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: $662 in Ba'qubah versus $747 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $993 in Ba'qubah versus $1,168 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,324 in Ba'qubah versus $1,589 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in Ba'qubah costs roughly 11% less than in Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ba'qubah 51% lower, Sulaymaniyah 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.03 IQD 6,585

$5.32 IQD 6,969

-5.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.28 IQD 20.0K

$26.82 IQD 35.1K

-43.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.47 IQD 8,468

$7.08 IQD 9,272

-8.62%

Cappuccino

$1.14 IQD 1,491

$2.65 IQD 3,471

-56.98%

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

$0.48 IQD 631

$0.37 IQD 481

29.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 258

$0.18 IQD 236

11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.97 IQD 2,575

$2.07 IQD 2,710

-4.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 IQD 2,824

$2.73 IQD 3,570

-20.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 IQD 1,529

$1.42 IQD 1,858

-17.61%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 IQD 720

$1.03 IQD 1,345

-46.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,492

$1.60 IQD 2,094

-28.75%

Eggs

$1.48 IQD 1,939

$1.78 IQD 2,325

-16.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.37 IQD 3,102

$5.76 IQD 7,540

-58.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.52 IQD 3,294

$3.46 IQD 4,533

-27.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.91 IQD 14.3K

$14.08 IQD 18.4K

-22.51%

Apples (1kg)

$0.94 IQD 1,230

$1.17 IQD 1,532

-19.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,548

$1.29 IQD 1,691

-8.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 IQD 1,309

$1.33 IQD 1,737

-24.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 IQD 775

$0.71 IQD 923

-16.90%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 IQD 765

$0.62 IQD 808

-6.45%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 856

$0.67 IQD 878

-2.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.46 IQD 602

$0.58 IQD 764

-20.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.19 IQD 253

$0.46 IQD 601

-58.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.62 IQD 3,433

$1.89 IQD 2,481

38.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.52 IQD 16.4K

$11.23 IQD 14.7K

11.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 IQD 1,886

$1.50 IQD 1,971

-4.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 IQD 2,575

$1.75 IQD 2,287

12.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 481

$0.55 IQD 721

-32.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.35 IQD 41.1K

$23.10 IQD 30.3K

35.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.26 IQD 2,957

$2.36 IQD 3,087

-4.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.03 IQD 2,660

$2.33 IQD 3,050

-12.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.26 IQD 6,890

$5.41 IQD 7,082

-2.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.33 IQD 427

$0.72 IQD 943

-54.17%

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

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

-8.04%

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

$20.9K IQD 27.4M

$21.0K IQD 27.5M

-0.43%

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

$58.6 IQD 76.7K

$76.0 IQD 99.5K

-22.92%

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

$17.68 IQD 23.2K

$16.72 IQD 21.9K

5.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.17 IQD 35.6K

$26.19 IQD 34.3K

3.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.46 IQD 25.5K

$38.72 IQD 50.7K

-49.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.72 IQD 21.9K

$16.62 IQD 21.8K

0.60%

Cinema Ticket

$3.89 IQD 5,092

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

-50.00%

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

$27.20 IQD 35.6K

$155 IQD 202.4K

-82.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$650 IQD 851.7K

$3,464 IQD 4.5M

-81.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.27 IQD 25.2K

$23.54 IQD 30.8K

-18.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.91 IQD 24.8K

$25.32 IQD 33.2K

-25.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.1 IQD 107.5K

$44.08 IQD 57.7K

86.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$27.01 IQD 35.4K

$35.85 IQD 46.9K

-24.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$241 IQD 315.5K

$237 IQD 309.9K

1.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 IQD 234.5K

$175 IQD 229.7K

2.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$579 IQD 757.6K

$581 IQD 760.3K

-0.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$341 IQD 446.8K

$346 IQD 453.6K

-1.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$766 IQD 1.0M

$799 IQD 1.0M

-4.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$192 IQD 251.2K

$569 IQD 745.3K

-66.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$711 IQD 930.6K

$567 IQD 742.3K

25.36%

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 Ba'qubah: May 31, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $241 in Ba'qubah and $237 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ba'qubah pays 25% 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 $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $142 vs $182 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. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Ba'qubah pays 25% more on average, 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: $241 in Ba'qubah versus $237 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 28% higher in Sulaymaniyah. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Ba'qubah – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 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 13% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.