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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $571 per month in Karbala vs $765 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $806 per month in Karbala vs $1,170 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,041 per month in Karbala vs $1,575 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

Karbala is about 25% cheaper than Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Karbala and Sulaymaniyah are more affordable than the global median – Karbala 59% lower, Sulaymaniyah 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.05 IQD 6,619

$4.55 IQD 5,959

10.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.89 IQD 24.7K

$23.34 IQD 30.6K

-19.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.36 IQD 7,023

$6.94 IQD 9,095

-22.77%

Cappuccino

$1.74 IQD 2,272

$2.47 IQD 3,240

-29.55%

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

$0.39 IQD 511

$0.46 IQD 596

-15.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 IQD 364

$0.23 IQD 302

21.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.51 IQD 1,976

$4.48 IQD 5,865

-66.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 IQD 2,673

$2.26 IQD 2,958

-9.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 IQD 1,538

$1.38 IQD 1,803

-15.22%

White Bread (500g)

$0.87 IQD 1,138

$0.90 IQD 1,183

-3.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 IQD 1,754

$1.94 IQD 2,546

-30.93%

Eggs

$1.57 IQD 2,058

$1.70 IQD 2,227

-7.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.45 IQD 8,441

$5.03 IQD 6,585

28.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.98 IQD 5,210

$3.57 IQD 4,682

11.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.58 IQD 13.9K

$16.05 IQD 21.0K

-34.08%

Apples (1kg)

$0.95 IQD 1,243

$1.30 IQD 1,707

-26.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 IQD 1,435

$1.30 IQD 1,696

-15.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.96 IQD 1,261

$1.19 IQD 1,563

-19.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 IQD 663

$0.68 IQD 891

-25.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 844

$0.58 IQD 760

10.34%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 IQD 644

$0.74 IQD 964

-33.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.81 IQD 1,056

$0.71 IQD 933

14.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 IQD 600

$0.50 IQD 651

-8.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.93 IQD 2,531

$2.42 IQD 3,165

-20.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.35 IQD 14.9K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 IQD 2,020

$1.85 IQD 2,429

-16.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 IQD 2,934

$1.67 IQD 2,185

34.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 475

$0.60 IQD 782

-40.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.50 IQD 15.1K

$23.06 IQD 30.2K

-50.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 IQD 1,961

$2.33 IQD 3,046

-35.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 IQD 2,053

$2.35 IQD 3,083

-33.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.86 IQD 10.3K

$5.50 IQD 7,198

42.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 IQD 641

$0.67 IQD 877

-26.87%

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

$8,990 IQD 11.8M

$20.5K IQD 26.8M

-56.12%

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

$16.9K IQD 22.1M

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

-11.53%

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

$69.6 IQD 91.1K

$101 IQD 132.5K

-31.27%

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

$24.50 IQD 32.1K

$11.03 IQD 14.4K

122.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.26 IQD 51.4K

$28.65 IQD 37.5K

37.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.09 IQD 30.2K

$35.86 IQD 47.0K

-35.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.83 IQD 10.3K

$20.57 IQD 26.9K

-61.93%

Cinema Ticket

$7.59 IQD 9,943

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

-3.31%

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

$145 IQD 189.3K

$175 IQD 229.1K

-17.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,899 IQD 3.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.16 IQD 23.8K

$19.45 IQD 25.5K

-6.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.24 IQD 18.6K

$25.14 IQD 32.9K

-43.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$30.45 IQD 39.9K

$42.60 IQD 55.8K

-28.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.7 IQD 82.1K

$37.79 IQD 49.5K

65.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$153 IQD 200.7K

$234 IQD 306.0K

-34.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$77.3 IQD 101.2K

$175 IQD 229.7K

-55.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$300 IQD 392.8K

$513 IQD 672.3K

-41.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$362 IQD 473.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,161 IQD 1.5M

$800 IQD 1.0M

45.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$154 IQD 201.8K

$574 IQD 751.4K

-73.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$395 IQD 516.8K

$572 IQD 749.1K

-31.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.77

73.31%

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

Last update for Karbala: September 6, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $153 in Karbala versus $234 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 45% 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 $19.00 in Karbala versus $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $145 vs $188 – 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 34%, 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 $856 per month in Karbala and $1,147 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 $571 in Karbala and $765 in Sulaymaniyah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 101% 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 $571 in Karbala and $765 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.