Cost of Living Comparison Between Az Zubayr and Sulaymaniyah Cost of Living Comparison Between Az Zubayr and Sulaymaniyah

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.50 IQD 5,898

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.28 IQD 30.5K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.07 IQD 9,261

Cappuccino

$2.43 IQD 3,183

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

$0.45 IQD 593

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 274

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.70 IQD 6,160

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 IQD 3,048

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 IQD 1,740

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 IQD 1,283

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 IQD 2,507

Eggs

$1.76 IQD 2,299

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.95 IQD 6,477

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.55 IQD 4,645

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.75 IQD 20.6K

Apples (1kg)

$1.32 IQD 1,724

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,701

Oranges (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,500

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 911

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 IQD 721

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 901

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 IQD 890

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 689

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.46 IQD 3,218

Wine (Bottle)

$11.60 IQD 15.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 IQD 2,450

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 IQD 2,232

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 725

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.88 IQD 30.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,045

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.24 IQD 2,936

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.47 IQD 7,168

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 IQD 944

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

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

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

$101 IQD 131.6K

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

$10.98 IQD 14.4K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.50 IQD 37.3K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.99 IQD 47.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.18 IQD 26.4K

Cinema Ticket

$7.54 IQD 9,871

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

$176 IQD 231.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,879 IQD 3.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.43 IQD 25.4K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.44 IQD 33.3K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$42.51 IQD 55.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.09 IQD 49.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$226 IQD 296.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 IQD 226.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$506 IQD 662.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$363 IQD 474.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$831 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$587 IQD 768.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$580 IQD 759.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.77

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Az Zubayr: September 12, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: September 14, 2026

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

Az Zubayr vs Sulaymaniyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For families, Az Zubayr is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Sulaymaniyah, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Az Zubayr 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.

It comes down to priorities – Az Zubayr wins on affordability, Sulaymaniyah on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.