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: $878 in As Samawah versus $752 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,339 in As Samawah versus $1,169 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,801 in As Samawah versus $1,586 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in As Samawah is roughly 17% more expensive than in Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: As Samawah 34% lower, Sulaymaniyah 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.46 IQD 7,146

$5.40 IQD 7,068

1.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.41 IQD 47.7K

$26.96 IQD 35.3K

35.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.70 IQD 10.1K

$6.98 IQD 9,142

10.32%

Cappuccino

$2.99 IQD 3,920

$2.68 IQD 3,507

11.57%

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

$0.36 IQD 475

$0.39 IQD 512

-7.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 IQD 246

$0.21 IQD 274

-9.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.40 IQD 4,455

$2.04 IQD 2,675

66.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 IQD 3,819

$2.67 IQD 3,492

9.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 IQD 1,804

$1.49 IQD 1,948

-7.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,029

$1.03 IQD 1,346

-23.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 IQD 2,076

$1.60 IQD 2,100

-1.25%

Eggs

$1.62 IQD 2,118

$1.69 IQD 2,219

-4.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.61 IQD 6,036

$5.79 IQD 7,586

-20.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.00 IQD 6,542

$3.43 IQD 4,492

45.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 IQD 18.7K

$14.35 IQD 18.8K

-0.42%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,323

$1.17 IQD 1,529

-13.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,327

$1.30 IQD 1,703

-22.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 931

$1.26 IQD 1,651

-43.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 IQD 678

$0.71 IQD 925

-26.76%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 849

$0.67 IQD 875

-2.99%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 827

$0.68 IQD 893

-7.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 IQD 453

$0.59 IQD 772

-40.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 IQD 820

$0.45 IQD 589

40.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.04 IQD 2,670

$1.93 IQD 2,532

5.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

$11.63 IQD 15.2K

-32.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 IQD 2,397

$1.52 IQD 1,992

20.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 IQD 2,771

$1.76 IQD 2,305

20.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 483

$0.55 IQD 725

-32.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.79 IQD 40.3K

$23.33 IQD 30.5K

31.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 IQD 5,098

$2.28 IQD 2,983

70.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,920

$2.29 IQD 2,993

-35.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.50 IQD 9,826

$5.20 IQD 6,812

44.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 693

$0.71 IQD 931

-25.35%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

$21.0K IQD 27.4M

-4.97%

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

$19.6K IQD 25.6M

$20.9K IQD 27.4M

-6.48%

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

$175 IQD 229.0K

$76.1 IQD 99.6K

129.99%

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

$25.45 IQD 33.3K

$16.47 IQD 21.6K

54.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.92 IQD 52.3K

$26.94 IQD 35.3K

48.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.84 IQD 48.2K

$38.52 IQD 50.4K

-4.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 IQD 22.1K

$17.02 IQD 22.3K

-1.06%

Cinema Ticket

$7.57 IQD 9,910

$7.47 IQD 9,776

1.34%

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

$164 IQD 214.9K

$154 IQD 201.3K

6.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,571 IQD 4.7M

$3,465 IQD 4.5M

3.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.11 IQD 36.8K

$23.94 IQD 31.4K

17.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.92 IQD 40.5K

$25.45 IQD 33.3K

21.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.6 IQD 85.9K

$43.60 IQD 57.1K

50.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.63 IQD 57.1K

$36.26 IQD 47.5K

20.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$242 IQD 316.6K

$236 IQD 309.5K

2.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 IQD 237.9K

$177 IQD 232.3K

2.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$586 IQD 767.7K

$574 IQD 751.2K

2.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 IQD 453.2K

$351 IQD 459.5K

-1.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$828 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$571 IQD 748.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$575 IQD 753.3K

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $242 in As Samawah and $236 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $36.00 in As Samawah vs $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah. Groceries flip the comparison at $174 vs $184, 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 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,317 in As Samawah and $1,128 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: $242 in As Samawah versus $236 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 32% less than in As Samawah. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $164 in As Samawah versus $154 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 17% less than in As Samawah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.