 IQD 40.4K

$22.59 IQD 29.6K

36.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,941

$2.27 IQD 2,966

-0.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 IQD 1,934

$2.28 IQD 2,986

-35.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.86 IQD 7,680

$5.21 IQD 6,828

12.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 IQD 748

$0.75 IQD 985

-24.00%

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

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

-8.60%

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

$19.5K IQD 25.6M

$21.1K IQD 27.7M

-7.51%

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

$77.6 IQD 101.6K

$77.5 IQD 101.5K

0.15%

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

$17.83 IQD 23.3K

$16.80 IQD 22.0K

6.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.81 IQD 45.6K

$26.70 IQD 35.0K

30.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.21 IQD 48.7K

$38.57 IQD 50.5K

-3.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.64 IQD 21.8K

$16.67 IQD 21.8K

-0.18%

Cinema Ticket

$7.67 IQD 10.0K

$7.48 IQD 9,799

2.54%

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

$152 IQD 198.7K

$150 IQD 196.2K

1.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,255 IQD 4.3M

$3,550 IQD 4.6M

-8.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.82 IQD 35.1K

$23.44 IQD 30.7K

14.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.78 IQD 32.4K

$24.93 IQD 32.6K

-0.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.8 IQD 81.0K

$43.58 IQD 57.1K

41.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.96 IQD 54.9K

$36.28 IQD 47.5K

15.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$238 IQD 311.2K

$235 IQD 308.2K

0.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 IQD 234.7K

$180 IQD 236.2K

-0.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$578 IQD 757.5K

$568 IQD 744.4K

1.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$340 IQD 444.7K

$340 IQD 445.3K

-0.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$820 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$576 IQD 753.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$570 IQD 746.9K

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $238 in Ar Ramadi versus $235 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: $135 vs $184 – 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 6% 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 $1,080 per month in Ar Ramadi and $1,142 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 $720 in Ar Ramadi and $761 in Sulaymaniyah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 36% 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 $720 in Ar Ramadi and $761 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.