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: $851 in Mashhad versus $761 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,277 in Mashhad versus $1,176 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,702 in Mashhad versus $1,591 in Sulaymaniyah.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Mashhad 36% lower, Sulaymaniyah 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.25 IQD 6,877

$5.42 IQD 7,098

-3.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.62 IQD 48.0K

$26.66 IQD 34.9K

37.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

$6.84 IQD 8,953

12.72%

Cappuccino

$3.05 IQD 3,998

$2.65 IQD 3,469

15.09%

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

$0.37 IQD 482

$0.39 IQD 515

-5.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 286

$0.20 IQD 256

10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.37 IQD 4,410

$2.05 IQD 2,681

64.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 IQD 3,853

$2.69 IQD 3,529

9.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,715

$1.46 IQD 1,913

-10.27%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 IQD 1,094

$0.99 IQD 1,295

-15.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 IQD 2,058

$1.61 IQD 2,105

-2.48%

Eggs

$0.80 IQD 1,045

$1.71 IQD 2,244

-53.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.59 IQD 6,007

$6.05 IQD 7,920

-24.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.02 IQD 2,646

$3.53 IQD 4,617

-42.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.01 IQD 3,943

$14.46 IQD 18.9K

-79.18%

Apples (1kg)

$0.99 IQD 1,291

$1.17 IQD 1,527

-15.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,531

$1.23 IQD 1,615

-4.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,275

$1.28 IQD 1,671

-24.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 894

$0.75 IQD 985

-9.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 908

$0.67 IQD 871

2.99%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 831

$0.65 IQD 845

-3.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 IQD 374

$0.55 IQD 715

-47.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 262

$0.45 IQD 586

-55.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.82 IQD 1,078

$1.94 IQD 2,543

-57.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.49 IQD 17.7K

$11.56 IQD 15.1K

16.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 IQD 2,335

$1.51 IQD 1,976

17.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 IQD 2,716

$1.73 IQD 2,269

19.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 473

$0.55 IQD 724

-34.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.31 IQD 41.0K

$22.59 IQD 29.6K

38.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.81 IQD 4,988

$2.27 IQD 2,966

67.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 IQD 1,960

$2.28 IQD 2,986

-34.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.55 IQD 9,884

$5.21 IQD 6,828

44.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 IQD 742

$0.75 IQD 985

-24.00%

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

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

-1.59%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

$21.1K IQD 27.7M

-5.60%

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

$177 IQD 231.6K

$77.5 IQD 101.5K

128.28%

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

$26.28 IQD 34.4K

$16.80 IQD 22.0K

56.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.96 IQD 53.6K

$26.70 IQD 35.0K

53.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.46 IQD 47.7K

$38.57 IQD 50.5K

-5.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.72 IQD 21.9K

$16.67 IQD 21.8K

0.30%

Cinema Ticket

$7.43 IQD 9,735

$7.48 IQD 9,800

-0.67%

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

$165 IQD 215.8K

$150 IQD 196.2K

9.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,559 IQD 4.7M

$3,550 IQD 4.6M

0.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.68 IQD 37.6K

$23.44 IQD 30.7K

22.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.31 IQD 39.7K

$24.93 IQD 32.6K

21.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.7 IQD 84.7K

$43.58 IQD 57.1K

48.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.57 IQD 57.1K

$36.28 IQD 47.5K

20.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$242 IQD 316.9K

$235 IQD 308.2K

2.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 IQD 238.0K

$180 IQD 236.2K

0.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$573 IQD 750.4K

$568 IQD 744.4K

0.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$349 IQD 457.0K

$340 IQD 445.3K

2.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$820 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$576 IQD 753.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$570 IQD 746.9K

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $242 in Mashhad and $235 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $37.00 in Mashhad vs $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah. Groceries flip the comparison at $130 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 ($851 vs $761 including rent). Sulaymaniyah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,277 in Mashhad and $1,142 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: $242 in Mashhad versus $235 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $165 in Mashhad versus $150 in Sulaymaniyah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Shoppers in Mashhad pay roughly 41% 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.