Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdadi and Sulaymaniyah Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdadi and Sulaymaniyah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $753 per month in Baghdadi vs $761 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,140 per month in Baghdadi vs $1,176 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,526 per month in Baghdadi vs $1,591 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

Baghdadi is about 1% cheaper than Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Baghdadi and Sulaymaniyah are more affordable than the global median – Baghdadi 43% lower, Sulaymaniyah 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.07 IQD 6,644

$5.42 IQD 7,098

-6.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.69 IQD 21.9K

$26.66 IQD 34.9K

-37.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.03 IQD 9,209

$6.84 IQD 8,953

2.78%

Cappuccino

$1.71 IQD 2,235

$2.65 IQD 3,468

-35.47%

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

$0.43 IQD 562

$0.39 IQD 515

10.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 IQD 342

$0.20 IQD 256

30.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 IQD 3,840

$2.05 IQD 2,681

42.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 IQD 3,808

$2.69 IQD 3,529

8.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 IQD 1,490

$1.46 IQD 1,913

-21.92%

White Bread (500g)

$0.67 IQD 879

$0.99 IQD 1,295

-32.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 IQD 2,929

$1.61 IQD 2,105

39.13%

Eggs

$1.69 IQD 2,215

$1.71 IQD 2,244

-1.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.05 IQD 7,920

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.43 IQD 5,798

$3.53 IQD 4,617

25.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.22 IQD 12.1K

$14.46 IQD 18.9K

-36.24%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,337

$1.17 IQD 1,527

-12.82%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,275

$1.23 IQD 1,615

-21.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,323

$1.28 IQD 1,671

-21.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 IQD 695

$0.75 IQD 985

-29.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.57 IQD 747

$0.67 IQD 871

-14.93%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 832

$0.65 IQD 845

-1.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 IQD 857

$0.55 IQD 715

18.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 IQD 675

$0.45 IQD 586

15.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.72 IQD 2,255

$1.94 IQD 2,543

-11.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.22 IQD 19.9K

$11.56 IQD 15.1K

31.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 IQD 2,425

$1.51 IQD 1,976

22.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 IQD 2,708

$1.73 IQD 2,269

19.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 480

$0.55 IQD 724

-32.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.42 IQD 41.1K

$22.59 IQD 29.6K

39.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,944

$2.27 IQD 2,966

-0.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,925

$2.28 IQD 2,986

-35.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.02 IQD 7,879

$5.21 IQD 6,828

15.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 IQD 748

$0.75 IQD 985

-24.00%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.8M

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

-8.55%

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

$19.6K IQD 25.7M

$21.1K IQD 27.7M

-7.08%

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

$76.3 IQD 99.9K

$77.5 IQD 101.5K

-1.47%

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

$17.46 IQD 22.9K

$16.80 IQD 22.0K

3.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.09 IQD 45.9K

$26.70 IQD 35.0K

31.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.50 IQD 47.8K

$38.57 IQD 50.5K

-5.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.50 IQD 21.6K

$16.67 IQD 21.8K

-1.02%

Cinema Ticket

$7.44 IQD 9,746

$7.48 IQD 9,799

-0.53%

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

$153 IQD 200.0K

$150 IQD 196.2K

1.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,291 IQD 4.3M

$3,550 IQD 4.6M

-7.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.23 IQD 35.7K

$23.44 IQD 30.7K

16.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.11 IQD 32.9K

$24.93 IQD 32.6K

0.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.4 IQD 79.1K

$43.58 IQD 57.1K

38.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.99 IQD 53.7K

$36.28 IQD 47.5K

12.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$240 IQD 313.6K

$235 IQD 308.2K

1.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 IQD 230.6K

$180 IQD 236.2K

-2.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$590 IQD 772.5K

$568 IQD 744.4K

3.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$348 IQD 455.1K

$340 IQD 445.3K

2.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,528 IQD 2.0M

$820 IQD 1.1M

86.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$492 IQD 643.7K

$576 IQD 753.9K

-14.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$509 IQD 665.9K

$570 IQD 746.9K

-10.85%

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 Baghdadi: July 25, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $240 in Baghdadi versus $235 in Sulaymaniyah. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 12% higher in Sulaymaniyah, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Baghdadi versus $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $175 vs $184 – making Baghdadi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Baghdadi vs Sulaymaniyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sulaymaniyah is pricier by about 1%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,129 per month in Baghdadi and $1,142 in Sulaymaniyah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Baghdadi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $753 in Baghdadi and $761 in Sulaymaniyah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 39% less in Baghdadi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $753 in Baghdadi and $761 in Sulaymaniyah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Baghdadi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Baghdadi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sulaymaniyah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.