Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Sulaymaniyah Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Sulaymaniyah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $717 in Colombo versus $747 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,166 in Colombo versus $1,168 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,615 in Colombo versus $1,589 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in Colombo costs roughly 4% less than in Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Colombo 46% lower, Sulaymaniyah 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.13 LKR 1,381

$5.32 IQD 6,969

-22.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.16 LKR 8,420

$26.82 IQD 35.1K

-6.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.20 LKR 2,744

$7.08 IQD 9,272

15.82%

Cappuccino

$2.66 LKR 890

$2.65 IQD 3,471

0.38%

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

$0.68 LKR 226

$0.37 IQD 481

83.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 LKR 136

$0.18 IQD 236

127.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.39 LKR 800

$2.07 IQD 2,710

15.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 LKR 1,146

$2.73 IQD 3,570

25.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 LKR 579

$1.42 IQD 1,858

21.83%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 LKR 176

$1.03 IQD 1,345

-48.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 LKR 276

$1.60 IQD 2,094

-48.13%

Eggs

$2.23 LKR 746

$1.78 IQD 2,325

25.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.02 LKR 4,690

$5.76 IQD 7,540

143.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.65 LKR 1,557

$3.46 IQD 4,533

34.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.01 LKR 2,681

$14.08 IQD 18.4K

-43.11%

Apples (1kg)

$7.37 LKR 2,466

$1.17 IQD 1,532

529.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 LKR 375

$1.29 IQD 1,691

-13.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.83 LKR 1,952

$1.33 IQD 1,737

338.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 LKR 417

$0.71 IQD 923

76.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 LKR 382

$0.62 IQD 808

83.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 LKR 475

$0.67 IQD 878

111.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 LKR 382

$0.58 IQD 764

96.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 LKR 198

$0.46 IQD 601

28.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.01 LKR 3,351

$1.89 IQD 2,481

429.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.73 LKR 4,259

$11.23 IQD 14.7K

13.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 LKR 706

$1.50 IQD 1,971

40.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 LKR 994

$1.75 IQD 2,287

69.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.14 LKR 48.45

$0.55 IQD 721

-74.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.09 LKR 1,702

$23.10 IQD 30.3K

-77.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 129

$2.36 IQD 3,087

-83.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 110

$2.33 IQD 3,050

-85.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 LKR 201

$5.41 IQD 7,082

-88.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 LKR 420

$0.72 IQD 943

75.00%

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

$26.8K LKR 9.0M

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

28.86%

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

$35.2K LKR 11.8M

$21.0K IQD 27.5M

67.61%

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

$60.5 LKR 20.2K

$76.0 IQD 99.5K

-20.41%

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

$4.27 LKR 1,429

$16.72 IQD 21.9K

-74.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.34 LKR 5,133

$26.19 IQD 34.3K

-41.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.79 LKR 4,948

$38.72 IQD 50.7K

-61.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.11 LKR 2,380

$16.62 IQD 21.8K

-57.22%

Cinema Ticket

$3.28 LKR 1,096

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

-57.84%

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

$37.28 LKR 12.5K

$155 IQD 202.4K

-75.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$444 LKR 148.5K

$3,464 IQD 4.5M

-87.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.15 LKR 9,084

$23.54 IQD 30.8K

15.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.13 LKR 6,402

$25.32 IQD 33.2K

-24.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.7 LKR 23.7K

$44.08 IQD 57.7K

60.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.24 LKR 12.8K

$35.85 IQD 46.9K

6.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$379 LKR 126.9K

$237 IQD 309.9K

60.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$178 LKR 59.6K

$175 IQD 229.7K

1.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$937 LKR 313.6K

$581 IQD 760.3K

61.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$361 LKR 120.7K

$346 IQD 453.6K

4.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,724 LKR 1.2M

$799 IQD 1.0M

366.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,189 LKR 397.7K

$569 IQD 745.3K

108.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$247 LKR 82.8K

$567 IQD 742.3K

-56.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.45

82.78%

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

Last update for Colombo: May 30, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $379 in Colombo and $237 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sulaymaniyah pays 129% 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: $25.00 in Colombo vs $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah. Groceries flip the comparison at $257 vs $182, with Sulaymaniyah cheaper for home cooking.

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

Colombo vs Sulaymaniyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Colombo wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Sulaymaniyah. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Colombo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Sulaymaniyah earns 129% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $379 in Colombo versus $237 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Sulaymaniyah pay roughly 42% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Colombo – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Colombo gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both work as nomad bases, but Colombo delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $717 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Colombo hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Colombo 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 Colombo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.