Cost of Living Comparison Between As Samawah and Sulaymaniyah Cost of Living Comparison Between As Samawah and Sulaymaniyah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $906 in As Samawah versus $747 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,356 in As Samawah versus $1,168 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,805 in As Samawah versus $1,589 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in As Samawah is roughly 21% more expensive than Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: As Samawah 32% lower, Sulaymaniyah 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.40 IQD 7,073

$5.32 IQD 6,969

1.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.94 IQD 48.4K

$26.82 IQD 35.1K

37.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

$7.08 IQD 9,272

9.75%

Cappuccino

$2.95 IQD 3,865

$2.65 IQD 3,471

11.32%

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

$0.40 IQD 522

$0.37 IQD 481

8.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 IQD 215

$0.18 IQD 236

-11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.42 IQD 4,484

$2.07 IQD 2,710

65.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 IQD 3,777

$2.73 IQD 3,570

5.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 IQD 1,785

$1.42 IQD 1,858

-4.23%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 IQD 1,104

$1.03 IQD 1,345

-18.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 IQD 2,093

$1.60 IQD 2,094

Eggs

$1.59 IQD 2,081

$1.78 IQD 2,325

-10.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.55 IQD 5,955

$5.76 IQD 7,540

-21.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.96 IQD 6,501

$3.46 IQD 4,533

43.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.13 IQD 18.5K

$14.08 IQD 18.4K

0.36%

Apples (1kg)

$0.98 IQD 1,287

$1.17 IQD 1,532

-16.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,329

$1.29 IQD 1,691

-21.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 896

$1.33 IQD 1,737

-48.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 IQD 671

$0.71 IQD 923

-28.17%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 914

$0.62 IQD 808

12.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 884

$0.67 IQD 878

1.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 IQD 411

$0.58 IQD 764

-46.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 IQD 820

$0.46 IQD 601

36.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.12 IQD 2,782

$1.89 IQD 2,481

12.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.58 IQD 9,929

$11.23 IQD 14.7K

-32.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 IQD 2,419

$1.50 IQD 1,971

23.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 IQD 2,763

$1.75 IQD 2,287

20.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 513

$0.55 IQD 721

-29.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.75 IQD 40.3K

$23.10 IQD 30.3K

33.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.73 IQD 4,888

$2.36 IQD 3,087

58.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 IQD 1,958

$2.33 IQD 3,050

-35.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.50 IQD 9,819

$5.41 IQD 7,082

38.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 IQD 704

$0.72 IQD 943

-25.00%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

-3.53%

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

$19.6K IQD 25.6M

$21.0K IQD 27.5M

-6.78%

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

$178 IQD 232.6K

$76.0 IQD 99.5K

133.64%

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

$25.43 IQD 33.3K

$16.72 IQD 21.9K

52.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.88 IQD 52.2K

$26.19 IQD 34.3K

52.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.29 IQD 47.5K

$38.72 IQD 50.7K

-6.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.08 IQD 22.4K

$16.62 IQD 21.8K

2.77%

Cinema Ticket

$7.44 IQD 9,746

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

-4.37%

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

$166 IQD 217.4K

$155 IQD 202.4K

7.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,650 IQD 4.8M

$3,464 IQD 4.5M

5.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.68 IQD 37.6K

$23.54 IQD 30.8K

21.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.00 IQD 39.3K

$25.32 IQD 33.2K

18.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.9 IQD 86.2K

$44.08 IQD 57.7K

49.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.65 IQD 57.2K

$35.85 IQD 46.9K

21.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$245 IQD 320.7K

$237 IQD 309.9K

3.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 IQD 231.5K

$175 IQD 229.7K

0.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$580 IQD 759.7K

$581 IQD 760.3K

-0.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$342 IQD 448.1K

$346 IQD 453.6K

-1.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$799 IQD 1.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$569 IQD 745.3K

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 As Samawah: June 1, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $245 in As Samawah and $237 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $37.00 in As Samawah vs $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah. Groceries flip the comparison at $173 vs $182, with As Samawah 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

As Samawah vs Sulaymaniyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sulaymaniyah is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,359 in As Samawah 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: $245 in As Samawah versus $237 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Sulaymaniyah runs roughly 33% less than in As Samawah. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $166 in As Samawah versus $155 in Sulaymaniyah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

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, As Samawah 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 21% less than in As Samawah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.