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: $607 in Kirkuk versus $761 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $958 in Kirkuk versus $1,176 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,309 in Kirkuk versus $1,591 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in Kirkuk costs roughly 20% 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

$3.79 IQD 4,960

$5.42 IQD 7,098

-30.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.08 IQD 34.1K

$26.66 IQD 34.9K

-2.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.83 IQD 7,629

$6.84 IQD 8,953

-14.77%

Cappuccino

$2.34 IQD 3,067

$2.65 IQD 3,468

-11.70%

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

$0.37 IQD 480

$0.39 IQD 515

-5.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 IQD 246

$0.20 IQD 256

-5.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.41 IQD 4,470

$2.05 IQD 2,681

66.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 IQD 3,726

$2.69 IQD 3,529

5.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 IQD 1,549

$1.46 IQD 1,913

-19.18%

White Bread (500g)

$0.61 IQD 793

$0.99 IQD 1,295

-38.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 IQD 2,156

$1.61 IQD 2,105

2.48%

Eggs

$1.48 IQD 1,936

$1.71 IQD 2,244

-13.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.48 IQD 5,871

$6.05 IQD 7,920

-25.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.79 IQD 3,652

$3.53 IQD 4,617

-20.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.85 IQD 14.2K

$14.46 IQD 18.9K

-24.97%

Apples (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,273

$1.17 IQD 1,527

-17.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,323

$1.23 IQD 1,615

-17.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 IQD 1,346

$1.28 IQD 1,671

-19.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.61 IQD 794

$0.75 IQD 985

-18.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.50 IQD 658

$0.67 IQD 871

-25.37%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 IQD 707

$0.65 IQD 845

-16.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 812

$0.55 IQD 715

12.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.31 IQD 405

$0.45 IQD 586

-31.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.88 IQD 2,464

$1.94 IQD 2,543

-3.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.56 IQD 17.8K

$11.56 IQD 15.1K

17.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 IQD 2,335

$1.51 IQD 1,976

17.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 IQD 2,755

$1.73 IQD 2,269

21.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 IQD 732

$0.55 IQD 724

1.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.90 IQD 40.5K

$22.59 IQD 29.6K

36.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.96 IQD 3,870

$2.27 IQD 2,966

30.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.15 IQD 1,512

$2.28 IQD 2,986

-49.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.44 IQD 9,744

$5.21 IQD 6,828

42.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 IQD 660

$0.75 IQD 985

-33.33%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

-3.53%

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

$19.6K IQD 25.6M

$21.1K IQD 27.7M

-7.34%

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

$53.5 IQD 70.1K

$77.5 IQD 101.5K

-30.94%

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

$22.95 IQD 30.0K

$16.80 IQD 22.0K

36.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.62 IQD 50.6K

$26.70 IQD 35.0K

44.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.45 IQD 18.9K

$38.57 IQD 50.5K

-62.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.99 IQD 22.3K

$16.67 IQD 21.8K

1.92%

Cinema Ticket

$7.46 IQD 9,774

$7.48 IQD 9,799

-0.27%

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

$57.6 IQD 75.4K

$150 IQD 196.2K

-61.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$778 IQD 1.0M

$3,550 IQD 4.6M

-78.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.62 IQD 37.5K

$23.44 IQD 30.7K

22.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.11 IQD 40.7K

$24.93 IQD 32.6K

24.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$22.70 IQD 29.7K

$43.58 IQD 57.1K

-47.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$15.14 IQD 19.8K

$36.28 IQD 47.5K

-58.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$76.3 IQD 99.9K

$235 IQD 308.2K

-67.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$109 IQD 143.3K

$180 IQD 236.2K

-39.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$116 IQD 152.4K

$568 IQD 744.4K

-79.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$254 IQD 332.4K

$340 IQD 445.3K

-25.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$880 IQD 1.2M

$820 IQD 1.1M

7.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$399 IQD 522.1K

$576 IQD 753.9K

-30.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 IQD 831.5K

$570 IQD 746.9K

11.32%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $76.3 in Kirkuk and $235 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kirkuk pays 11% 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 $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 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 11% higher in Kirkuk, 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: $76.3 in Kirkuk versus $235 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $57.6 in Kirkuk versus $150 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 25% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.