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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $737 per month in Baghdadi vs $744 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,137 per month in Baghdadi vs $1,167 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,537 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 45% lower, Sulaymaniyah 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.88 IQD 6,388

$5.32 IQD 6,971

-8.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.69 IQD 21.9K

$27.03 IQD 35.4K

-38.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.90 IQD 9,042

$6.90 IQD 9,040

Cappuccino

$1.76 IQD 2,308

$2.56 IQD 3,349

-31.25%

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

$0.42 IQD 549

$0.37 IQD 482

13.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 IQD 313

$0.21 IQD 277

14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 IQD 3,827

$2.05 IQD 2,683

42.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 IQD 3,735

$2.64 IQD 3,454

7.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 IQD 1,490

$1.42 IQD 1,862

-19.72%

White Bread (500g)

$0.63 IQD 826

$0.98 IQD 1,277

-35.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 IQD 2,935

$1.66 IQD 2,172

34.94%

Eggs

$1.69 IQD 2,219

$1.76 IQD 2,299

-3.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.74 IQD 7,517

$5.80 IQD 7,598

-1.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.38 IQD 5,735

$3.44 IQD 4,501

27.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.05 IQD 11.9K

$14.30 IQD 18.7K

-36.71%

Apples (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,273

$1.23 IQD 1,607

-21.14%

Banana (1kg)

$0.98 IQD 1,288

$1.25 IQD 1,634

-21.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,328

$1.26 IQD 1,645

-19.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 IQD 744

$0.70 IQD 921

-18.57%

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 IQD 737

$0.63 IQD 821

-11.11%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 829

$0.64 IQD 844

-1.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 IQD 920

$0.54 IQD 711

29.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 IQD 629

$0.45 IQD 591

6.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.80 IQD 2,357

$1.89 IQD 2,470

-4.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.12 IQD 19.8K

$11.68 IQD 15.3K

29.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 IQD 2,385

$1.58 IQD 2,072

15.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 IQD 2,826

$1.74 IQD 2,272

24.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 477

$0.55 IQD 724

-34.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.64 IQD 40.1K

$22.87 IQD 29.9K

33.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.31 IQD 3,030

$2.25 IQD 2,949

2.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 IQD 1,932

$2.24 IQD 2,929

-33.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.98 IQD 7,835

$5.37 IQD 7,033

11.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 IQD 740

$0.75 IQD 985

-24.00%

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

$19.3K IQD 25.2M

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

-7.04%

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

$20.2K IQD 26.4M

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

-2.31%

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

$77.4 IQD 101.4K

$75.9 IQD 99.4K

1.94%

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

$17.78 IQD 23.3K

$16.34 IQD 21.4K

8.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.54 IQD 45.2K

$26.04 IQD 34.1K

32.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.46 IQD 47.7K

$39.68 IQD 52.0K

-8.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.04 IQD 22.3K

$16.91 IQD 22.1K

0.77%

Cinema Ticket

$7.75 IQD 10.2K

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

-1.27%

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

$149 IQD 194.9K

$154 IQD 201.3K

-3.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,218 IQD 4.2M

$3,539 IQD 4.6M

-9.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.30 IQD 35.7K

$24.16 IQD 31.6K

13.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.13 IQD 32.9K

$25.00 IQD 32.7K

0.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.7 IQD 79.5K

$43.01 IQD 56.3K

41.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.54 IQD 54.4K

$35.77 IQD 46.8K

16.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$242 IQD 317.1K

$237 IQD 310.3K

2.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 IQD 237.7K

$181 IQD 236.9K

0.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 IQD 765.4K

$569 IQD 744.6K

2.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$345 IQD 452.2K

$344 IQD 450.5K

0.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,524 IQD 2.0M

$805 IQD 1.1M

89.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$506 IQD 662.5K

$587 IQD 768.2K

-13.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$498 IQD 652.7K

$562 IQD 735.6K

-11.26%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $242 in Baghdadi versus $237 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 13% 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: $173 vs $183 – 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 $1,106 per month in Baghdadi and $1,116 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 $737 in Baghdadi and $744 in Sulaymaniyah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 34% 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 $737 in Baghdadi and $744 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.