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: $640 in Mashhad versus $780 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $931 in Mashhad versus $1,178 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,223 in Mashhad versus $1,576 in Sulaymaniyah.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Mashhad 53% lower, Sulaymaniyah 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.67 IQD 6,120

$4.50 IQD 5,898

3.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.11 IQD 44.7K

$23.28 IQD 30.5K

46.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.65 IQD 10.0K

$7.07 IQD 9,261

8.20%

Cappuccino

$3.08 IQD 4,035

$2.43 IQD 3,183

26.75%

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

$0.40 IQD 519

$0.45 IQD 593

-11.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 IQD 312

$0.21 IQD 274

14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.88 IQD 5,082

$4.70 IQD 6,159

-17.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.89 IQD 5,088

$2.33 IQD 3,048

66.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 IQD 1,371

$1.33 IQD 1,740

-21.05%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 IQD 1,076

$0.98 IQD 1,283

-16.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 IQD 2,067

$1.91 IQD 2,507

-17.28%

Eggs

$0.81 IQD 1,063

$1.76 IQD 2,299

-53.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.80 IQD 4,980

$4.95 IQD 6,477

-23.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.04 IQD 2,676

$3.55 IQD 4,645

-42.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.92 IQD 3,820

$15.75 IQD 20.6K

-81.46%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,325

$1.32 IQD 1,723

-23.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 IQD 1,467

$1.30 IQD 1,701

-13.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.98 IQD 1,281

$1.15 IQD 1,500

-14.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 889

$0.70 IQD 911

-2.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 873

$0.55 IQD 721

21.82%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 837

$0.69 IQD 901

-7.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 IQD 407

$0.68 IQD 890

-54.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 274

$0.53 IQD 689

-60.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.76 IQD 996

$2.46 IQD 3,218

-69.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.55 IQD 17.7K

$11.60 IQD 15.2K

16.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,799

$1.87 IQD 2,450

14.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 IQD 2,953

$1.70 IQD 2,232

32.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 725

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.88 IQD 30.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,947

$2.33 IQD 3,045

-3.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 IQD 1,979

$2.24 IQD 2,936

-32.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.52 IQD 9,851

$5.47 IQD 7,168

37.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 IQD 857

$0.72 IQD 944

-9.72%

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

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

-8.06%

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

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

-0.62%

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

$215 IQD 281.7K

$101 IQD 131.6K

114.03%

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

$21.21 IQD 27.8K

$10.98 IQD 14.4K

93.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.34 IQD 55.4K

$28.50 IQD 37.3K

48.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.99 IQD 47.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.18 IQD 26.4K

Cinema Ticket

$10.60 IQD 13.9K

$7.54 IQD 9,871

40.58%

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

$165 IQD 216.6K

$176 IQD 231.0K

-6.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,514 IQD 4.6M

$2,879 IQD 3.8M

22.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.67 IQD 38.8K

$19.43 IQD 25.4K

52.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.11 IQD 49.9K

$25.44 IQD 33.3K

49.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.5 IQD 97.6K

$42.51 IQD 55.7K

75.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.47 IQD 60.8K

$38.09 IQD 49.9K

22.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$226 IQD 296.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 IQD 226.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$506 IQD 662.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$363 IQD 474.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$831 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$587 IQD 768.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$580 IQD 759.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

5.77

-28.60%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mashhad: September 13, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $34.00 in Mashhad vs $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah. Groceries flip the comparison at $127 vs $188, 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 22% in total monthly costs ($640 vs $780 including rent). Mashhad is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $960 in Mashhad and $1,171 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.

Childcare runs $165 in Mashhad versus $176 in Sulaymaniyah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Mashhad – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Mashhad 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 Mashhad 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.