Cost of Living Comparison Between Kalar and Sulaymaniyah Cost of Living Comparison Between Kalar and Sulaymaniyah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $545 in Kalar versus $765 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $826 in Kalar versus $1,170 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,106 in Kalar versus $1,575 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in Kalar costs roughly 29% less than in Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kalar 60% lower, Sulaymaniyah 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.86 IQD 2,434

$4.55 IQD 5,959

-59.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.41 IQD 16.3K

$23.34 IQD 30.6K

-46.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.64 IQD 4,770

$6.94 IQD 9,095

-47.55%

Cappuccino

$0.99 IQD 1,299

$2.47 IQD 3,240

-59.92%

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

$0.52 IQD 683

$0.46 IQD 596

13.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.14 IQD 184

$0.23 IQD 302

-39.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.03 IQD 7,902

$4.48 IQD 5,865

34.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.48 IQD 5,873

$2.26 IQD 2,958

98.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 IQD 1,441

$1.38 IQD 1,803

-20.29%

White Bread (500g)

$0.76 IQD 996

$0.90 IQD 1,183

-15.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 IQD 2,021

$1.94 IQD 2,546

-20.62%

Eggs

$1.32 IQD 1,728

$1.70 IQD 2,227

-22.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.48 IQD 4,558

$5.03 IQD 6,585

-30.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.24 IQD 2,930

$3.57 IQD 4,682

-37.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.24 IQD 16.0K

$16.05 IQD 21.0K

-23.74%

Apples (1kg)

$0.94 IQD 1,228

$1.30 IQD 1,707

-27.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,504

$1.30 IQD 1,696

-11.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.94 IQD 1,226

$1.19 IQD 1,563

-21.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,059

$0.68 IQD 891

19.12%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 928

$0.58 IQD 760

22.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 916

$0.74 IQD 964

-5.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,025

$0.71 IQD 933

9.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 IQD 528

$0.50 IQD 651

-20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.52 IQD 3,296

$2.42 IQD 3,165

4.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.62 IQD 16.5K

$11.35 IQD 14.9K

11.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 IQD 2,191

$1.85 IQD 2,429

-9.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,818

$1.67 IQD 2,185

28.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 716

$0.60 IQD 782

-8.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.21 IQD 39.6K

$23.06 IQD 30.2K

31.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 IQD 2,440

$2.33 IQD 3,046

-20.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 IQD 2,355

$2.35 IQD 3,083

-23.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.78 IQD 4,947

$5.50 IQD 7,198

-31.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 875

$0.67 IQD 877

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

$16.7K IQD 21.8M

$20.5K IQD 26.8M

-18.63%

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

$18.7K IQD 24.5M

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

-2.11%

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

$52.8 IQD 69.2K

$101 IQD 132.5K

-47.79%

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

$13.44 IQD 17.6K

$11.03 IQD 14.4K

21.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.92 IQD 31.3K

$28.65 IQD 37.5K

-16.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.01 IQD 24.9K

$35.86 IQD 47.0K

-46.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.34 IQD 50.2K

$20.57 IQD 26.9K

86.39%

Cinema Ticket

$7.79 IQD 10.2K

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

-0.76%

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

$50.8 IQD 66.5K

$175 IQD 229.1K

-70.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,532 IQD 2.0M

$2,899 IQD 3.8M

-47.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$12.97 IQD 17.0K

$19.45 IQD 25.5K

-33.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.14 IQD 18.5K

$25.14 IQD 32.9K

-43.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$26.37 IQD 34.5K

$42.60 IQD 55.8K

-38.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.17 IQD 42.1K

$37.79 IQD 49.5K

-14.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$171 IQD 224.5K

$234 IQD 306.0K

-26.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$106 IQD 138.8K

$175 IQD 229.7K

-39.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$281 IQD 367.7K

$513 IQD 672.3K

-45.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$148 IQD 193.9K

$362 IQD 473.7K

-59.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,286 IQD 4.3M

$800 IQD 1.0M

310.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$451 IQD 591.1K

$574 IQD 751.4K

-21.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$343 IQD 448.8K

$572 IQD 749.1K

-40.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.53

5.77

-56.15%

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

Last update for Kalar: September 7, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $171 in Kalar and $234 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sulaymaniyah pays 67% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $12.00 in Kalar vs $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $157 vs $188 per month, with Kalar 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

Kalar vs Sulaymaniyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kalar is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 40% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 67% lower in Sulaymaniyah. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $171 in Kalar versus $234 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Kalar – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $545 per month in Kalar versus $765 in Sulaymaniyah – a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Kalar 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, Kalar 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 Kalar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.