Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and 'aqrah Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and 'aqrah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $744 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $747 in 'aqrah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,167 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $1,157 in 'aqrah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,591 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $1,568 in 'aqrah, rent included.

Sulaymaniyah and 'aqrah have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Sulaymaniyah and 'aqrah are more affordable than the global median – Sulaymaniyah 45% lower, 'aqrah 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.32 IQD 6,971

$4.04 IQD 5,286

31.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.03 IQD 35.4K

$24.76 IQD 32.4K

9.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.90 IQD 9,040

$6.84 IQD 8,959

0.88%

Cappuccino

$2.56 IQD 3,349

$2.60 IQD 3,410

-1.54%

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

$0.37 IQD 482

$0.36 IQD 475

2.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 277

$0.17 IQD 218

23.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 IQD 2,683

$2.82 IQD 3,697

-27.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 IQD 3,454

$2.86 IQD 3,741

-7.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 IQD 1,862

$1.33 IQD 1,739

6.77%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 IQD 1,277

$0.84 IQD 1,100

16.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 IQD 2,172

$1.60 IQD 2,100

3.75%

Eggs

$1.76 IQD 2,299

$1.81 IQD 2,372

-2.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.80 IQD 7,598

$4.57 IQD 5,989

26.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.44 IQD 4,501

$4.78 IQD 6,266

-28.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 IQD 18.7K

$13.25 IQD 17.4K

7.92%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,607

$1.19 IQD 1,558

3.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.25 IQD 1,634

$1.21 IQD 1,585

3.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 IQD 1,645

$1.06 IQD 1,388

18.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 921

$0.74 IQD 974

-5.41%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 821

$0.70 IQD 912

-10.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 844

$0.68 IQD 885

-5.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 IQD 711

$0.63 IQD 823

-14.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 591

$0.53 IQD 690

-15.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.89 IQD 2,470

$1.97 IQD 2,575

-4.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.68 IQD 15.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 IQD 2,072

$1.76 IQD 2,307

-10.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 IQD 2,272

$2.16 IQD 2,832

-19.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 724

$0.39 IQD 512

41.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.87 IQD 29.9K

$31.75 IQD 41.6K

-27.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,949

$2.26 IQD 2,954

-0.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.24 IQD 2,929

$1.50 IQD 1,959

49.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.37 IQD 7,033

$6.16 IQD 8,065

-12.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 IQD 985

$0.54 IQD 702

38.89%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

$18.9K IQD 24.7M

9.83%

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

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

$19.8K IQD 26.0M

4.07%

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

$75.9 IQD 99.4K

$78.7 IQD 103.1K

-3.51%

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

$16.34 IQD 21.4K

$17.29 IQD 22.6K

-5.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.04 IQD 34.1K

$34.72 IQD 45.5K

-25.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.68 IQD 52.0K

$36.58 IQD 47.9K

8.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.91 IQD 22.1K

$16.65 IQD 21.8K

1.56%

Cinema Ticket

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

0.51%

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

$154 IQD 201.3K

$149 IQD 195.7K

2.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,539 IQD 4.6M

$3,313 IQD 4.3M

6.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.16 IQD 31.6K

$27.58 IQD 36.1K

-12.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.00 IQD 32.7K

$24.89 IQD 32.6K

0.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.01 IQD 56.3K

$60.1 IQD 78.7K

-28.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.77 IQD 46.8K

$40.61 IQD 53.2K

-11.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$237 IQD 310.3K

$245 IQD 320.2K

-3.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 IQD 236.9K

$176 IQD 230.7K

2.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$569 IQD 744.6K

$571 IQD 747.7K

-0.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$344 IQD 450.5K

$350 IQD 458.5K

-1.75%

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

58.73%

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

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: June 8, 2026

Last update for 'aqrah: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $237 in Sulaymaniyah versus $245 in 'aqrah. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah versus $25.00 in 'aqrah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $183 vs $159 – making 'aqrah the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Sulaymaniyah vs 'aqrah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,116 per month in Sulaymaniyah and $1,120 in 'aqrah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sulaymaniyah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 15% cheaper in 'aqrah – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

Kindergarten costs $154 per month in Sulaymaniyah and $149 in 'aqrah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $744 in Sulaymaniyah and $747 in 'aqrah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Sulaymaniyah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Sulaymaniyah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, 'aqrah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.