Cost of Living Comparison Between Sinjar and Sulaymaniyah Cost of Living Comparison Between Sinjar and Sulaymaniyah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $459 in Sinjar versus $765 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $673 in Sinjar versus $1,170 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $888 in Sinjar versus $1,575 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in Sinjar costs roughly 40% less than in Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sinjar 67% lower, Sulaymaniyah 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.34 IQD 3,071

$4.55 IQD 5,959

-48.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.41 IQD 12.3K

$23.34 IQD 30.6K

-59.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.53 IQD 11.2K

$6.94 IQD 9,095

22.91%

Cappuccino

$0.73 IQD 954

$2.47 IQD 3,240

-70.45%

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

$0.37 IQD 479

$0.46 IQD 596

-19.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 279

$0.23 IQD 302

-8.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.12 IQD 1,473

$4.48 IQD 5,865

-75.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 IQD 2,457

$2.26 IQD 2,958

-16.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 IQD 1,026

$1.38 IQD 1,803

-43.48%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 IQD 947

$0.90 IQD 1,183

-20.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.78 IQD 1,026

$1.94 IQD 2,546

-59.79%

Eggs

$1.78 IQD 2,336

$1.70 IQD 2,227

4.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.26 IQD 2,964

$5.03 IQD 6,585

-55.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.47 IQD 5,859

$3.57 IQD 4,682

25.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.40 IQD 16.2K

$16.05 IQD 21.0K

-22.74%

Apples (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 957

$1.30 IQD 1,707

-43.85%

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 979

$1.30 IQD 1,696

-42.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 958

$1.19 IQD 1,563

-38.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 968

$0.68 IQD 891

8.82%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 933

$0.58 IQD 760

22.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 896

$0.74 IQD 964

-8.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 IQD 1,014

$0.71 IQD 933

8.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 IQD 478

$0.50 IQD 651

-28.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.92 IQD 2,518

$2.42 IQD 3,165

-20.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.68 IQD 10.1K

$11.35 IQD 14.9K

-32.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 IQD 1,466

$1.85 IQD 2,429

-39.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 IQD 2,551

$1.67 IQD 2,185

16.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 IQD 782

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.06 IQD 30.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.89 IQD 2,473

$2.33 IQD 3,046

-18.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 IQD 2,382

$2.35 IQD 3,083

-22.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.39 IQD 8,373

$5.50 IQD 7,198

16.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.35 IQD 462

$0.67 IQD 877

-47.76%

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

$18.1K IQD 23.7M

$20.5K IQD 26.8M

-11.68%

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

$20.2K IQD 26.4M

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

5.53%

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

$46.18 IQD 60.5K

$101 IQD 132.5K

-54.37%

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

$14.11 IQD 18.5K

$11.03 IQD 14.4K

27.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.50 IQD 36.0K

$28.65 IQD 37.5K

-4.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$11.61 IQD 15.2K

$35.86 IQD 47.0K

-67.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.74 IQD 50.7K

$20.57 IQD 26.9K

88.33%

Cinema Ticket

$11.25 IQD 14.7K

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

43.31%

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

$318 IQD 415.8K

$175 IQD 229.1K

81.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,073 IQD 4.0M

$2,899 IQD 3.8M

5.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.59 IQD 15.2K

$19.45 IQD 25.5K

-40.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$11.22 IQD 14.7K

$25.14 IQD 32.9K

-55.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.6 IQD 92.4K

$42.60 IQD 55.8K

65.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.0 IQD 87.7K

$37.79 IQD 49.5K

77.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$54.4 IQD 71.2K

$234 IQD 306.0K

-76.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$38.49 IQD 50.4K

$175 IQD 229.7K

-78.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 IQD 672.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$362 IQD 473.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$800 IQD 1.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$574 IQD 751.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$228 IQD 298.3K

$572 IQD 749.1K

-60.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.53

5.77

-56.15%

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

Last update for Sinjar: September 7, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $54.4 in Sinjar and $234 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sulaymaniyah pays 151% 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: $9.00 in Sinjar vs $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $142 vs $188 per month, with Sinjar cheaper across the board.

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

Sinjar vs Sulaymaniyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sinjar and Sulaymaniyah differ by about 67% in total monthly costs ($459 vs $765 including rent). Sinjar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 151% lower in Sulaymaniyah. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $54.4 in Sinjar versus $234 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 32% higher in Sulaymaniyah. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $459 per month in Sinjar versus $765 in Sulaymaniyah – a 67% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Sinjar 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, Sinjar 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 Sinjar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 67% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.