Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and Sulaymaniyah Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and Sulaymaniyah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $962 in Basra versus $774 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,458 in Basra versus $1,198 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,955 in Basra versus $1,623 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in Basra is roughly 24% more expensive than in Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Basra 30% lower, Sulaymaniyah 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.60 IQD 6,028

$4.68 IQD 6,133

-1.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.03 IQD 39.3K

$22.61 IQD 29.6K

32.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.50 IQD 9,827

$6.95 IQD 9,102

7.91%

Cappuccino

$2.56 IQD 3,351

$2.37 IQD 3,097

8.02%

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

$0.46 IQD 604

$0.42 IQD 553

9.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 IQD 454

$0.21 IQD 274

66.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.85 IQD 5,048

$4.67 IQD 6,119

-17.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.31 IQD 5,640

$2.31 IQD 3,029

86.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 IQD 1,460

$1.35 IQD 1,768

-17.78%

White Bread (500g)

$0.64 IQD 844

$0.91 IQD 1,191

-29.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 IQD 1,836

$2.01 IQD 2,636

-30.35%

Eggs

$1.87 IQD 2,452

$1.68 IQD 2,201

11.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.57 IQD 9,914

$4.99 IQD 6,531

51.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.38 IQD 8,353

$3.56 IQD 4,658

79.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.01 IQD 18.3K

$15.68 IQD 20.5K

-10.65%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 IQD 1,343

$1.32 IQD 1,728

-21.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 IQD 1,802

$1.29 IQD 1,686

6.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.99 IQD 1,292

$1.20 IQD 1,568

-17.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 904

$0.70 IQD 919

-1.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.79 IQD 1,033

$0.59 IQD 778

33.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 824

$0.68 IQD 893

-7.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 IQD 1,146

$0.72 IQD 937

20.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 IQD 539

$0.50 IQD 650

-18.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.12 IQD 2,779

$2.40 IQD 3,148

-11.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.75 IQD 8,839

$11.54 IQD 15.1K

-41.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.10 IQD 4,058

$1.95 IQD 2,560

58.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.83 IQD 5,020

$1.67 IQD 2,193

129.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 716

$0.55 IQD 722

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.45 IQD 25.5K

$23.03 IQD 30.2K

-15.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.22 IQD 2,910

$2.36 IQD 3,087

-5.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.34 IQD 3,059

$2.26 IQD 2,961

3.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.44 IQD 9,746

$5.33 IQD 6,982

39.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.55 IQD 722

$0.67 IQD 879

-17.91%

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

$13.2K IQD 17.3M

$20.4K IQD 26.6M

-35.21%

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

$23.0K IQD 30.2M

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

18.57%

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

$49.68 IQD 65.1K

$99.6 IQD 130.4K

-50.10%

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

$25.37 IQD 33.2K

$11.01 IQD 14.4K

130.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.02 IQD 51.1K

$29.26 IQD 38.3K

33.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.29 IQD 47.5K

$36.07 IQD 47.2K

0.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.74 IQD 18.0K

$20.49 IQD 26.8K

-32.94%

Cinema Ticket

$7.70 IQD 10.1K

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

0.13%

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

$127 IQD 165.9K

$176 IQD 231.1K

-28.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,845 IQD 5.0M

$2,969 IQD 3.9M

29.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.73 IQD 65.1K

$18.91 IQD 24.8K

162.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.19 IQD 26.4K

$25.92 IQD 33.9K

-22.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.4 IQD 104.0K

$42.61 IQD 55.8K

86.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.95 IQD 54.9K

$37.42 IQD 49.0K

12.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$469 IQD 614.4K

$229 IQD 300.2K

104.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$339 IQD 443.5K

$177 IQD 231.7K

91.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$860 IQD 1.1M

$499 IQD 653.5K

72.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$628 IQD 822.0K

$357 IQD 466.9K

76.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,564 IQD 2.0M

$813 IQD 1.1M

92.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$800 IQD 1.0M

$582 IQD 761.8K

37.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$769 IQD 1.0M

$563 IQD 737.4K

36.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

5.77

-1.73%

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

Last update for Basra: August 29, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $469 in Basra and $229 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Basra pays 37% 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: $30.00 in Basra vs $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $197 vs $188 per month, with Sulaymaniyah cheaper across the board.

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

Basra vs Sulaymaniyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Basra and Sulaymaniyah differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($962 vs $774 including rent). Sulaymaniyah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 37% higher in Basra, 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: $469 in Basra versus $229 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Basra. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Sulaymaniyah – a meal for two runs $23.00 versus $30.00 in Basra. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Sulaymaniyah gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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, Basra 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 24% less than in Basra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.