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: $519 in Kalar versus $747 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $776 in Kalar versus $1,168 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,034 in Kalar versus $1,589 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in Kalar costs roughly 31% less than in Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kalar 61% lower, Sulaymaniyah 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.86 IQD 2,435

$5.32 IQD 6,969

-65.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.16 IQD 15.9K

$26.82 IQD 35.1K

-54.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.61 IQD 4,722

$7.08 IQD 9,272

-49.01%

Cappuccino

$1.04 IQD 1,365

$2.65 IQD 3,471

-60.75%

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

$0.49 IQD 637

$0.37 IQD 481

32.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.15 IQD 200

$0.18 IQD 236

-16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 IQD 2,528

$2.07 IQD 2,710

-6.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 IQD 2,700

$2.73 IQD 3,570

-24.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 IQD 1,374

$1.42 IQD 1,858

-26.06%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 IQD 1,107

$1.03 IQD 1,345

-17.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 IQD 2,042

$1.60 IQD 2,094

-2.50%

Eggs

$1.32 IQD 1,730

$1.78 IQD 2,325

-25.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.52 IQD 4,604

$5.76 IQD 7,540

-38.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.35 IQD 3,079

$3.46 IQD 4,533

-32.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.29 IQD 16.1K

$14.08 IQD 18.4K

-12.71%

Apples (1kg)

$0.92 IQD 1,204

$1.17 IQD 1,532

-21.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,495

$1.29 IQD 1,691

-11.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 IQD 1,309

$1.33 IQD 1,737

-24.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 980

$0.71 IQD 923

5.63%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 920

$0.62 IQD 808

12.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 IQD 941

$0.67 IQD 878

7.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 IQD 934

$0.58 IQD 764

22.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.44 IQD 581

$0.46 IQD 601

-4.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.65 IQD 3,468

$1.89 IQD 2,481

40.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.66 IQD 16.6K

$11.23 IQD 14.7K

12.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 IQD 1,877

$1.50 IQD 1,971

-4.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 IQD 2,550

$1.75 IQD 2,287

11.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 776

$0.55 IQD 721

7.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.03 IQD 40.6K

$23.10 IQD 30.3K

34.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,054

$2.36 IQD 3,087

-1.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 IQD 2,456

$2.33 IQD 3,050

-19.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.79 IQD 4,966

$5.41 IQD 7,082

-29.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 IQD 840

$0.72 IQD 943

-11.11%

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

$16.9K IQD 22.2M

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

-18.58%

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

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

$21.0K IQD 27.5M

-10.44%

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

$54.5 IQD 71.3K

$76.0 IQD 99.5K

-28.36%

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

$13.55 IQD 17.7K

$16.72 IQD 21.9K

-18.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.89 IQD 31.3K

$26.19 IQD 34.3K

-8.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.20 IQD 25.1K

$38.72 IQD 50.7K

-50.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 IQD 22.4K

$16.62 IQD 21.8K

3.13%

Cinema Ticket

$7.55 IQD 9,881

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

-2.96%

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

$52.0 IQD 68.1K

$155 IQD 202.4K

-66.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,522 IQD 2.0M

$3,464 IQD 4.5M

-56.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$12.83 IQD 16.8K

$23.54 IQD 30.8K

-45.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.93 IQD 18.2K

$25.32 IQD 33.2K

-44.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$26.51 IQD 34.7K

$44.08 IQD 57.7K

-39.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.27 IQD 42.3K

$35.85 IQD 46.9K

-9.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$174 IQD 228.0K

$237 IQD 309.9K

-26.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$105 IQD 137.0K

$175 IQD 229.7K

-40.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$282 IQD 368.6K

$581 IQD 760.3K

-51.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$146 IQD 190.5K

$346 IQD 453.6K

-57.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,312 IQD 4.3M

$799 IQD 1.0M

314.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$456 IQD 597.7K

$569 IQD 745.3K

-19.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$337 IQD 441.8K

$567 IQD 742.3K

-40.48%

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 Kalar: May 31, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $174 in Kalar and $237 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sulaymaniyah pays 68% 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 $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $157 vs $182 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 44% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Sulaymaniyah earns 68% less. 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: $174 in Kalar versus $237 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 $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $519 per month in Kalar versus $747 in Sulaymaniyah – a 44% 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 44% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.