Cost of Living Comparison Between Karbala and Sulaymaniyah Cost of Living Comparison Between Karbala and Sulaymaniyah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $661 per month in Karbala vs $744 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $973 per month in Karbala vs $1,167 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,284 per month in Karbala vs $1,591 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

Karbala is about 11% cheaper than Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Karbala and Sulaymaniyah are more affordable than the global median – Karbala 51% lower, Sulaymaniyah 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.06 IQD 6,623

$5.32 IQD 6,971

-4.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.13 IQD 19.8K

$27.03 IQD 35.4K

-44.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.25 IQD 6,881

$6.90 IQD 9,040

-23.91%

Cappuccino

$1.58 IQD 2,071

$2.56 IQD 3,349

-38.28%

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

$0.36 IQD 474

$0.37 IQD 482

-2.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 IQD 395

$0.21 IQD 277

42.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.94 IQD 2,538

$2.05 IQD 2,683

-5.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 IQD 3,653

$2.64 IQD 3,454

5.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 IQD 1,475

$1.42 IQD 1,862

-20.42%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 912

$0.98 IQD 1,277

-28.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.44 IQD 1,891

$1.66 IQD 2,172

-13.25%

Eggs

$1.80 IQD 2,360

$1.76 IQD 2,299

2.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.00 IQD 6,548

$5.80 IQD 7,598

-13.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.70 IQD 6,155

$3.44 IQD 4,501

36.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.57 IQD 12.5K

$14.30 IQD 18.7K

-33.08%

Apples (1kg)

$0.99 IQD 1,301

$1.23 IQD 1,607

-19.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,364

$1.25 IQD 1,634

-16.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 IQD 1,205

$1.26 IQD 1,645

-26.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 889

$0.70 IQD 921

-2.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 841

$0.63 IQD 821

1.59%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 IQD 659

$0.64 IQD 844

-21.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 IQD 791

$0.54 IQD 711

11.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 IQD 759

$0.45 IQD 591

28.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.96 IQD 2,572

$1.89 IQD 2,470

3.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.68 IQD 15.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 IQD 1,323

$1.58 IQD 2,072

-36.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 IQD 2,733

$1.74 IQD 2,272

20.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 511

$0.55 IQD 724

-29.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.63 IQD 40.1K

$22.87 IQD 29.9K

33.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.27 IQD 2,974

$2.25 IQD 2,949

0.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 IQD 1,939

$2.24 IQD 2,929

-33.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.80 IQD 10.2K

$5.37 IQD 7,033

45.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.51 IQD 674

$0.75 IQD 985

-32.00%

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

$11.5K IQD 15.1M

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

-44.32%

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

$14.3K IQD 18.7M

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

-30.86%

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

$72.7 IQD 95.2K

$75.9 IQD 99.4K

-4.24%

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

$24.73 IQD 32.4K

$16.34 IQD 21.4K

51.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.57 IQD 64.9K

$26.04 IQD 34.1K

90.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.23 IQD 30.4K

$39.68 IQD 52.0K

-41.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.00 IQD 22.3K

$16.91 IQD 22.1K

0.53%

Cinema Ticket

$9.05 IQD 11.8K

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

15.29%

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

$126 IQD 165.1K

$154 IQD 201.3K

-18.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$769 IQD 1.0M

$3,539 IQD 4.6M

-78.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.18 IQD 22.5K

$24.16 IQD 31.6K

-28.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.76 IQD 18.0K

$25.00 IQD 32.7K

-44.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$30.58 IQD 40.0K

$43.01 IQD 56.3K

-28.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.20 IQD 42.2K

$35.77 IQD 46.8K

-9.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$251 IQD 328.7K

$237 IQD 310.3K

5.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$148 IQD 193.9K

$181 IQD 236.9K

-18.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$346 IQD 453.1K

$569 IQD 744.6K

-39.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$244 IQD 319.0K

$344 IQD 450.5K

-29.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,157 IQD 1.5M

$805 IQD 1.1M

43.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$152 IQD 198.8K

$587 IQD 768.2K

-74.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$395 IQD 516.8K

$562 IQD 735.6K

-29.74%

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 Karbala: June 8, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $251 in Karbala versus $237 in Sulaymaniyah. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 42% higher in Sulaymaniyah, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Karbala versus $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $138 vs $183 – making Karbala the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Karbala vs Sulaymaniyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sulaymaniyah is pricier by about 13%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $991 per month in Karbala and $1,116 in Sulaymaniyah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Karbala, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $661 in Karbala and $744 in Sulaymaniyah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 34% less in Karbala. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $661 in Karbala and $744 in Sulaymaniyah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Karbala – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Karbala. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sulaymaniyah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.