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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $655 per month in Karbala vs $761 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $964 per month in Karbala vs $1,176 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,272 per month in Karbala vs $1,591 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

Karbala is about 14% cheaper than Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Karbala and Sulaymaniyah are more affordable than the global median – Karbala 51% lower, Sulaymaniyah 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.05 IQD 6,611

$5.42 IQD 7,098

-6.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.25 IQD 20.0K

$26.66 IQD 34.9K

-42.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.34 IQD 6,993

$6.84 IQD 8,953

-21.93%

Cappuccino

$1.65 IQD 2,157

$2.65 IQD 3,468

-37.74%

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

$0.37 IQD 482

$0.39 IQD 515

-5.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 IQD 394

$0.20 IQD 256

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 IQD 2,550

$2.05 IQD 2,681

-4.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 IQD 3,833

$2.69 IQD 3,529

8.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 IQD 1,548

$1.46 IQD 1,913

-19.18%

White Bread (500g)

$0.69 IQD 909

$0.99 IQD 1,295

-30.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 IQD 1,961

$1.61 IQD 2,105

-6.83%

Eggs

$1.72 IQD 2,251

$1.71 IQD 2,244

0.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.10 IQD 6,674

$6.05 IQD 7,920

-15.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.88 IQD 6,395

$3.53 IQD 4,617

38.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.71 IQD 12.7K

$14.46 IQD 18.9K

-32.85%

Apples (1kg)

$0.92 IQD 1,209

$1.17 IQD 1,527

-21.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 IQD 1,410

$1.23 IQD 1,615

-12.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.98 IQD 1,287

$1.28 IQD 1,671

-23.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 887

$0.75 IQD 985

-9.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 879

$0.67 IQD 871

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 IQD 706

$0.65 IQD 845

-16.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 IQD 742

$0.55 IQD 715

3.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 IQD 828

$0.45 IQD 586

40.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 IQD 2,538

$1.94 IQD 2,543

Wine (Bottle)

$11.56 IQD 15.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 IQD 1,343

$1.51 IQD 1,976

-31.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 IQD 2,824

$1.73 IQD 2,269

24.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 518

$0.55 IQD 724

-27.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.72 IQD 40.2K

$22.59 IQD 29.6K

35.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,048

$2.27 IQD 2,966

2.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 IQD 2,017

$2.28 IQD 2,986

-32.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.79 IQD 10.2K

$5.21 IQD 6,828

49.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 IQD 631

$0.75 IQD 985

-36.00%

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

$11.3K IQD 14.8M

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

-45.34%

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

$14.3K IQD 18.7M

$21.1K IQD 27.7M

-32.27%

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

$72.5 IQD 95.0K

$77.5 IQD 101.5K

-6.36%

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

$24.85 IQD 32.5K

$16.80 IQD 22.0K

47.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.76 IQD 65.2K

$26.70 IQD 35.0K

86.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.79 IQD 29.8K

$38.57 IQD 50.5K

-40.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.58 IQD 21.7K

$16.67 IQD 21.8K

-0.54%

Cinema Ticket

$9.05 IQD 11.8K

$7.48 IQD 9,799

20.99%

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

$128 IQD 168.2K

$150 IQD 196.2K

-14.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$793 IQD 1.0M

$3,550 IQD 4.6M

-77.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.95 IQD 22.2K

$23.44 IQD 30.7K

-27.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.90 IQD 18.2K

$24.93 IQD 32.6K

-44.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$31.10 IQD 40.7K

$43.58 IQD 57.1K

-28.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.10 IQD 42.0K

$36.28 IQD 47.5K

-11.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$255 IQD 333.5K

$235 IQD 308.2K

8.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 IQD 190.2K

$180 IQD 236.2K

-19.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$352 IQD 461.5K

$568 IQD 744.4K

-38.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$245 IQD 321.3K

$340 IQD 445.3K

-27.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,153 IQD 1.5M

$820 IQD 1.1M

40.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$154 IQD 201.4K

$576 IQD 753.9K

-73.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$394 IQD 516.3K

$570 IQD 746.9K

-30.87%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $255 in Karbala versus $235 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 $15.00 in Karbala versus $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $141 vs $184 – 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 16%, 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 $983 per month in Karbala and $1,142 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 $655 in Karbala and $761 in Sulaymaniyah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 36% 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 $655 in Karbala and $761 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.