Cost of Living Comparison Between Kirkuk and Sulaymaniyah Cost of Living Comparison Between Kirkuk and Sulaymaniyah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $633 in Kirkuk versus $780 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,002 in Kirkuk versus $1,178 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,372 in Kirkuk versus $1,576 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in Kirkuk costs roughly 19% less than in Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kirkuk 54% lower, Sulaymaniyah 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.18 IQD 5,473

$4.50 IQD 5,898

-7.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.43 IQD 34.6K

$23.28 IQD 30.5K

13.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.04 IQD 7,911

$7.07 IQD 9,261

-14.57%

Cappuccino

$2.35 IQD 3,076

$2.43 IQD 3,183

-3.29%

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

$0.39 IQD 516

$0.45 IQD 593

-13.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 IQD 328

$0.21 IQD 274

19.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.86 IQD 5,054

$4.70 IQD 6,160

-17.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 IQD 5,121

$2.33 IQD 3,048

67.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 IQD 1,425

$1.33 IQD 1,740

-18.05%

White Bread (500g)

$0.65 IQD 850

$0.98 IQD 1,283

-33.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 IQD 2,031

$1.91 IQD 2,507

-18.85%

Eggs

$1.53 IQD 2,002

$1.76 IQD 2,299

-13.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.79 IQD 4,963

$4.95 IQD 6,477

-23.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.68 IQD 4,821

$3.55 IQD 4,645

3.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.80 IQD 16.8K

$15.75 IQD 20.6K

-18.73%

Apples (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,061

$1.32 IQD 1,724

-38.64%

Banana (1kg)

$0.92 IQD 1,208

$1.30 IQD 1,701

-29.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 IQD 1,176

$1.15 IQD 1,500

-21.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 895

$0.70 IQD 911

-2.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.53 IQD 701

$0.55 IQD 721

-3.64%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 IQD 703

$0.69 IQD 901

-21.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 IQD 804

$0.68 IQD 890

-10.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 IQD 446

$0.53 IQD 689

-35.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.79 IQD 2,343

$2.46 IQD 3,218

-27.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.44 IQD 17.6K

$11.60 IQD 15.2K

15.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 IQD 1,982

$1.87 IQD 2,450

-19.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 IQD 2,469

$1.70 IQD 2,232

11.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 522

$0.55 IQD 725

-27.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.41 IQD 30.7K

$22.88 IQD 30.0K

2.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,943

$2.33 IQD 3,045

-3.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 IQD 1,944

$2.24 IQD 2,936

-33.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.46 IQD 9,764

$5.47 IQD 7,168

36.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 IQD 704

$0.72 IQD 944

-25.00%

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

$19.2K IQD 25.1M

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

-6.88%

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

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

0.38%

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

$53.9 IQD 70.5K

$101 IQD 131.6K

-46.43%

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

$21.46 IQD 28.1K

$10.98 IQD 14.4K

95.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.64 IQD 55.8K

$28.50 IQD 37.3K

49.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$11.25 IQD 14.7K

$35.99 IQD 47.1K

-68.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.18 IQD 26.4K

Cinema Ticket

$10.62 IQD 13.9K

$7.54 IQD 9,871

40.85%

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

$171 IQD 223.5K

$176 IQD 231.1K

-3.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,434 IQD 4.5M

$2,879 IQD 3.8M

19.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.15 IQD 39.5K

$19.43 IQD 25.4K

55.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.18 IQD 25.1K

$25.44 IQD 33.3K

-24.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.2 IQD 97.2K

$42.51 IQD 55.7K

74.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$34.21 IQD 44.8K

$38.09 IQD 49.9K

-10.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$190 IQD 248.7K

$226 IQD 296.1K

-16.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$90.7 IQD 118.8K

$173 IQD 226.6K

-47.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$233 IQD 305.5K

$506 IQD 662.1K

-53.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$225 IQD 294.4K

$363 IQD 474.9K

-38.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$574 IQD 752.2K

$831 IQD 1.1M

-30.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$308 IQD 403.0K

$587 IQD 768.7K

-47.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$442 IQD 579.2K

$580 IQD 759.1K

-23.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

5.77

-28.60%

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

Last update for Kirkuk: September 14, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $190 in Kirkuk and $226 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sulaymaniyah pays 31% 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: $26.00 in Kirkuk vs $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah. Groceries flip the comparison at $162 vs $188, with Kirkuk cheaper for home cooking.

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

Kirkuk vs Sulaymaniyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kirkuk is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 31% 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: $190 in Kirkuk versus $226 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $171 in Kirkuk versus $176 in Sulaymaniyah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Sulaymaniyah. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Kirkuk 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, Kirkuk 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 Kirkuk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.