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: $846 in Mashhad versus $744 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,280 in Mashhad versus $1,167 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,715 in Mashhad versus $1,591 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in Mashhad is roughly 14% more expensive than Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mashhad 37% lower, Sulaymaniyah 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.27 IQD 6,898

$5.32 IQD 6,971

-0.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.40 IQD 47.7K

$27.03 IQD 35.4K

34.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 IQD 10.3K

$6.90 IQD 9,040

13.62%

Cappuccino

$2.95 IQD 3,858

$2.56 IQD 3,349

15.23%

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

$0.37 IQD 483

$0.37 IQD 482

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 234

$0.21 IQD 277

-14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.50 IQD 4,577

$2.05 IQD 2,683

70.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 IQD 3,648

$2.64 IQD 3,454

5.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 IQD 1,741

$1.42 IQD 1,862

-6.34%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 IQD 1,111

$0.98 IQD 1,277

-13.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 IQD 2,151

$1.66 IQD 2,172

-1.20%

Eggs

$0.88 IQD 1,146

$1.76 IQD 2,299

-50.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.55 IQD 5,952

$5.80 IQD 7,598

-21.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.98 IQD 2,591

$3.44 IQD 4,501

-42.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.91 IQD 3,815

$14.30 IQD 18.7K

-79.65%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 IQD 1,346

$1.23 IQD 1,607

-16.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 IQD 1,588

$1.25 IQD 1,634

-3.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,332

$1.26 IQD 1,645

-19.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.72 IQD 944

$0.70 IQD 921

2.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 894

$0.63 IQD 821

7.94%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 836

$0.64 IQD 844

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 IQD 410

$0.54 IQD 711

-42.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 234

$0.45 IQD 591

-60.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.82 IQD 1,076

$1.89 IQD 2,470

-56.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.74 IQD 18.0K

$11.68 IQD 15.3K

17.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 IQD 2,319

$1.58 IQD 2,072

12.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 IQD 2,739

$1.74 IQD 2,272

20.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 478

$0.55 IQD 724

-34.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.92 IQD 40.5K

$22.87 IQD 29.9K

35.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.74 IQD 4,891

$2.25 IQD 2,949

66.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 IQD 1,942

$2.24 IQD 2,929

-33.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

$5.37 IQD 7,033

43.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 IQD 752

$0.75 IQD 985

-24.00%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

-3.91%

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

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

-4.16%

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

$175 IQD 228.7K

$75.9 IQD 99.4K

130.00%

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

$25.69 IQD 33.6K

$16.34 IQD 21.4K

57.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.27 IQD 54.0K

$26.04 IQD 34.1K

58.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.23 IQD 47.4K

$39.68 IQD 52.0K

-8.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.85 IQD 22.1K

$16.91 IQD 22.1K

-0.35%

Cinema Ticket

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

-0.51%

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

$163 IQD 212.9K

$154 IQD 201.3K

5.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,529 IQD 4.6M

$3,539 IQD 4.6M

-0.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.31 IQD 37.1K

$24.16 IQD 31.6K

17.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.46 IQD 39.9K

$25.00 IQD 32.7K

21.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.1 IQD 85.2K

$43.01 IQD 56.3K

51.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.88 IQD 57.5K

$35.77 IQD 46.8K

22.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$243 IQD 318.3K

$237 IQD 310.3K

2.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 IQD 233.8K

$181 IQD 236.9K

-1.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$579 IQD 758.4K

$569 IQD 744.6K

1.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$349 IQD 457.4K

$344 IQD 450.5K

1.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$805 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$587 IQD 768.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$562 IQD 735.6K

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $243 in Mashhad and $237 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 $131 vs $183, 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 14% in total monthly costs ($846 vs $744 including rent). Sulaymaniyah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,269 in Mashhad and $1,116 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: $243 in Mashhad versus $237 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $163 in Mashhad versus $154 in Sulaymaniyah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Shoppers in Mashhad pay roughly 39% 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 14% less than in Mashhad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.