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: $1,054 in Baghdad versus $747 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,592 in Baghdad versus $1,168 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,130 in Baghdad versus $1,589 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 41% more expensive than Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 21% lower, Sulaymaniyah 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.48 IQD 7,181

$5.32 IQD 6,969

3.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.97 IQD 48.4K

$26.82 IQD 35.1K

37.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.57 IQD 9,909

$7.08 IQD 9,272

6.92%

Cappuccino

$3.06 IQD 4,003

$2.65 IQD 3,471

15.47%

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

$0.40 IQD 518

$0.37 IQD 481

8.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 242

$0.18 IQD 236

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.42 IQD 4,485

$2.07 IQD 2,710

65.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 IQD 3,853

$2.73 IQD 3,570

7.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,726

$1.42 IQD 1,858

-7.04%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,017

$1.03 IQD 1,345

-24.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 IQD 2,166

$1.60 IQD 2,094

3.12%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,350

$1.78 IQD 2,325

0.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 IQD 5,763

$5.76 IQD 7,540

-23.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.07 IQD 6,636

$3.46 IQD 4,533

46.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.34 IQD 18.8K

$14.08 IQD 18.4K

1.85%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,612

$1.17 IQD 1,532

5.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,530

$1.29 IQD 1,691

-9.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,329

$1.33 IQD 1,737

-24.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 922

$0.71 IQD 923

-1.41%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 911

$0.62 IQD 808

12.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 835

$0.67 IQD 878

-4.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 822

$0.58 IQD 764

8.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 871

$0.46 IQD 601

43.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.11 IQD 2,765

$1.89 IQD 2,481

11.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.35 IQD 17.5K

$11.23 IQD 14.7K

18.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 IQD 2,301

$1.50 IQD 1,971

17.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,815

$1.75 IQD 2,287

22.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 IQD 1,027

$0.55 IQD 721

41.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.60 IQD 37.4K

$23.10 IQD 30.3K

23.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.88 IQD 5,087

$2.36 IQD 3,087

64.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,923

$2.33 IQD 3,050

-36.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

$5.41 IQD 7,082

45.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 737

$0.72 IQD 943

-22.22%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

-2.22%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

$21.0K IQD 27.5M

-5.15%

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

$181 IQD 237.4K

$76.0 IQD 99.5K

138.49%

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

$25.40 IQD 33.3K

$16.72 IQD 21.9K

51.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.16 IQD 52.6K

$26.19 IQD 34.3K

53.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 IQD 54.1K

$38.72 IQD 50.7K

6.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.43 IQD 24.1K

$16.62 IQD 21.8K

10.89%

Cinema Ticket

$7.82 IQD 10.2K

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

0.51%

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

$163 IQD 213.2K

$155 IQD 202.4K

5.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,573 IQD 4.7M

$3,464 IQD 4.5M

3.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.57 IQD 37.4K

$23.54 IQD 30.8K

21.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.72 IQD 40.2K

$25.32 IQD 33.2K

21.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.4 IQD 83.0K

$44.08 IQD 57.7K

43.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.53 IQD 57.0K

$35.85 IQD 46.9K

21.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$540 IQD 707.6K

$237 IQD 309.9K

128.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$321 IQD 420.5K

$175 IQD 229.7K

83.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$818 IQD 1.1M

$581 IQD 760.3K

40.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$580 IQD 759.9K

$346 IQD 453.6K

67.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,034 IQD 5.3M

$799 IQD 1.0M

405.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,617 IQD 2.1M

$569 IQD 745.3K

184.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$642 IQD 841.2K

$567 IQD 742.3K

13.32%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $540 in Baghdad and $237 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 13% 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 $191 vs $182 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 41% 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.

Baghdad pays 13% 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: $540 in Baghdad versus $237 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 24% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $163 in Baghdad versus $155 in Sulaymaniyah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $747 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,054 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 41% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.