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: $789 in Halabjah versus $744 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,158 in Halabjah versus $1,167 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,527 in Halabjah versus $1,591 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in Halabjah is roughly 6% more expensive than Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Halabjah 41% lower, Sulaymaniyah 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.94 IQD 5,154

$5.32 IQD 6,971

-25.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.14 IQD 25.1K

$27.03 IQD 35.4K

-29.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 IQD 10.3K

$6.90 IQD 9,040

13.91%

Cappuccino

$1.89 IQD 2,469

$2.56 IQD 3,349

-26.17%

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

$0.39 IQD 512

$0.37 IQD 482

5.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 IQD 213

$0.21 IQD 277

-23.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.67 IQD 3,493

$2.05 IQD 2,683

30.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 IQD 3,686

$2.64 IQD 3,454

6.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.63 IQD 821

$1.42 IQD 1,862

-55.63%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 IQD 1,052

$0.98 IQD 1,277

-18.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 IQD 2,079

$1.66 IQD 2,172

-4.22%

Eggs

$1.57 IQD 2,054

$1.76 IQD 2,299

-10.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.56 IQD 5,967

$5.80 IQD 7,598

-21.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.96 IQD 2,564

$3.44 IQD 4,501

-43.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.73 IQD 12.7K

$14.30 IQD 18.7K

-31.96%

Apples (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 985

$1.23 IQD 1,607

-39.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,558

$1.25 IQD 1,634

-4.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.79 IQD 1,029

$1.26 IQD 1,645

-37.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 900

$0.70 IQD 921

-1.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 899

$0.63 IQD 821

9.52%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 815

$0.64 IQD 844

-3.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 817

$0.54 IQD 711

14.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 IQD 852

$0.45 IQD 591

44.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.16 IQD 2,825

$1.89 IQD 2,470

14.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.61 IQD 17.8K

$11.68 IQD 15.3K

16.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 IQD 2,417

$1.58 IQD 2,072

17.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 IQD 1,195

$1.74 IQD 2,272

-47.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 518

$0.55 IQD 724

-27.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.16 IQD 40.8K

$22.87 IQD 29.9K

36.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.57 IQD 2,056

$2.25 IQD 2,949

-30.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 IQD 2,018

$2.24 IQD 2,929

-31.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.28 IQD 2,979

$5.37 IQD 7,033

-57.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 IQD 744

$0.75 IQD 985

-24.00%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

-1.98%

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

$9,469 IQD 12.4M

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

-54.12%

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

$156 IQD 203.7K

$75.9 IQD 99.4K

104.86%

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

$11.38 IQD 14.9K

$16.34 IQD 21.4K

-30.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.92 IQD 39.2K

$26.04 IQD 34.1K

14.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.53 IQD 47.8K

$39.68 IQD 52.0K

-7.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.50 IQD 21.6K

$16.91 IQD 22.1K

-2.42%

Cinema Ticket

$7.51 IQD 9,839

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

-4.33%

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

$168 IQD 220.0K

$154 IQD 201.3K

9.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,549 IQD 4.6M

$3,539 IQD 4.6M

0.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$7.62 IQD 9,980

$24.16 IQD 31.6K

-68.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.20 IQD 39.6K

$25.00 IQD 32.7K

20.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.6 IQD 85.9K

$43.01 IQD 56.3K

52.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.79 IQD 57.3K

$35.77 IQD 46.8K

22.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$245 IQD 320.5K

$237 IQD 310.3K

3.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$178 IQD 232.7K

$181 IQD 236.9K

-1.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$570 IQD 746.0K

$569 IQD 744.6K

0.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$349 IQD 457.0K

$344 IQD 450.5K

1.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$805 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$587 IQD 768.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$562 IQD 735.6K

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $245 in Halabjah and $237 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 $183 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 6% in total monthly costs ($789 vs $744 including rent). Sulaymaniyah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,183 in Halabjah and $1,116 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: $245 in Halabjah versus $237 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Halabjah pay roughly 23% 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 6% less than in Halabjah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.