😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $750 in Sulaymaniyah.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $1,166 in Sulaymaniyah.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $1,581 in Sulaymaniyah.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 98% more expensive than Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Sulaymaniyah is 44% below.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Sulaymaniyah
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$5.26IQD 6,895
146.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$929
$26.81IQD 35.1K
97.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$170
$7.01IQD 9,182
38.66%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.6
$2.64IQD 3,461
42.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.46
$0.39IQD 514
302.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.76
$0.21IQD 269
438.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.7
$2.07IQD 2,714
53.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.6
$2.71IQD 3,550
71.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Sulaymaniyah
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.37
$1.41IQD 1,851
14.89%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.36
$1.02IQD 1,332
165.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.89
$1.61IQD 2,109
16.77%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.90
$1.78IQD 2,329
41.01%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
$6.10IQD 7,998
65.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$3.56IQD 4,667
132.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$209
$14.01IQD 18.4K
-14.78%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$50.1
$1.17IQD 1,532
144.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.62
$1.29IQD 1,694
35.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.48
$1.27IQD 1,662
63.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.46
$0.73IQD 957
169.86%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.79
$0.61IQD 798
254.10%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.16
$0.67IQD 879
225.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.34
$0.59IQD 777
135.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.69
$0.45IQD 590
148.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.5
$1.94IQD 2,536
116.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$249
$11.61IQD 15.2K
22.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.85
$1.51IQD 1,975
16.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.5
$1.81IQD 2,367
103.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Sulaymaniyah
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$0.55IQD 715
-29.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$327
$23.16IQD 30.3K
-19.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.26
$2.36IQD 3,096
-41.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.32
$2.33IQD 3,053
-87.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.9
$5.46IQD 7,150
-0.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.63
$0.77IQD 1,006
75.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$330.5K
$20.3KIQD 26.6M
-7.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$405.2K
$20.6KIQD 26.9M
12.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Sulaymaniyah
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$714
$76.6IQD 100.4K
-46.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$481
$16.90IQD 22.1K
62.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$532
$26.27IQD 34.4K
15.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Sulaymaniyah
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$935
$39.65IQD 51.9K
34.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$460
$16.92IQD 22.2K
55.44%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$110
$7.47IQD 9,788
-16.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Sulaymaniyah
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,632
$151IQD 198.4K
188.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$183.2K
$3,491IQD 4.6M
199.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Sulaymaniyah
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$993
$23.36IQD 30.6K
142.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$784
$24.92IQD 32.6K
79.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,799
$43.74IQD 57.3K
135.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,888
$36.40IQD 47.7K
196.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Sulaymaniyah
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.5K
$240IQD 315.0K
315.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.9K
$175IQD 229.4K
254.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.4K
$572IQD 749.7K
273.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.6K
$341IQD 446.4K
262.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.6K
$810IQD 1.1M
377.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.8K
$579IQD 758.5K
302.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Sulaymaniyah
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.7K
$580IQD 759.7K
84.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
9
26.00%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Sulaymaniyah: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $240 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 84% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $184 per month, with Sulaymaniyah cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Mexico City vs Sulaymaniyah: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Sulaymaniyah?
Mexico City and Sulaymaniyah differ by about 98% in total monthly costs ($1,484 vs $750 including rent). Sulaymaniyah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Sulaymaniyah?
Mexico City pays 84% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and Sulaymaniyah?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $240 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Sulaymaniyah?
A monthly transit pass in Sulaymaniyah runs roughly 24% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Sulaymaniyah?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $151 in Sulaymaniyah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $750 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sulaymaniyah but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Sulaymaniyah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Sulaymaniyah?
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.
Is Mexico City or Sulaymaniyah safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City 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.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Sulaymaniyah?
Expats usually find Sulaymaniyah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 98% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mexico City vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado