Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Sulaymaniyah Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Sulaymaniyah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,066 in Baghdad versus $752 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,598 in Baghdad versus $1,169 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,130 in Baghdad versus $1,586 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 42% more expensive than in Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 20% lower, Sulaymaniyah 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.30 IQD 6,947

$5.40 IQD 7,068

-1.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.81 IQD 48.2K

$26.96 IQD 35.3K

36.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$6.98 IQD 9,142

11.46%

Cappuccino

$3.11 IQD 4,074

$2.68 IQD 3,507

16.04%

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

$0.40 IQD 522

$0.39 IQD 512

2.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 233

$0.21 IQD 274

-14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.49 IQD 4,576

$2.04 IQD 2,675

71.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 IQD 3,686

$2.67 IQD 3,492

5.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,722

$1.49 IQD 1,948

-12.08%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 IQD 1,100

$1.03 IQD 1,346

-18.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 IQD 2,152

$1.60 IQD 2,100

2.50%

Eggs

$1.81 IQD 2,364

$1.69 IQD 2,219

7.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.52 IQD 5,923

$5.79 IQD 7,586

-21.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.86 IQD 6,364

$3.43 IQD 4,492

41.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.16 IQD 18.5K

$14.35 IQD 18.8K

-1.32%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,615

$1.17 IQD 1,529

5.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,519

$1.30 IQD 1,703

-10.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,366

$1.26 IQD 1,651

-17.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 984

$0.71 IQD 925

5.63%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 843

$0.67 IQD 875

-4.48%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 873

$0.68 IQD 893

-1.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 828

$0.59 IQD 772

6.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 858

$0.45 IQD 589

46.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.07 IQD 2,707

$1.93 IQD 2,532

7.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.33 IQD 17.5K

$11.63 IQD 15.2K

14.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 IQD 2,354

$1.52 IQD 1,992

18.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 IQD 2,762

$1.76 IQD 2,305

19.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 IQD 965

$0.55 IQD 725

34.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.86 IQD 36.5K

$23.33 IQD 30.5K

19.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.72 IQD 4,870

$2.28 IQD 2,983

63.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 IQD 2,026

$2.29 IQD 2,993

-32.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.49 IQD 9,803

$5.20 IQD 6,812

44.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 700

$0.71 IQD 931

-25.35%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

$21.0K IQD 27.4M

-4.47%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$20.9K IQD 27.4M

-2.85%

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

$175 IQD 229.3K

$76.1 IQD 99.6K

130.20%

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

$26.17 IQD 34.3K

$16.47 IQD 21.6K

58.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.52 IQD 53.1K

$26.94 IQD 35.3K

50.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.04 IQD 55.1K

$38.52 IQD 50.4K

9.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.31 IQD 24.0K

$17.02 IQD 22.3K

7.58%

Cinema Ticket

$7.49 IQD 9,813

$7.47 IQD 9,776

0.27%

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

$166 IQD 217.8K

$154 IQD 201.3K

8.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,526 IQD 4.6M

$3,465 IQD 4.5M

1.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.00 IQD 36.7K

$23.94 IQD 31.4K

16.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.12 IQD 39.4K

$25.45 IQD 33.3K

18.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.9 IQD 83.7K

$43.60 IQD 57.1K

46.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.06 IQD 56.4K

$36.26 IQD 47.5K

18.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$548 IQD 717.9K

$236 IQD 309.5K

131.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$323 IQD 422.7K

$177 IQD 232.3K

81.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$834 IQD 1.1M

$574 IQD 751.2K

45.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$597 IQD 781.1K

$351 IQD 459.5K

70.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,734 IQD 6.2M

$828 IQD 1.1M

471.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,570 IQD 2.1M

$571 IQD 748.3K

174.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$629 IQD 823.2K

$575 IQD 753.3K

9.29%

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 Baghdad: July 14, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $548 in Baghdad and $236 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 9% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $37.00 in Baghdad vs $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $184 per month, with Sulaymaniyah 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

Baghdad vs Sulaymaniyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sulaymaniyah wins on cost – living expenses run 42% lower than in Baghdad. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Sulaymaniyah the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 9% higher in Baghdad, 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: $548 in Baghdad versus $236 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Sulaymaniyah runs roughly 19% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $166 in Baghdad versus $154 in Sulaymaniyah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $752 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,066 in Baghdad, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sulaymaniyah but tight or insufficient in Baghdad. The gap between the two cities makes Sulaymaniyah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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, Baghdad 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 Sulaymaniyah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.