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

😐 Solo nomad: Erbil is 30.6% more expensive than Sulaymaniyah without rent, and 36.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Erbil is 23.8% more expensive than Sulaymaniyah without rent, and 28.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Erbil
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.87 IQD 10.3K
$5.43 IQD 7,116
44.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.86 IQD 29.9K
$26.66 IQD 34.9K
-14.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.58 IQD 11.2K
$6.84 IQD 8,958
25.44%
Cappuccino
$3.26 IQD 4,266
$2.65 IQD 3,471
23.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 IQD 674
$0.39 IQD 512
30.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20 IQD 262
$0.21 IQD 280
-4.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.95 IQD 2,547
$2.14 IQD 2,796
-8.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 IQD 2,824
$2.59 IQD 3,395
-16.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Erbil
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.33 IQD 1,745
$1.48 IQD 1,940
-10.14%
White Bread (500g)
$0.80 IQD 1,044
$0.98 IQD 1,278
-18.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.80 IQD 2,359
$1.65 IQD 2,166
9.09%
Eggs
$1.92 IQD 2,508
$1.72 IQD 2,254
11.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.49 IQD 9,801
$5.88 IQD 7,697
27.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.85 IQD 6,345
$3.59 IQD 4,702
35.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.32 IQD 18.8K
$14.14 IQD 18.5K
1.27%
Apples (1kg)
$1.19 IQD 1,554
$1.23 IQD 1,616
-3.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.19 IQD 1,564
$1.24 IQD 1,626
-4.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.19 IQD 1,563
$1.32 IQD 1,725
-9.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.81 IQD 1,059
$0.71 IQD 929
14.08%
Potato (1kg)
$0.67 IQD 880
$0.67 IQD 877
-
Onion (1kg)
$0.75 IQD 982
$0.68 IQD 894
10.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 IQD 968
$0.55 IQD 716
34.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 IQD 742
$0.48 IQD 633
18.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.71 IQD 3,545
$1.86 IQD 2,442
45.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.53 IQD 16.4K
$11.59 IQD 15.2K
8.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 IQD 1,899
$1.51 IQD 1,976
-3.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 IQD 2,654
$1.83 IQD 2,390
10.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Erbil
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.59 IQD 778
$0.56 IQD 730
5.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.17 IQD 46.0K
$22.92 IQD 30.0K
53.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.36 IQD 3,096
$2.36 IQD 3,086
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.31 IQD 3,019
$2.30 IQD 3,011
0.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.79 IQD 8,893
$5.47 IQD 7,164
24.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.65 IQD 845
$0.73 IQD 951
-10.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9K IQD 24.8M
$20.4K IQD 26.7M
-7.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4K IQD 26.7M
$20.9K IQD 27.4M
-2.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Erbil
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$98.8 IQD 129.4K
$76.7 IQD 100.4K
28.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.50 IQD 22.9K
$16.74 IQD 21.9K
4.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.35 IQD 39.7K
$26.75 IQD 35.0K
13.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Erbil
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.9 IQD 96.7K
$39.45 IQD 51.7K
87.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.75 IQD 15.4K
$17.09 IQD 22.4K
-31.25%
Cinema Ticket
$11.31 IQD 14.8K
$7.48 IQD 9,791
51.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Erbil
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$262 IQD 343.1K
$151 IQD 197.1K
74.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,323 IQD 4.4M
$3,494 IQD 4.6M
-4.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Erbil
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.22 IQD 43.5K
$23.76 IQD 31.1K
39.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.02 IQD 62.9K
$25.43 IQD 33.3K
88.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.5 IQD 106.8K
$43.91 IQD 57.5K
85.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.1 IQD 100.9K
$35.90 IQD 47.0K
114.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Erbil
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$430 IQD 562.7K
$234 IQD 306.0K
83.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$276 IQD 361.4K
$178 IQD 232.6K
55.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$724 IQD 947.4K
$573 IQD 750.3K
26.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$496 IQD 649.5K
$338 IQD 443.0K
46.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,111 IQD 1.5M
$803 IQD 1.1M
38.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$653 IQD 854.3K
$582 IQD 762.3K
12.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Erbil
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$566 IQD 741.0K
$572 IQD 749.4K
-1.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
14.33
9
59.22%

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

Last update for Erbil: April 11, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: April 13, 2026

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 other spots: cost of living compared

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