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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $761 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $750 in 'aqrah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,176 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $1,160 in 'aqrah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,591 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $1,570 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 43% lower, 'aqrah 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.42 IQD 7,098

$4.13 IQD 5,408

31.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.66 IQD 34.9K

$24.77 IQD 32.4K

7.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.84 IQD 8,953

$6.87 IQD 8,996

-0.44%

Cappuccino

$2.65 IQD 3,468

$2.64 IQD 3,462

0.38%

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

$0.39 IQD 515

$0.40 IQD 522

-2.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 256

$0.19 IQD 250

5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 IQD 2,681

$2.89 IQD 3,783

-29.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 IQD 3,529

$2.94 IQD 3,854

-8.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 IQD 1,913

$1.35 IQD 1,773

8.15%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 IQD 1,295

$0.78 IQD 1,017

26.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 IQD 2,105

$1.60 IQD 2,093

0.63%

Eggs

$1.71 IQD 2,244

$1.81 IQD 2,368

-5.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.05 IQD 7,920

$4.60 IQD 6,027

31.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.53 IQD 4,617

$4.78 IQD 6,262

-26.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.46 IQD 18.9K

$13.32 IQD 17.4K

8.56%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,527

$1.19 IQD 1,552

-1.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,615

$1.21 IQD 1,590

1.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.28 IQD 1,671

$1.06 IQD 1,389

20.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 985

$0.71 IQD 929

5.63%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 871

$0.65 IQD 855

3.08%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 845

$0.66 IQD 869

-1.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 IQD 715

$0.62 IQD 813

-11.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 586

$0.52 IQD 682

-13.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 IQD 2,543

$1.94 IQD 2,541

Wine (Bottle)

$11.56 IQD 15.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 IQD 1,976

$1.83 IQD 2,401

-17.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 IQD 2,269

$2.07 IQD 2,706

-16.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 724

$0.37 IQD 482

48.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.59 IQD 29.6K

$31.55 IQD 41.3K

-28.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.27 IQD 2,966

$2.24 IQD 2,928

1.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.28 IQD 2,986

$1.54 IQD 2,013

48.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.21 IQD 6,828

$5.90 IQD 7,729

-11.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 IQD 985

$0.54 IQD 701

38.89%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

$19.3K IQD 25.2M

7.58%

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

$21.1K IQD 27.7M

$19.7K IQD 25.7M

7.53%

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

$77.5 IQD 101.5K

$76.5 IQD 100.1K

1.31%

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

$16.80 IQD 22.0K

$17.41 IQD 22.8K

-3.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.70 IQD 35.0K

$33.96 IQD 44.5K

-21.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.57 IQD 50.5K

$36.59 IQD 47.9K

5.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.67 IQD 21.8K

$16.49 IQD 21.6K

1.09%

Cinema Ticket

$7.48 IQD 9,799

$7.50 IQD 9,817

-0.27%

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

$150 IQD 196.2K

$150 IQD 197.1K

-0.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,550 IQD 4.6M

$3,228 IQD 4.2M

9.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.44 IQD 30.7K

$27.10 IQD 35.5K

-13.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.93 IQD 32.6K

$24.99 IQD 32.7K

-0.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.58 IQD 57.1K

$61.3 IQD 80.2K

-28.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.28 IQD 47.5K

$40.99 IQD 53.7K

-11.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$235 IQD 308.2K

$243 IQD 318.8K

-3.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 IQD 236.2K

$181 IQD 237.3K

-0.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$568 IQD 744.4K

$583 IQD 763.3K

-2.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$340 IQD 445.3K

$348 IQD 455.2K

-2.17%

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

58.73%

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

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: July 27, 2026

Last update for 'aqrah: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $235 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 $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

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 $1,142 per month in Sulaymaniyah and $1,125 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 $761 in Sulaymaniyah and $750 in 'aqrah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 40% 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 $761 in Sulaymaniyah and $750 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.