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: $776 in Halabjah versus $750 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,130 in Halabjah versus $1,166 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,483 in Halabjah versus $1,581 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in Halabjah is roughly 3% more expensive than Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Halabjah 42% lower, Sulaymaniyah 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.87 IQD 5,067

$5.26 IQD 6,893

-26.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.30 IQD 25.3K

$26.81 IQD 35.1K

-28.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.58 IQD 9,933

$7.01 IQD 9,180

8.13%

Cappuccino

$1.92 IQD 2,521

$2.64 IQD 3,461

-27.27%

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

$0.40 IQD 519

$0.39 IQD 514

2.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 273

$0.21 IQD 269

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.73 IQD 3,572

$2.07 IQD 2,713

31.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 IQD 3,867

$2.71 IQD 3,549

8.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.62 IQD 816

$1.41 IQD 1,851

-56.03%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,029

$1.02 IQD 1,332

-22.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 IQD 2,090

$1.61 IQD 2,108

-0.62%

Eggs

$1.57 IQD 2,059

$1.78 IQD 2,328

-11.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.62 IQD 6,052

$6.10 IQD 7,996

-24.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.94 IQD 2,537

$3.56 IQD 4,666

-45.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.69 IQD 12.7K

$14.01 IQD 18.4K

-30.84%

Apples (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 992

$1.17 IQD 1,531

-35.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,524

$1.29 IQD 1,693

-10.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 976

$1.27 IQD 1,662

-40.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 899

$0.73 IQD 957

-5.48%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 849

$0.61 IQD 798

6.56%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 835

$0.67 IQD 879

-4.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 IQD 836

$0.59 IQD 777

8.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 862

$0.45 IQD 590

46.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.16 IQD 2,823

$1.94 IQD 2,535

11.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.63 IQD 17.9K

$11.61 IQD 15.2K

17.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 IQD 2,355

$1.51 IQD 1,974

19.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.00 IQD 1,315

$1.81 IQD 2,367

-44.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 521

$0.55 IQD 715

-27.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.29 IQD 41.0K

$23.16 IQD 30.3K

35.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 IQD 1,950

$2.36 IQD 3,096

-36.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 IQD 1,935

$2.33 IQD 3,053

-36.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.32 IQD 3,039

$5.46 IQD 7,149

-57.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 690

$0.77 IQD 1,005

-31.17%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

-0.04%

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

$9,404 IQD 12.3M

$20.6K IQD 26.9M

-54.27%

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

$153 IQD 200.5K

$76.6 IQD 100.3K

99.80%

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

$11.56 IQD 15.1K

$16.90 IQD 22.1K

-31.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.15 IQD 39.5K

$26.27 IQD 34.4K

14.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.79 IQD 48.2K

$39.65 IQD 51.9K

-7.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.49 IQD 21.6K

$16.92 IQD 22.2K

-2.54%

Cinema Ticket

$7.55 IQD 9,895

$7.47 IQD 9,786

1.07%

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

$165 IQD 215.8K

$151 IQD 198.3K

8.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,515 IQD 4.6M

$3,491 IQD 4.6M

0.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$7.43 IQD 9,733

$23.36 IQD 30.6K

-68.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.36 IQD 39.8K

$24.92 IQD 32.6K

21.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.0 IQD 85.1K

$43.74 IQD 57.3K

48.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.98 IQD 57.6K

$36.40 IQD 47.7K

20.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$241 IQD 315.4K

$240 IQD 315.0K

0.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$178 IQD 232.9K

$175 IQD 229.3K

1.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$585 IQD 765.6K

$572 IQD 749.5K

2.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$341 IQD 447.1K

$341 IQD 446.3K

0.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$810 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$579 IQD 758.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$580 IQD 759.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

-37.00%

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

Last update for Halabjah: April 27, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $241 in Halabjah and $240 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $19.00 in Halabjah vs $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $149 vs $184 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 3% in total monthly costs ($776 vs $750 including rent). Sulaymaniyah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,164 in Halabjah and $1,126 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $241 in Halabjah versus $240 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Halabjah pay roughly 24% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Sulaymaniyah – a meal for two runs $27.00 versus $19.00 in Halabjah. 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, 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 Sulaymaniyah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Halabjah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.