Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Sulaymaniyah Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Sulaymaniyah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Erbil vs $752 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,522 per month in Erbil vs $1,169 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,010 per month in Erbil vs $1,586 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

Erbil costs about 37% more than Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Erbil and Sulaymaniyah are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 23% lower, Sulaymaniyah 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

$5.40 IQD 7,068

42.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.64 IQD 29.6K

$26.96 IQD 35.3K

-16.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.88 IQD 11.6K

$6.98 IQD 9,142

27.22%

Cappuccino

$3.20 IQD 4,189

$2.68 IQD 3,507

19.40%

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

$0.48 IQD 630

$0.39 IQD 512

23.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 262

$0.21 IQD 274

-4.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 IQD 2,523

$2.04 IQD 2,675

-5.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,803

$2.67 IQD 3,492

-19.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,719

$1.49 IQD 1,948

-12.08%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 IQD 1,108

$1.03 IQD 1,346

-17.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 IQD 2,439

$1.60 IQD 2,100

16.25%

Eggs

$1.98 IQD 2,590

$1.69 IQD 2,219

17.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.23 IQD 9,474

$5.79 IQD 7,586

24.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.72 IQD 6,184

$3.43 IQD 4,492

37.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.24 IQD 18.7K

$14.35 IQD 18.8K

-0.77%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,563

$1.17 IQD 1,529

1.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,505

$1.30 IQD 1,703

-11.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,502

$1.26 IQD 1,651

-8.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,057

$0.71 IQD 925

14.08%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 888

$0.67 IQD 875

1.49%

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 980

$0.68 IQD 893

10.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 IQD 952

$0.59 IQD 772

23.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 IQD 742

$0.45 IQD 589

26.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.62 IQD 3,428

$1.93 IQD 2,532

35.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.19 IQD 16.0K

$11.63 IQD 15.2K

4.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 IQD 1,824

$1.52 IQD 1,992

-8.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 IQD 2,579

$1.76 IQD 2,305

11.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 776

$0.55 IQD 725

7.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.14 IQD 46.0K

$23.33 IQD 30.5K

50.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,942

$2.28 IQD 2,983

-1.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 IQD 3,052

$2.29 IQD 2,993

1.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.75 IQD 8,845

$5.20 IQD 6,812

29.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 IQD 849

$0.71 IQD 931

-8.45%

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

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

$21.0K IQD 27.4M

-7.45%

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

$20.8K IQD 27.3M

$20.9K IQD 27.4M

-0.44%

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

$102 IQD 133.2K

$76.1 IQD 99.6K

33.71%

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

$17.42 IQD 22.8K

$16.47 IQD 21.6K

5.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.58 IQD 38.7K

$26.94 IQD 35.3K

9.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.8 IQD 96.6K

$38.52 IQD 50.4K

91.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.55 IQD 15.1K

$17.02 IQD 22.3K

-32.14%

Cinema Ticket

$11.41 IQD 14.9K

$7.47 IQD 9,776

52.74%

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

$263 IQD 343.7K

$154 IQD 201.3K

70.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,250 IQD 4.3M

$3,465 IQD 4.5M

-6.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.46 IQD 43.8K

$23.94 IQD 31.4K

39.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

$25.45 IQD 33.3K

94.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 IQD 106.2K

$43.60 IQD 57.1K

85.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.5 IQD 100.2K

$36.26 IQD 47.5K

110.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$429 IQD 562.2K

$236 IQD 309.5K

81.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$275 IQD 360.3K

$177 IQD 232.3K

55.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$732 IQD 958.5K

$574 IQD 751.2K

27.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$495 IQD 647.8K

$351 IQD 459.5K

40.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,130 IQD 1.5M

$828 IQD 1.1M

36.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$660 IQD 864.4K

$571 IQD 748.3K

15.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$581 IQD 760.9K

$575 IQD 753.3K

1.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.33

59.22%

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

Last update for Erbil: July 12, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $429 in Erbil versus $236 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 1% higher in Erbil, 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 $23.00 in Erbil versus $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah. Groceries tell a different story – $195 in Erbil vs $184 in Sulaymaniyah – so Sulaymaniyah wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Erbil vs Sulaymaniyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Erbil is pricier by about 37%, 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 $1,551 per month in Erbil and $1,128 in Sulaymaniyah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sulaymaniyah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 6% more in Erbil, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Erbil and $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,034 in Erbil and $752 in Sulaymaniyah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Sulaymaniyah – 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 Sulaymaniyah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Erbil makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.