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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $743 per month in Baghdadi vs $750 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,118 per month in Baghdadi vs $1,166 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,492 per month in Baghdadi vs $1,581 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 44% lower, Sulaymaniyah 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.03 IQD 6,587

$5.26 IQD 6,893

-4.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.32 IQD 22.7K

$26.81 IQD 35.1K

-35.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.91 IQD 9,055

$7.01 IQD 9,180

-1.43%

Cappuccino

$1.75 IQD 2,286

$2.64 IQD 3,461

-33.71%

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

$0.42 IQD 553

$0.39 IQD 514

7.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 IQD 314

$0.21 IQD 269

14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.98 IQD 3,904

$2.07 IQD 2,713

43.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 IQD 3,658

$2.71 IQD 3,549

2.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 IQD 1,432

$1.41 IQD 1,851

-22.70%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 IQD 819

$1.02 IQD 1,332

-39.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.29 IQD 2,996

$1.61 IQD 2,108

42.24%

Eggs

$1.76 IQD 2,309

$1.78 IQD 2,328

-1.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.76 IQD 7,544

$6.10 IQD 7,996

-5.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.53 IQD 5,929

$3.56 IQD 4,666

27.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 IQD 12.3K

$14.01 IQD 18.4K

-32.76%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 IQD 1,346

$1.17 IQD 1,531

-11.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,328

$1.29 IQD 1,693

-21.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,330

$1.27 IQD 1,662

-19.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 IQD 691

$0.73 IQD 957

-27.40%

Potato (1kg)

$0.54 IQD 707

$0.61 IQD 798

-11.48%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 884

$0.67 IQD 879

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 IQD 835

$0.59 IQD 777

8.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 IQD 631

$0.45 IQD 590

6.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.77 IQD 2,316

$1.94 IQD 2,535

-8.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.64 IQD 17.9K

$11.61 IQD 15.2K

17.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,349

$1.51 IQD 1,974

18.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 IQD 2,843

$1.81 IQD 2,367

19.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 480

$0.55 IQD 715

-32.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.34 IQD 41.1K

$23.16 IQD 30.3K

35.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.34 IQD 3,067

$2.36 IQD 3,096

-0.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 IQD 2,010

$2.33 IQD 3,053

-34.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.98 IQD 7,837

$5.46 IQD 7,149

9.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 699

$0.77 IQD 1,005

-31.17%

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

$19.2K IQD 25.2M

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

-5.26%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.0M

$20.6K IQD 26.9M

-3.34%

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

$77.0 IQD 100.8K

$76.6 IQD 100.3K

0.51%

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

$17.90 IQD 23.4K

$16.90 IQD 22.1K

5.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.87 IQD 45.7K

$26.27 IQD 34.4K

32.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.02 IQD 48.5K

$39.65 IQD 51.9K

-6.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.75 IQD 21.9K

$16.92 IQD 22.2K

-1.00%

Cinema Ticket

$7.75 IQD 10.2K

$7.47 IQD 9,786

3.75%

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

$153 IQD 200.8K

$151 IQD 198.3K

1.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,309 IQD 4.3M

$3,491 IQD 4.6M

-5.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.55 IQD 36.1K

$23.36 IQD 30.6K

17.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.49 IQD 33.4K

$24.92 IQD 32.6K

2.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.3 IQD 80.3K

$43.74 IQD 57.3K

40.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.54 IQD 54.4K

$36.40 IQD 47.7K

14.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$246 IQD 321.6K

$240 IQD 315.0K

2.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 IQD 231.7K

$175 IQD 229.3K

1.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$574 IQD 752.2K

$572 IQD 749.5K

0.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$345 IQD 452.0K

$341 IQD 446.3K

1.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,479 IQD 1.9M

$810 IQD 1.1M

82.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$502 IQD 658.1K

$579 IQD 758.4K

-13.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$491 IQD 643.6K

$580 IQD 759.5K

-15.26%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $246 in Baghdadi versus $240 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 $17.00 in Baghdadi versus $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $171 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 $1,115 per month in Baghdadi and $1,126 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 $743 in Baghdadi and $750 in Sulaymaniyah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 35% 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 $743 in Baghdadi and $750 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.