Cost of Living Comparison Between Mashhad and Sulaymaniyah Cost of Living Comparison Between Mashhad and Sulaymaniyah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $839 in Mashhad versus $750 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,267 in Mashhad versus $1,166 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,695 in Mashhad versus $1,581 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in Mashhad is roughly 12% more expensive than Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mashhad 37% lower, Sulaymaniyah 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.42 IQD 7,106

$5.26 IQD 6,895

3.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.49 IQD 47.8K

$26.81 IQD 35.1K

36.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.47 IQD 9,782

$7.01 IQD 9,182

6.56%

Cappuccino

$3.00 IQD 3,930

$2.64 IQD 3,461

13.64%

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

$0.36 IQD 473

$0.39 IQD 514

-7.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 277

$0.21 IQD 269

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.52 IQD 4,610

$2.07 IQD 2,714

70.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 IQD 3,830

$2.71 IQD 3,550

7.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 IQD 1,803

$1.41 IQD 1,851

-2.13%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,027

$1.02 IQD 1,332

-23.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 IQD 2,149

$1.61 IQD 2,109

1.86%

Eggs

$0.88 IQD 1,155

$1.78 IQD 2,329

-50.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 IQD 5,876

$6.10 IQD 7,998

-26.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.05 IQD 2,689

$3.56 IQD 4,667

-42.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.09 IQD 4,042

$14.01 IQD 18.4K

-77.94%

Apples (1kg)

$0.98 IQD 1,280

$1.17 IQD 1,532

-16.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 IQD 1,585

$1.29 IQD 1,694

-6.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,329

$1.27 IQD 1,662

-20.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 936

$0.73 IQD 957

-2.74%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 852

$0.61 IQD 798

6.56%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 878

$0.67 IQD 879

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 IQD 376

$0.59 IQD 777

-50.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.19 IQD 246

$0.45 IQD 590

-57.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.78 IQD 1,028

$1.94 IQD 2,536

-59.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.47 IQD 17.7K

$11.61 IQD 15.2K

16.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 IQD 2,438

$1.51 IQD 1,975

23.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 IQD 2,755

$1.81 IQD 2,367

16.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 519

$0.55 IQD 715

-27.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.56 IQD 41.3K

$23.16 IQD 30.3K

36.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.73 IQD 4,893

$2.36 IQD 3,096

58.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,931

$2.33 IQD 3,053

-36.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.50 IQD 9,829

$5.46 IQD 7,150

37.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 740

$0.77 IQD 1,006

-27.27%

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

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

-2.58%

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

$20.1K IQD 26.4M

$20.6K IQD 26.9M

-2.15%

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

$177 IQD 232.0K

$76.6 IQD 100.4K

131.19%

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

$26.01 IQD 34.1K

$16.90 IQD 22.1K

53.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.80 IQD 53.5K

$26.27 IQD 34.4K

55.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.02 IQD 47.2K

$39.65 IQD 51.9K

-9.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 IQD 22.2K

$16.92 IQD 22.2K

0.35%

Cinema Ticket

$7.51 IQD 9,834

$7.47 IQD 9,788

0.54%

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

$166 IQD 217.9K

$151 IQD 198.4K

9.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,534 IQD 4.6M

$3,491 IQD 4.6M

1.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.46 IQD 37.3K

$23.36 IQD 30.6K

21.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.31 IQD 39.7K

$24.92 IQD 32.6K

21.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.9 IQD 85.1K

$43.74 IQD 57.3K

48.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.00 IQD 56.3K

$36.40 IQD 47.7K

18.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$239 IQD 313.3K

$240 IQD 315.0K

-0.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 IQD 236.9K

$175 IQD 229.4K

3.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$581 IQD 761.8K

$572 IQD 749.7K

1.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$339 IQD 444.7K

$341 IQD 446.4K

-0.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$810 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$579 IQD 758.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$580 IQD 759.7K

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 Mashhad: April 27, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $239 in Mashhad and $240 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $36.00 in Mashhad vs $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah. Groceries flip the comparison at $132 vs $184, with Mashhad 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

Mashhad vs Sulaymaniyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mashhad and Sulaymaniyah differ by about 12% in total monthly costs ($839 vs $750 including rent). Sulaymaniyah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,259 in Mashhad and $1,126 in Sulaymaniyah to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $239 in Mashhad versus $240 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $166 in Mashhad versus $151 in Sulaymaniyah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Shoppers in Mashhad pay roughly 40% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Sulaymaniyah 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, Mashhad 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 Sulaymaniyah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Mashhad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.