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: $675 in As Samawah versus $780 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $969 in As Samawah versus $1,178 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,263 in As Samawah versus $1,576 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in As Samawah costs roughly 13% less than in Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: As Samawah 51% lower, Sulaymaniyah 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.84 IQD 6,334

$4.50 IQD 5,891

7.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.74 IQD 45.4K

$23.28 IQD 30.4K

49.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.56 IQD 9,889

$7.07 IQD 9,250

6.93%

Cappuccino

$3.08 IQD 4,031

$2.43 IQD 3,179

26.75%

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

$0.40 IQD 521

$0.45 IQD 592

-11.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 IQD 254

$0.21 IQD 274

-9.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.72 IQD 4,872

$4.70 IQD 6,152

-20.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 IQD 4,877

$2.33 IQD 3,045

60.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 IQD 1,408

$1.33 IQD 1,738

-18.80%

White Bread (500g)

$0.77 IQD 1,012

$0.98 IQD 1,282

-21.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 IQD 1,976

$1.91 IQD 2,505

-20.94%

Eggs

$1.75 IQD 2,295

$1.76 IQD 2,296

-0.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$1.51 IQD 1,974

$4.95 IQD 6,470

-69.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.83 IQD 6,313

$3.55 IQD 4,639

36.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.91 IQD 18.2K

$15.75 IQD 20.6K

-11.68%

Apples (1kg)

$1.09 IQD 1,429

$1.32 IQD 1,722

-17.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 IQD 1,416

$1.30 IQD 1,699

-16.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.94 IQD 1,235

$1.15 IQD 1,498

-18.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.42 IQD 547

$0.70 IQD 910

-40.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 IQD 718

$0.55 IQD 720

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 873

$0.69 IQD 900

-2.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 IQD 883

$0.68 IQD 889

-1.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 IQD 892

$0.53 IQD 688

28.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.85 IQD 2,418

$2.46 IQD 3,214

-24.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.48 IQD 9,782

$11.60 IQD 15.2K

-35.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 IQD 2,907

$1.87 IQD 2,448

18.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 IQD 2,960

$1.70 IQD 2,229

32.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 724

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.50 IQD 29.4K

$22.88 IQD 29.9K

-1.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 IQD 2,926

$2.33 IQD 3,041

-3.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 IQD 1,944

$2.24 IQD 2,933

-33.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 IQD 4,092

$5.47 IQD 7,160

-42.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.62 IQD 810

$0.72 IQD 943

-13.89%

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

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

$20.6K IQD 26.9M

-8.66%

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

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

-1.23%

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

$82.3 IQD 107.7K

$101 IQD 131.5K

-18.12%

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

$19.13 IQD 25.0K

$10.98 IQD 14.4K

74.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.37 IQD 25.3K

$28.50 IQD 37.3K

-32.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$7.80 IQD 10.2K

$35.99 IQD 47.1K

-78.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.36 IQD 25.3K

$20.18 IQD 26.4K

-4.06%

Cinema Ticket

$9.14 IQD 11.9K

$7.54 IQD 9,860

21.22%

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

$57.4 IQD 75.1K

$176 IQD 230.8K

-67.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,506 IQD 2.0M

$2,879 IQD 3.8M

-47.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.18 IQD 38.2K

$19.43 IQD 25.4K

50.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.61 IQD 49.2K

$25.44 IQD 33.3K

47.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.7 IQD 97.7K

$42.51 IQD 55.6K

75.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.79 IQD 62.5K

$38.09 IQD 49.8K

25.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$122 IQD 159.0K

$226 IQD 295.8K

-46.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$117 IQD 152.6K

$173 IQD 226.4K

-32.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$180 IQD 235.0K

$506 IQD 661.3K

-64.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$363 IQD 474.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$831 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$587 IQD 767.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$580 IQD 758.2K

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 As Samawah: September 14, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $122 in As Samawah and $226 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $35.00 in As Samawah vs $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah. Groceries flip the comparison at $164 vs $188, 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

As Samawah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,013 in As Samawah and $1,171 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: $122 in As Samawah versus $226 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in As Samawah runs roughly 2% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $57.4 in As Samawah versus $176 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 As Samawah 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 As Samawah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.