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: $1,148 in Baghdad versus $774 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,708 in Baghdad versus $1,198 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,269 in Baghdad versus $1,623 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 48% more expensive than in Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 16% lower, Sulaymaniyah 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.81 IQD 6,302

$4.68 IQD 6,133

2.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.76 IQD 44.2K

$22.61 IQD 29.6K

49.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.68 IQD 10.1K

$6.95 IQD 9,102

10.50%

Cappuccino

$3.07 IQD 4,018

$2.37 IQD 3,097

29.54%

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

$0.40 IQD 520

$0.42 IQD 553

-4.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 IQD 342

$0.21 IQD 274

23.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.89 IQD 5,091

$4.67 IQD 6,119

-16.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 IQD 4,906

$2.31 IQD 3,029

62.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 IQD 1,424

$1.35 IQD 1,768

-19.26%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,091

$0.91 IQD 1,191

-8.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 IQD 2,005

$2.01 IQD 2,636

-23.88%

Eggs

$1.89 IQD 2,473

$1.68 IQD 2,201

12.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.80 IQD 4,971

$4.99 IQD 6,531

-23.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.58 IQD 5,992

$3.56 IQD 4,658

28.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.59 IQD 19.1K

$15.68 IQD 20.5K

-6.95%

Apples (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,492

$1.32 IQD 1,728

-13.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 IQD 1,399

$1.29 IQD 1,686

-17.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,391

$1.20 IQD 1,568

-11.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 971

$0.70 IQD 919

5.71%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 860

$0.59 IQD 778

11.86%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 843

$0.68 IQD 893

-5.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 827

$0.72 IQD 937

-12.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 IQD 920

$0.50 IQD 650

40.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.83 IQD 2,400

$2.40 IQD 3,148

-23.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.65 IQD 17.9K

$11.54 IQD 15.1K

18.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 IQD 2,890

$1.95 IQD 2,560

13.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 IQD 2,861

$1.67 IQD 2,193

30.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 IQD 854

$0.55 IQD 722

18.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.62 IQD 29.6K

$23.03 IQD 30.2K

-1.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.32 IQD 3,037

$2.36 IQD 3,087

-1.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 IQD 2,025

$2.26 IQD 2,961

-31.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.79 IQD 10.2K

$5.33 IQD 6,982

46.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 IQD 801

$0.67 IQD 879

-8.96%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

$20.4K IQD 26.6M

-6.42%

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

$19.2K IQD 25.1M

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

-1.44%

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

$213 IQD 278.8K

$99.6 IQD 130.4K

113.90%

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

$20.99 IQD 27.5K

$11.01 IQD 14.4K

90.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.26 IQD 55.3K

$29.26 IQD 38.3K

44.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.87 IQD 61.4K

$36.07 IQD 47.2K

29.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.00 IQD 28.8K

$20.49 IQD 26.8K

7.37%

Cinema Ticket

$10.57 IQD 13.8K

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

37.45%

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

$165 IQD 216.6K

$176 IQD 231.1K

-6.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,462 IQD 4.5M

$2,969 IQD 3.9M

16.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.18 IQD 39.5K

$18.91 IQD 24.8K

59.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.06 IQD 49.8K

$25.92 IQD 33.9K

46.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 IQD 95.5K

$42.61 IQD 55.8K

71.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.63 IQD 62.4K

$37.42 IQD 49.0K

27.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$575 IQD 753.1K

$229 IQD 300.2K

150.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$350 IQD 457.9K

$177 IQD 231.7K

97.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$959 IQD 1.3M

$499 IQD 653.5K

92.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$687 IQD 899.8K

$357 IQD 466.8K

92.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,743 IQD 6.2M

$813 IQD 1.1M

483.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,576 IQD 2.1M

$582 IQD 761.8K

170.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$604 IQD 791.2K

$563 IQD 737.4K

7.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

5.77

-28.60%

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

Last update for Baghdad: August 30, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $575 in Baghdad and $229 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 7% 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: $34.00 in Baghdad vs $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah. Groceries flip the comparison at $188 vs $188, with Baghdad cheaper for home cooking.

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 48% 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 7% 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: $575 in Baghdad versus $229 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 2% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $165 in Baghdad versus $176 in Sulaymaniyah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $774 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,148 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 48% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.