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: $642 in Ba'qubah versus $752 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $990 in Ba'qubah versus $1,169 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,338 in Ba'qubah versus $1,586 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in Ba'qubah costs roughly 15% less than in Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ba'qubah 52% lower, Sulaymaniyah 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.07 IQD 6,639

$5.40 IQD 7,068

-6.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.26 IQD 20.0K

$26.96 IQD 35.3K

-43.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.65 IQD 8,711

$6.98 IQD 9,142

-4.73%

Cappuccino

$1.17 IQD 1,531

$2.68 IQD 3,507

-56.34%

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

$0.48 IQD 628

$0.39 IQD 512

23.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 258

$0.21 IQD 274

-4.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 IQD 2,552

$2.04 IQD 2,675

-4.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 IQD 2,764

$2.67 IQD 3,492

-20.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 IQD 1,465

$1.49 IQD 1,948

-24.83%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 IQD 782

$1.03 IQD 1,346

-41.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,523

$1.60 IQD 2,100

-27.50%

Eggs

$1.46 IQD 1,918

$1.69 IQD 2,219

-13.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.28 IQD 2,984

$5.79 IQD 7,586

-60.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.47 IQD 3,241

$3.43 IQD 4,492

-27.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.57 IQD 13.8K

$14.35 IQD 18.8K

-26.34%

Apples (1kg)

$0.99 IQD 1,300

$1.17 IQD 1,529

-15.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,527

$1.30 IQD 1,703

-10.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 IQD 1,211

$1.26 IQD 1,651

-26.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.58 IQD 764

$0.71 IQD 925

-18.31%

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 IQD 771

$0.67 IQD 875

-11.94%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 861

$0.68 IQD 893

-2.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 IQD 659

$0.59 IQD 772

-15.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 232

$0.45 IQD 589

-60.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.65 IQD 3,464

$1.93 IQD 2,532

37.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.26 IQD 16.1K

$11.63 IQD 15.2K

5.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 IQD 1,802

$1.52 IQD 1,992

-9.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 IQD 2,532

$1.76 IQD 2,305

9.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 484

$0.55 IQD 725

-32.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.51 IQD 39.9K

$23.33 IQD 30.5K

30.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,952

$2.28 IQD 2,983

-1.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 IQD 2,801

$2.29 IQD 2,993

-6.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.31 IQD 6,951

$5.20 IQD 6,812

2.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.33 IQD 426

$0.71 IQD 931

-53.52%

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

$19.5K IQD 25.5M

$21.0K IQD 27.4M

-7.09%

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

$20.2K IQD 26.5M

$20.9K IQD 27.4M

-3.39%

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

$58.2 IQD 76.2K

$76.1 IQD 99.6K

-23.46%

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

$17.75 IQD 23.2K

$16.47 IQD 21.6K

7.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.19 IQD 35.6K

$26.94 IQD 35.3K

0.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.92 IQD 24.8K

$38.52 IQD 50.4K

-50.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.74 IQD 21.9K

$17.02 IQD 22.3K

-1.65%

Cinema Ticket

$3.87 IQD 5,073

$7.47 IQD 9,776

-48.19%

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

$27.04 IQD 35.4K

$154 IQD 201.3K

-82.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$636 IQD 832.7K

$3,465 IQD 4.5M

-81.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.50 IQD 25.5K

$23.94 IQD 31.4K

-18.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.22 IQD 25.2K

$25.45 IQD 33.3K

-24.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.3 IQD 106.4K

$43.60 IQD 57.1K

86.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.50 IQD 34.7K

$36.26 IQD 47.5K

-26.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$246 IQD 321.7K

$236 IQD 309.5K

3.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 IQD 238.4K

$177 IQD 232.3K

2.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$575 IQD 752.4K

$574 IQD 751.2K

0.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$350 IQD 457.7K

$351 IQD 459.5K

-0.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$759 IQD 993.8K

$828 IQD 1.1M

-8.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$190 IQD 249.3K

$571 IQD 748.3K

-66.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$726 IQD 950.9K

$575 IQD 753.3K

26.24%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $246 in Ba'qubah and $236 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ba'qubah pays 26% 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 $140 vs $184 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 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 26% 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: $246 in Ba'qubah versus $236 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 32% 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 17% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.