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: $728 in Az Zubayr versus $747 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,155 in Az Zubayr versus $1,168 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,582 in Az Zubayr versus $1,589 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in Az Zubayr costs roughly 3% less than in Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Az Zubayr 46% lower, Sulaymaniyah 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.99 IQD 5,222

$5.32 IQD 6,969

-25.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.15 IQD 32.9K

$26.82 IQD 35.1K

-6.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.69 IQD 8,761

$7.08 IQD 9,272

-5.51%

Cappuccino

$2.67 IQD 3,493

$2.65 IQD 3,471

0.75%

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

$0.37 IQD 484

$0.37 IQD 481

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 217

$0.18 IQD 236

-5.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 IQD 3,829

$2.07 IQD 2,710

41.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 IQD 3,679

$2.73 IQD 3,570

2.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 IQD 1,709

$1.42 IQD 1,858

-8.45%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 IQD 1,113

$1.03 IQD 1,345

-17.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 IQD 2,104

$1.60 IQD 2,094

0.63%

Eggs

$1.81 IQD 2,365

$1.78 IQD 2,325

1.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.58 IQD 6,002

$5.76 IQD 7,540

-20.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.76 IQD 6,237

$3.46 IQD 4,533

37.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.90 IQD 16.9K

$14.08 IQD 18.4K

-8.38%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,508

$1.17 IQD 1,532

-1.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,530

$1.29 IQD 1,691

-9.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,333

$1.33 IQD 1,737

-23.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 918

$0.71 IQD 923

-1.41%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 904

$0.62 IQD 808

11.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 869

$0.67 IQD 878

-1.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 IQD 867

$0.58 IQD 764

13.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 IQD 742

$0.46 IQD 601

23.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 IQD 2,575

$1.89 IQD 2,481

4.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.23 IQD 14.7K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,348

$1.50 IQD 1,971

19.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,813

$1.75 IQD 2,287

22.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 477

$0.55 IQD 721

-34.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.38 IQD 41.1K

$23.10 IQD 30.3K

35.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 IQD 3,085

$2.36 IQD 3,087

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 IQD 2,023

$2.33 IQD 3,050

-33.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.02 IQD 7,878

$5.41 IQD 7,082

11.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 696

$0.72 IQD 943

-26.39%

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

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

-7.18%

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

$20.2K IQD 26.5M

$21.0K IQD 27.5M

-3.59%

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

$78.0 IQD 102.1K

$76.0 IQD 99.5K

2.58%

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

$17.86 IQD 23.4K

$16.72 IQD 21.9K

6.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.04 IQD 45.9K

$26.19 IQD 34.3K

33.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.70 IQD 48.1K

$38.72 IQD 50.7K

-5.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.76 IQD 21.9K

$16.62 IQD 21.8K

0.84%

Cinema Ticket

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

0.39%

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

$151 IQD 198.1K

$155 IQD 202.4K

-2.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,250 IQD 4.3M

$3,464 IQD 4.5M

-6.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.46 IQD 36.0K

$23.54 IQD 30.8K

16.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.63 IQD 33.6K

$25.32 IQD 33.2K

1.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.3 IQD 81.6K

$44.08 IQD 57.7K

41.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.70 IQD 54.6K

$35.85 IQD 46.9K

16.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$239 IQD 313.5K

$237 IQD 309.9K

1.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 IQD 236.4K

$175 IQD 229.7K

2.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$591 IQD 773.6K

$581 IQD 760.3K

1.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$338 IQD 443.1K

$346 IQD 453.6K

-2.31%

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 Az Zubayr: May 30, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $239 in Az Zubayr and $237 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 $158 vs $182 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 3% in total monthly costs ($728 vs $747 including rent). Az Zubayr is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,091 in Az Zubayr 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: $239 in Az Zubayr versus $237 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 3% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.