Cost of Living Comparison Between Halabjah and Sulaymaniyah Cost of Living Comparison Between Halabjah and Sulaymaniyah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $568 in Halabjah versus $765 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $840 in Halabjah versus $1,170 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,111 in Halabjah versus $1,575 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in Halabjah costs roughly 26% less than in Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Halabjah 59% lower, Sulaymaniyah 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.91 IQD 5,119

$4.55 IQD 5,959

-14.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.06 IQD 25.0K

$23.34 IQD 30.6K

-18.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.46 IQD 9,770

$6.94 IQD 9,095

7.49%

Cappuccino

$1.87 IQD 2,450

$2.47 IQD 3,240

-24.29%

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

$0.40 IQD 518

$0.46 IQD 596

-13.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 IQD 344

$0.23 IQD 302

13.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.68 IQD 3,513

$4.48 IQD 5,865

-40.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 IQD 5,123

$2.26 IQD 2,958

73.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.59 IQD 776

$1.38 IQD 1,803

-57.25%

White Bread (500g)

$0.77 IQD 1,010

$0.90 IQD 1,183

-14.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 IQD 2,086

$1.94 IQD 2,546

-18.04%

Eggs

$1.55 IQD 2,025

$1.70 IQD 2,227

-8.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.90 IQD 5,102

$5.03 IQD 6,585

-22.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.88 IQD 2,456

$3.57 IQD 4,682

-47.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.74 IQD 12.7K

$16.05 IQD 21.0K

-39.31%

Apples (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 978

$1.30 IQD 1,707

-42.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 IQD 1,413

$1.30 IQD 1,696

-16.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.78 IQD 1,020

$1.19 IQD 1,563

-34.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.77 IQD 1,013

$0.68 IQD 891

13.24%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 923

$0.58 IQD 760

20.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 900

$0.74 IQD 964

-6.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 IQD 892

$0.71 IQD 933

-4.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 863

$0.50 IQD 651

32.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.82 IQD 2,390

$2.42 IQD 3,165

-24.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.41 IQD 17.6K

$11.35 IQD 14.9K

18.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 IQD 2,479

$1.85 IQD 2,429

2.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.99 IQD 1,295

$1.67 IQD 2,185

-40.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 479

$0.60 IQD 782

-38.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.06 IQD 30.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.57 IQD 2,051

$2.33 IQD 3,046

-32.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 IQD 1,972

$2.35 IQD 3,083

-35.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.26 IQD 2,955

$5.50 IQD 7,198

-58.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 IQD 802

$0.67 IQD 877

-8.96%

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

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

$20.5K IQD 26.8M

-5.50%

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

$9,559 IQD 12.5M

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

-49.98%

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

$151 IQD 198.2K

$101 IQD 132.5K

49.57%

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

$11.50 IQD 15.1K

$11.03 IQD 14.4K

4.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.26 IQD 39.6K

$28.65 IQD 37.5K

5.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.68 IQD 29.7K

$35.86 IQD 47.0K

-36.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.57 IQD 26.9K

Cinema Ticket

$10.58 IQD 13.9K

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

34.78%

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

$165 IQD 215.8K

$175 IQD 229.1K

-5.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,524 IQD 4.6M

$2,899 IQD 3.8M

21.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$7.48 IQD 9,801

$19.45 IQD 25.5K

-61.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.69 IQD 49.4K

$25.14 IQD 32.9K

49.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.7 IQD 97.8K

$42.60 IQD 55.8K

75.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.82 IQD 61.3K

$37.79 IQD 49.5K

23.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$234 IQD 306.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 IQD 672.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$362 IQD 473.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$800 IQD 1.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$574 IQD 751.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$572 IQD 749.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

5.77

-28.60%

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

Last update for Halabjah: September 7, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $19.00 in Halabjah vs $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $146 vs $188 per month, with Halabjah 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

Halabjah vs Sulaymaniyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Halabjah and Sulaymaniyah differ by about 35% in total monthly costs ($568 vs $765 including rent). Halabjah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $852 in Halabjah and $1,147 in Sulaymaniyah to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Childcare runs $165 in Halabjah versus $175 in Sulaymaniyah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Halabjah – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Halabjah 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, Halabjah 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 Halabjah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.