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: $609 in Kirkuk versus $744 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $960 in Kirkuk versus $1,167 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,311 in Kirkuk versus $1,591 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in Kirkuk costs roughly 18% less than in Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kirkuk 55% lower, Sulaymaniyah 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.80 IQD 4,974

$5.32 IQD 6,971

-28.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.74 IQD 33.7K

$27.03 IQD 35.4K

-4.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.76 IQD 7,540

$6.90 IQD 9,040

-16.52%

Cappuccino

$2.34 IQD 3,064

$2.56 IQD 3,349

-8.59%

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

$0.39 IQD 512

$0.37 IQD 482

5.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 235

$0.21 IQD 277

-14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.41 IQD 4,468

$2.05 IQD 2,683

66.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 IQD 3,782

$2.64 IQD 3,454

9.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 IQD 1,498

$1.42 IQD 1,862

-19.72%

White Bread (500g)

$0.61 IQD 796

$0.98 IQD 1,277

-37.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 IQD 2,182

$1.66 IQD 2,172

0.60%

Eggs

$1.48 IQD 1,941

$1.76 IQD 2,299

-15.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.58 IQD 5,997

$5.80 IQD 7,598

-21.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.85 IQD 3,727

$3.44 IQD 4,501

-17.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.79 IQD 14.1K

$14.30 IQD 18.7K

-24.55%

Apples (1kg)

$0.90 IQD 1,180

$1.23 IQD 1,607

-26.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,334

$1.25 IQD 1,634

-18.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.99 IQD 1,296

$1.26 IQD 1,645

-21.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 843

$0.70 IQD 921

-8.57%

Potato (1kg)

$0.49 IQD 643

$0.63 IQD 821

-22.22%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 IQD 651

$0.64 IQD 844

-21.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 830

$0.54 IQD 711

16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.31 IQD 401

$0.45 IQD 591

-31.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.86 IQD 2,440

$1.89 IQD 2,470

-1.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.54 IQD 17.7K

$11.68 IQD 15.3K

15.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 IQD 2,311

$1.58 IQD 2,072

11.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 IQD 2,760

$1.74 IQD 2,272

21.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 IQD 727

$0.55 IQD 724

1.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.66 IQD 41.5K

$22.87 IQD 29.9K

38.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 IQD 3,832

$2.25 IQD 2,949

30.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.11 IQD 1,451

$2.24 IQD 2,929

-50.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.64 IQD 10.0K

$5.37 IQD 7,033

42.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 697

$0.75 IQD 985

-29.33%

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

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

-1.60%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

-1.73%

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

$52.7 IQD 69.0K

$75.9 IQD 99.4K

-30.62%

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

$23.40 IQD 30.6K

$16.34 IQD 21.4K

43.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.76 IQD 50.8K

$26.04 IQD 34.1K

48.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.67 IQD 19.2K

$39.68 IQD 52.0K

-63.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.09 IQD 22.4K

$16.91 IQD 22.1K

1.06%

Cinema Ticket

$7.50 IQD 9,819

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

-4.46%

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

$58.8 IQD 77.0K

$154 IQD 201.3K

-61.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$780 IQD 1.0M

$3,539 IQD 4.6M

-77.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.28 IQD 37.0K

$24.16 IQD 31.6K

17.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.17 IQD 39.5K

$25.00 IQD 32.7K

20.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.14 IQD 30.3K

$43.01 IQD 56.3K

-46.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$14.72 IQD 19.3K

$35.77 IQD 46.8K

-58.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$73.8 IQD 96.7K

$237 IQD 310.3K

-68.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$109 IQD 142.1K

$181 IQD 236.9K

-40.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$113 IQD 147.8K

$569 IQD 744.6K

-80.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$252 IQD 329.5K

$344 IQD 450.5K

-26.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$866 IQD 1.1M

$805 IQD 1.1M

7.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$398 IQD 520.7K

$587 IQD 768.2K

-32.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$631 IQD 826.1K

$562 IQD 735.6K

12.31%

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 Kirkuk: June 6, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $73.8 in Kirkuk and $237 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kirkuk pays 12% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $26.00 in Kirkuk vs $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $157 vs $183 per month, with Kirkuk 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

Kirkuk vs Sulaymaniyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kirkuk is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Kirkuk pays 12% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $73.8 in Kirkuk versus $237 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $58.8 in Kirkuk versus $154 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 22% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.