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: $523 in Kalar versus $752 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $785 in Kalar versus $1,169 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,047 in Kalar versus $1,586 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in Kalar costs roughly 30% 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

$1.96 IQD 2,562

$5.40 IQD 7,068

-63.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.32 IQD 16.1K

$26.96 IQD 35.3K

-54.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.73 IQD 4,890

$6.98 IQD 9,142

-46.56%

Cappuccino

$1.00 IQD 1,311

$2.68 IQD 3,507

-62.69%

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

$0.48 IQD 634

$0.39 IQD 512

23.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 IQD 212

$0.21 IQD 274

-23.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 IQD 2,607

$2.04 IQD 2,675

-2.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,813

$2.67 IQD 3,492

-19.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 IQD 1,376

$1.49 IQD 1,948

-29.53%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,041

$1.03 IQD 1,346

-23.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 IQD 1,977

$1.60 IQD 2,101

-5.63%

Eggs

$1.31 IQD 1,710

$1.69 IQD 2,219

-22.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.42 IQD 4,481

$5.79 IQD 7,586

-40.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.25 IQD 2,944

$3.43 IQD 4,492

-34.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.60 IQD 16.5K

$14.35 IQD 18.8K

-12.20%

Apples (1kg)

$0.95 IQD 1,243

$1.17 IQD 1,529

-18.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,554

$1.30 IQD 1,703

-8.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.94 IQD 1,233

$1.26 IQD 1,651

-25.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.77 IQD 1,003

$0.71 IQD 925

8.45%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 906

$0.67 IQD 875

2.99%

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 917

$0.68 IQD 893

2.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 IQD 958

$0.59 IQD 772

23.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 588

$0.45 IQD 589

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.72 IQD 3,565

$1.93 IQD 2,532

40.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.58 IQD 16.5K

$11.63 IQD 15.2K

8.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 IQD 1,811

$1.52 IQD 1,992

-9.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 IQD 2,529

$1.76 IQD 2,305

9.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 773

$0.55 IQD 725

7.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.84 IQD 40.4K

$23.33 IQD 30.5K

32.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.29 IQD 2,998

$2.28 IQD 2,983

0.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 IQD 2,488

$2.29 IQD 2,993

-17.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.79 IQD 4,957

$5.20 IQD 6,812

-27.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.68 IQD 892

$0.71 IQD 931

-4.23%

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

$17.0K IQD 22.3M

$21.0K IQD 27.5M

-18.94%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

$20.9K IQD 27.4M

-9.26%

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

$53.7 IQD 70.3K

$76.1 IQD 99.6K

-29.40%

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

$13.49 IQD 17.7K

$16.47 IQD 21.6K

-18.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.54 IQD 32.1K

$26.94 IQD 35.3K

-8.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.45 IQD 25.5K

$38.52 IQD 50.4K

-49.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.62 IQD 21.8K

$17.02 IQD 22.3K

-2.35%

Cinema Ticket

$7.60 IQD 9,949

$7.47 IQD 9,776

1.74%

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

$50.1 IQD 65.6K

$154 IQD 201.3K

-67.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,558 IQD 2.0M

$3,465 IQD 4.5M

-55.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$12.57 IQD 16.5K

$23.94 IQD 31.4K

-47.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.16 IQD 18.5K

$25.45 IQD 33.3K

-44.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$27.05 IQD 35.4K

$43.60 IQD 57.1K

-37.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.87 IQD 43.0K

$36.26 IQD 47.5K

-9.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$170 IQD 222.8K

$236 IQD 309.5K

-28.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$105 IQD 137.4K

$177 IQD 232.3K

-40.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$290 IQD 379.7K

$574 IQD 751.2K

-49.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$149 IQD 195.4K

$351 IQD 459.5K

-57.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,310 IQD 4.3M

$828 IQD 1.1M

299.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$459 IQD 601.3K

$571 IQD 748.3K

-19.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$337 IQD 441.5K

$575 IQD 753.3K

-41.39%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $170 in Kalar and $236 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sulaymaniyah pays 71% 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 $156 vs $184 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, salaries run 71% 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: $170 in Kalar versus $236 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 $523 per month in Kalar versus $752 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.