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: $591 in Kirkuk versus $750 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $947 in Kirkuk versus $1,166 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,303 in Kirkuk versus $1,581 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in Kirkuk costs roughly 21% less than in Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kirkuk 56% lower, Sulaymaniyah 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.74 IQD 4,903

$5.26 IQD 6,893

-28.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.51 IQD 33.4K

$26.81 IQD 35.1K

-4.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.59 IQD 7,320

$7.01 IQD 9,180

-20.26%

Cappuccino

$2.26 IQD 2,966

$2.64 IQD 3,461

-14.39%

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

$0.36 IQD 478

$0.39 IQD 514

-7.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 269

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.38 IQD 4,430

$2.07 IQD 2,713

63.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 IQD 3,779

$2.71 IQD 3,549

6.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 IQD 1,506

$1.41 IQD 1,851

-18.44%

White Bread (500g)

$0.61 IQD 804

$1.02 IQD 1,332

-40.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 IQD 2,065

$1.61 IQD 2,108

-1.86%

Eggs

$1.45 IQD 1,895

$1.78 IQD 2,328

-18.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.37 IQD 5,721

$6.10 IQD 7,996

-28.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.84 IQD 3,714

$3.56 IQD 4,666

-20.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.15 IQD 14.6K

$14.01 IQD 18.4K

-20.41%

Apples (1kg)

$0.92 IQD 1,205

$1.17 IQD 1,531

-21.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 IQD 1,397

$1.29 IQD 1,693

-17.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 IQD 1,347

$1.27 IQD 1,662

-18.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 IQD 777

$0.73 IQD 957

-19.18%

Potato (1kg)

$0.50 IQD 653

$0.61 IQD 798

-18.03%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 IQD 661

$0.67 IQD 879

-25.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 826

$0.59 IQD 777

6.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.33 IQD 434

$0.45 IQD 590

-26.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.86 IQD 2,438

$1.94 IQD 2,535

-4.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.35 IQD 17.5K

$11.61 IQD 15.2K

14.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 IQD 2,393

$1.51 IQD 1,974

21.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 IQD 2,763

$1.81 IQD 2,367

16.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.53 IQD 691

$0.55 IQD 715

-3.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.69 IQD 41.5K

$23.16 IQD 30.3K

36.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 IQD 3,821

$2.36 IQD 3,096

23.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.15 IQD 1,508

$2.33 IQD 3,053

-50.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

$5.46 IQD 7,149

40.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 IQD 706

$0.77 IQD 1,005

-29.87%

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

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

0.24%

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

$20.2K IQD 26.4M

$20.6K IQD 26.9M

-1.97%

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

$53.3 IQD 69.8K

$76.6 IQD 100.3K

-30.42%

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

$22.83 IQD 29.9K

$16.90 IQD 22.1K

35.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.06 IQD 49.9K

$26.27 IQD 34.4K

44.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.76 IQD 19.3K

$39.65 IQD 51.9K

-62.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.50 IQD 21.6K

$16.92 IQD 22.2K

-2.48%

Cinema Ticket

$7.66 IQD 10.0K

$7.47 IQD 9,786

2.54%

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

$58.0 IQD 75.9K

$151 IQD 198.3K

-61.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$788 IQD 1.0M

$3,491 IQD 4.6M

-77.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.59 IQD 37.5K

$23.36 IQD 30.6K

22.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.57 IQD 40.0K

$24.92 IQD 32.6K

22.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.18 IQD 30.4K

$43.74 IQD 57.3K

-47.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$15.28 IQD 20.0K

$36.40 IQD 47.7K

-58.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$73.9 IQD 96.8K

$240 IQD 315.0K

-69.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$108 IQD 141.7K

$175 IQD 229.3K

-38.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$116 IQD 152.2K

$572 IQD 749.5K

-79.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$249 IQD 325.5K

$341 IQD 446.3K

-27.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$887 IQD 1.2M

$810 IQD 1.1M

9.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$406 IQD 531.3K

$579 IQD 758.4K

-29.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$636 IQD 832.8K

$580 IQD 759.5K

9.65%

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $73.9 in Kirkuk and $240 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kirkuk pays 10% 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 $158 vs $184 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 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Kirkuk pays 10% 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: $73.9 in Kirkuk versus $240 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $58.0 in Kirkuk versus $151 in Sulaymaniyah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 17% 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 27% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.