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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $746 in Az Zubayr versus $752 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,165 in Az Zubayr versus $1,169 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,584 in Az Zubayr versus $1,586 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in Az Zubayr costs roughly 1% less than in Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Az Zubayr 44% lower, Sulaymaniyah 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.00 IQD 5,233

$5.40 IQD 7,068

-25.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.20 IQD 33.0K

$26.96 IQD 35.3K

-6.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.87 IQD 9,002

$6.98 IQD 9,142

-1.58%

Cappuccino

$2.66 IQD 3,484

$2.68 IQD 3,507

-0.75%

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

$0.36 IQD 476

$0.39 IQD 512

-7.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 279

$0.21 IQD 274

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.89 IQD 3,782

$2.04 IQD 2,675

41.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 IQD 3,798

$2.67 IQD 3,492

8.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 IQD 1,798

$1.49 IQD 1,948

-8.05%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 IQD 1,109

$1.03 IQD 1,346

-17.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 IQD 2,169

$1.60 IQD 2,100

3.75%

Eggs

$1.72 IQD 2,257

$1.69 IQD 2,219

1.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.63 IQD 6,064

$5.79 IQD 7,586

-20.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.78 IQD 6,266

$3.43 IQD 4,492

39.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.39 IQD 17.5K

$14.35 IQD 18.8K

-6.69%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,561

$1.17 IQD 1,529

1.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,505

$1.30 IQD 1,703

-11.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 IQD 1,315

$1.26 IQD 1,651

-20.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 976

$0.71 IQD 925

5.63%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 897

$0.67 IQD 875

1.49%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 832

$0.68 IQD 893

-5.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 827

$0.59 IQD 772

6.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 735

$0.45 IQD 589

24.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.85 IQD 2,429

$1.93 IQD 2,532

-4.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.63 IQD 15.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 IQD 2,423

$1.52 IQD 1,992

21.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 IQD 2,734

$1.76 IQD 2,305

18.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 515

$0.55 IQD 725

-29.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.63 IQD 41.4K

$23.33 IQD 30.5K

35.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.32 IQD 3,036

$2.28 IQD 2,983

1.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 IQD 2,009

$2.29 IQD 2,993

-33.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.17 IQD 8,076

$5.20 IQD 6,812

18.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 IQD 748

$0.71 IQD 931

-19.72%

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

$19.2K IQD 25.2M

$21.0K IQD 27.4M

-8.17%

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

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

$20.9K IQD 27.4M

-5.90%

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

$78.4 IQD 102.6K

$76.1 IQD 99.6K

3.08%

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

$17.77 IQD 23.3K

$16.47 IQD 21.6K

7.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.27 IQD 44.9K

$26.94 IQD 35.3K

27.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.29 IQD 48.8K

$38.52 IQD 50.4K

-3.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.76 IQD 21.9K

$17.02 IQD 22.3K

-1.53%

Cinema Ticket

$7.87 IQD 10.3K

$7.47 IQD 9,776

5.35%

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

$152 IQD 198.5K

$154 IQD 201.3K

-1.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,290 IQD 4.3M

$3,465 IQD 4.5M

-5.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.00 IQD 35.4K

$23.94 IQD 31.4K

12.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.31 IQD 33.1K

$25.45 IQD 33.3K

-0.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.1 IQD 80.0K

$43.60 IQD 57.1K

40.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.71 IQD 53.3K

$36.26 IQD 47.5K

12.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$242 IQD 317.0K

$236 IQD 309.5K

2.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.6K

$177 IQD 232.3K

-1.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$585 IQD 766.2K

$574 IQD 751.2K

2.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 IQD 453.0K

$351 IQD 459.5K

-1.42%

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 Az Zubayr: July 12, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

Dining out: $25.00 in Az Zubayr vs $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $160 vs $184 per month, with Az Zubayr cheaper across the board.

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

Az Zubayr and Sulaymaniyah differ by about 1% in total monthly costs ($746 vs $752 including rent). Az Zubayr is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,119 in Az Zubayr 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 Az Zubayr versus $236 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Sulaymaniyah. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Az Zubayr – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Az Zubayr 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, 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.

Expats usually find Az Zubayr gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.