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: $769 in Halabjah versus $761 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,137 in Halabjah versus $1,176 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,505 in Halabjah versus $1,591 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in Halabjah is roughly 1% more expensive than in Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Halabjah 42% lower, Sulaymaniyah 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.81 IQD 4,987

$5.42 IQD 7,098

-29.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.17 IQD 25.1K

$26.66 IQD 34.9K

-28.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.51 IQD 9,836

$6.84 IQD 8,953

9.80%

Cappuccino

$1.88 IQD 2,461

$2.65 IQD 3,468

-29.06%

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

$0.37 IQD 478

$0.39 IQD 515

-5.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 236

$0.20 IQD 256

-10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.69 IQD 3,525

$2.05 IQD 2,681

31.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 IQD 3,843

$2.69 IQD 3,529

8.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.60 IQD 785

$1.46 IQD 1,913

-58.90%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 IQD 975

$0.99 IQD 1,295

-25.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 IQD 2,182

$1.61 IQD 2,105

3.73%

Eggs

$1.56 IQD 2,041

$1.71 IQD 2,244

-8.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.48 IQD 5,861

$6.05 IQD 7,920

-25.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.90 IQD 2,482

$3.53 IQD 4,617

-46.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.92 IQD 13.0K

$14.46 IQD 18.9K

-31.40%

Apples (1kg)

$0.79 IQD 1,041

$1.17 IQD 1,527

-32.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,508

$1.23 IQD 1,615

-6.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.78 IQD 1,026

$1.28 IQD 1,671

-39.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 978

$0.75 IQD 985

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 838

$0.67 IQD 871

-4.48%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 812

$0.65 IQD 845

-4.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 IQD 887

$0.55 IQD 715

23.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 IQD 857

$0.45 IQD 586

44.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 IQD 2,724

$1.94 IQD 2,543

7.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.40 IQD 17.5K

$11.56 IQD 15.1K

15.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 IQD 2,315

$1.51 IQD 1,976

17.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 IQD 1,274

$1.73 IQD 2,269

-43.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 481

$0.55 IQD 724

-32.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.55 IQD 40.0K

$22.59 IQD 29.6K

35.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.56 IQD 2,049

$2.27 IQD 2,966

-31.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,929

$2.28 IQD 2,986

-35.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.23 IQD 2,922

$5.21 IQD 6,828

-57.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 IQD 703

$0.75 IQD 985

-28.00%

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

$19.6K IQD 25.7M

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

-5.38%

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

$9,610 IQD 12.6M

$21.1K IQD 27.7M

-54.53%

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

$155 IQD 203.5K

$77.5 IQD 101.5K

100.57%

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

$11.69 IQD 15.3K

$16.80 IQD 22.0K

-30.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.40 IQD 38.5K

$26.70 IQD 35.0K

10.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.79 IQD 48.2K

$38.57 IQD 50.5K

-4.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.03 IQD 22.3K

$16.67 IQD 21.8K

2.16%

Cinema Ticket

$7.48 IQD 9,793

$7.48 IQD 9,799

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

$167 IQD 218.1K

$150 IQD 196.2K

11.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,531 IQD 4.6M

$3,550 IQD 4.6M

-0.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$7.56 IQD 9,904

$23.44 IQD 30.7K

-67.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.80 IQD 40.3K

$24.93 IQD 32.6K

23.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.9 IQD 85.0K

$43.58 IQD 57.1K

48.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.35 IQD 56.8K

$36.28 IQD 47.5K

19.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$241 IQD 315.2K

$235 IQD 308.2K

2.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 IQD 237.7K

$180 IQD 236.2K

0.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$578 IQD 757.4K

$568 IQD 744.4K

1.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$340 IQD 445.7K

$340 IQD 445.3K

0.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$820 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$576 IQD 753.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$570 IQD 746.9K

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $241 in Halabjah and $235 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 $148 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 1% in total monthly costs ($769 vs $761 including rent). Sulaymaniyah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,154 in Halabjah and $1,142 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 $235 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 1% less than in Halabjah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.