Cost of Living Comparison Between Ba'qubah and Sulaymaniyah Cost of Living Comparison Between Ba'qubah and Sulaymaniyah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $579 in Ba'qubah versus $765 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $745 in Ba'qubah versus $1,170 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $910 in Ba'qubah versus $1,575 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in Ba'qubah costs roughly 24% less than in Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ba'qubah 58% lower, Sulaymaniyah 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.86 IQD 6,358

$4.55 IQD 5,959

6.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.24 IQD 20.0K

$23.34 IQD 30.6K

-34.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.54 IQD 8,565

$6.94 IQD 9,095

-5.76%

Cappuccino

$1.12 IQD 1,463

$2.47 IQD 3,240

-54.66%

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

$0.56 IQD 728

$0.46 IQD 596

21.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 IQD 248

$0.23 IQD 302

-17.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.97 IQD 2,575

$4.48 IQD 5,865

-56.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 IQD 5,858

$2.26 IQD 2,958

97.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 IQD 1,486

$1.38 IQD 1,803

-17.39%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 IQD 718

$0.90 IQD 1,183

-38.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 IQD 1,471

$1.94 IQD 2,546

-42.27%

Eggs

$1.49 IQD 1,955

$1.70 IQD 2,227

-12.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.26 IQD 2,956

$5.03 IQD 6,585

-55.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.54 IQD 3,327

$3.57 IQD 4,682

-28.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.56 IQD 13.8K

$16.05 IQD 21.0K

-34.21%

Apples (1kg)

$0.99 IQD 1,301

$1.30 IQD 1,707

-23.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,493

$1.30 IQD 1,696

-12.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 IQD 1,224

$1.19 IQD 1,563

-21.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 IQD 780

$0.68 IQD 891

-11.76%

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 IQD 777

$0.58 IQD 760

1.72%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 851

$0.74 IQD 964

-12.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 IQD 654

$0.71 IQD 933

-29.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.19 IQD 248

$0.50 IQD 651

-62.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.53 IQD 3,313

$2.42 IQD 3,165

4.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.47 IQD 16.3K

$11.35 IQD 14.9K

9.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 IQD 2,237

$1.85 IQD 2,429

-7.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,800

$1.67 IQD 2,185

28.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 IQD 1,021

$0.60 IQD 782

30.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.06 IQD 30.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 IQD 2,543

$2.33 IQD 3,046

-16.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.73 IQD 2,270

$2.35 IQD 3,083

-26.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.31 IQD 6,959

$5.50 IQD 7,198

-3.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.35 IQD 464

$0.67 IQD 877

-47.76%

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

$18.2K IQD 23.9M

$20.5K IQD 26.8M

-11.08%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

6.43%

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

$59.4 IQD 77.7K

$101 IQD 132.5K

-41.34%

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

$13.91 IQD 18.2K

$11.03 IQD 14.4K

26.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.87 IQD 35.2K

$28.65 IQD 37.5K

-6.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.12 IQD 25.0K

$35.86 IQD 47.0K

-46.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.57 IQD 26.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.89 IQD 5,094

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

-50.45%

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

$26.53 IQD 34.7K

$175 IQD 229.1K

-84.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$639 IQD 836.3K

$2,899 IQD 3.8M

-77.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.30 IQD 25.3K

$19.45 IQD 25.5K

-0.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.21 IQD 25.2K

$25.14 IQD 32.9K

-23.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.2 IQD 89.3K

$42.60 IQD 55.8K

60.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$27.02 IQD 35.4K

$37.79 IQD 49.5K

-28.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$269 IQD 351.9K

$234 IQD 306.0K

15.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$135 IQD 176.4K

$175 IQD 229.7K

-23.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$499 IQD 653.3K

$513 IQD 672.3K

-2.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$362 IQD 473.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$768 IQD 1.0M

$800 IQD 1.0M

-3.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$189 IQD 247.5K

$574 IQD 751.4K

-67.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$711 IQD 931.4K

$572 IQD 749.1K

24.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.53

5.77

-56.15%

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

Last update for Ba'qubah: September 6, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $269 in Ba'qubah and $234 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ba'qubah pays 24% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $15.00 in Ba'qubah vs $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $142 vs $188 per month, with Ba'qubah 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

Ba'qubah vs Sulaymaniyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ba'qubah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 32% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 24% higher in Ba'qubah, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $269 in Ba'qubah versus $234 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $26.53 in Ba'qubah versus $175 in Sulaymaniyah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Ba'qubah – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Ba'qubah 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, Ba'qubah 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 Ba'qubah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.