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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $750 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $743 in 'aqrah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,166 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $1,157 in 'aqrah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,581 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $1,571 in 'aqrah, rent included.

Sulaymaniyah costs about 1% more than 'aqrah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.26 IQD 6,893

$4.12 IQD 5,394

27.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.81 IQD 35.1K

$25.25 IQD 33.1K

6.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.01 IQD 9,180

$7.04 IQD 9,224

-0.43%

Cappuccino

$2.64 IQD 3,461

$2.59 IQD 3,397

1.93%

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

$0.39 IQD 514

$0.39 IQD 516

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 269

$0.22 IQD 282

-4.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.07 IQD 2,713

$2.84 IQD 3,720

-27.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 IQD 3,549

$2.84 IQD 3,716

-4.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 IQD 1,851

$1.36 IQD 1,785

3.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 IQD 1,332

$0.78 IQD 1,028

30.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 IQD 2,108

$1.65 IQD 2,159

-2.42%

Eggs

$1.78 IQD 2,328

$1.79 IQD 2,342

-0.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.10 IQD 7,996

$4.43 IQD 5,805

37.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.56 IQD 4,666

$4.78 IQD 6,260

-25.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.01 IQD 18.4K

$13.06 IQD 17.1K

7.27%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,531

$1.20 IQD 1,566

-2.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 IQD 1,693

$1.15 IQD 1,509

12.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.27 IQD 1,662

$1.05 IQD 1,378

20.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 957

$0.76 IQD 990

-3.95%

Potato (1kg)

$0.61 IQD 798

$0.64 IQD 841

-4.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 879

$0.63 IQD 824

6.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 IQD 777

$0.62 IQD 812

-4.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 590

$0.53 IQD 690

-15.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 IQD 2,535

$1.89 IQD 2,478

2.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.61 IQD 15.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 IQD 1,974

$1.86 IQD 2,442

-18.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 IQD 2,367

$2.11 IQD 2,762

-14.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 715

$0.40 IQD 519

37.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.16 IQD 30.3K

$30.94 IQD 40.5K

-25.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 IQD 3,096

$2.26 IQD 2,958

4.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 IQD 3,053

$1.48 IQD 1,939

57.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.46 IQD 7,149

$6.17 IQD 8,075

-11.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 IQD 1,005

$0.53 IQD 696

45.28%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$19.2K IQD 25.2M

5.68%

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

$20.6K IQD 26.9M

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

2.47%

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

$76.6 IQD 100.3K

$76.8 IQD 100.7K

-0.31%

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

$16.90 IQD 22.1K

$17.87 IQD 23.4K

-5.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.27 IQD 34.4K

$34.74 IQD 45.5K

-24.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.65 IQD 51.9K

$37.42 IQD 49.0K

5.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.92 IQD 22.2K

$17.00 IQD 22.3K

-0.47%

Cinema Ticket

$7.47 IQD 9,786

$7.47 IQD 9,779

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

$151 IQD 198.3K

$151 IQD 197.3K

0.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,491 IQD 4.6M

$3,295 IQD 4.3M

5.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.36 IQD 30.6K

$26.67 IQD 34.9K

-12.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.92 IQD 32.6K

$25.37 IQD 33.2K

-1.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.74 IQD 57.3K

$62.0 IQD 81.2K

-29.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.40 IQD 47.7K

$40.81 IQD 53.5K

-10.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$240 IQD 315.0K

$243 IQD 318.3K

-1.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.3K

$178 IQD 232.9K

-1.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$572 IQD 749.5K

$588 IQD 770.3K

-2.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$341 IQD 446.3K

$341 IQD 447.1K

-0.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$810 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$579 IQD 758.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$580 IQD 759.5K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for 'aqrah: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $240 in Sulaymaniyah versus $243 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: $184 vs $158 – 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

Sulaymaniyah costs about 1% more than 'aqrah, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,126 per month in Sulaymaniyah and $1,115 in 'aqrah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $750 in Sulaymaniyah and $743 in 'aqrah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 34% less in 'aqrah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $750 in Sulaymaniyah and $743 in 'aqrah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward 'aqrah – 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 'aqrah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sulaymaniyah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.