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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $472 per month in Baghdadi vs $780 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $766 per month in Baghdadi vs $1,178 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,059 per month in Baghdadi vs $1,576 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

Baghdadi is about 39% cheaper than Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Baghdadi and Sulaymaniyah are more affordable than the global median – Baghdadi 65% lower, Sulaymaniyah 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.66 IQD 10.0K

$4.50 IQD 5,898

70.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.10 IQD 18.5K

$23.28 IQD 30.5K

-39.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.07 IQD 9,261

Cappuccino

$1.85 IQD 2,420

$2.43 IQD 3,183

-23.87%

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

$0.38 IQD 501

$0.45 IQD 593

-15.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 273

$0.21 IQD 274

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.70 IQD 6,159

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 IQD 3,048

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 IQD 1,331

$1.33 IQD 1,740

-23.31%

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 IQD 643

$0.98 IQD 1,283

-50.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.68 IQD 3,511

$1.91 IQD 2,507

40.31%

Eggs

$1.84 IQD 2,412

$1.76 IQD 2,299

4.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.77 IQD 8,859

$4.95 IQD 6,477

36.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.29 IQD 4,311

$3.55 IQD 4,645

-7.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.09 IQD 10.6K

$15.75 IQD 20.6K

-48.63%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 IQD 1,348

$1.32 IQD 1,723

-21.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,331

$1.30 IQD 1,701

-21.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,333

$1.15 IQD 1,500

-11.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.24 IQD 314

$0.70 IQD 911

-65.71%

Potato (1kg)

$0.24 IQD 314

$0.55 IQD 721

-56.36%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 822

$0.69 IQD 901

-8.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 IQD 686

$0.68 IQD 890

-23.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 IQD 755

$0.53 IQD 689

9.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.01 IQD 1,324

$2.46 IQD 3,218

-58.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.10 IQD 19.8K

$11.60 IQD 15.2K

30.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 IQD 2,450

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 IQD 2,232

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 IQD 375

$0.55 IQD 725

-47.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.88 IQD 30.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.96 IQD 6,501

$2.33 IQD 3,045

112.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.24 IQD 2,936

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.94 IQD 9,094

$5.47 IQD 7,168

26.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.42 IQD 546

$0.72 IQD 944

-41.67%

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

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

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

$49.70 IQD 65.1K

$101 IQD 131.6K

-50.56%

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

$10.98 IQD 14.4K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.76 IQD 19.3K

$28.50 IQD 37.3K

-48.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.3 IQD 77.7K

$35.99 IQD 47.1K

64.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.18 IQD 26.4K

Cinema Ticket

$8.10 IQD 10.6K

$7.54 IQD 9,871

7.43%

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

$78.6 IQD 102.9K

$176 IQD 231.0K

-55.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,014 IQD 6.6M

$2,879 IQD 3.8M

74.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.04 IQD 19.7K

$19.43 IQD 25.4K

-22.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.44 IQD 33.3K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$24.60 IQD 32.2K

$42.51 IQD 55.7K

-42.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.57 IQD 51.8K

$38.09 IQD 49.9K

3.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$153 IQD 200.3K

$226 IQD 296.1K

-32.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$49.10 IQD 64.3K

$173 IQD 226.6K

-71.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$457 IQD 598.6K

$506 IQD 662.0K

-9.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$152 IQD 199.1K

$363 IQD 474.9K

-58.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,507 IQD 2.0M

$831 IQD 1.1M

81.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$499 IQD 652.8K

$587 IQD 768.7K

-15.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$491 IQD 643.1K

$580 IQD 759.1K

-15.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.77

73.31%

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

Last update for Baghdadi: September 14, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $153 in Baghdadi versus $226 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 18% 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 $14.00 in Baghdadi versus $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $152 vs $188 – 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 65%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $709 per month in Baghdadi and $1,171 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Baghdadi and $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 24% more in Sulaymaniyah, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $472 in Baghdadi and $780 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.