Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and Ad Diwaniyah Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and Ad Diwaniyah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $761 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $606 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,176 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $860 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,591 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $1,114 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

Sulaymaniyah costs about 26% more than Ad Diwaniyah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sulaymaniyah and Ad Diwaniyah are more affordable than the global median – Sulaymaniyah 43% lower, Ad Diwaniyah 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.42 IQD 7,098

$3.07 IQD 4,024

76.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.66 IQD 34.9K

$11.59 IQD 15.2K

130.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.84 IQD 8,953

$5.08 IQD 6,651

34.65%

Cappuccino

$2.65 IQD 3,468

$1.47 IQD 1,930

80.27%

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

$0.20 IQD 260

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 IQD 2,681

$2.96 IQD 3,875

-30.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 IQD 3,529

$2.95 IQD 3,868

-8.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 IQD 1,913

$1.32 IQD 1,735

10.61%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 IQD 1,295

$0.76 IQD 1,001

30.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 IQD 2,105

$1.34 IQD 1,759

20.15%

Eggs

$1.71 IQD 2,244

$1.81 IQD 2,367

-5.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.05 IQD 7,920

$4.52 IQD 5,913

33.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.53 IQD 4,617

$4.90 IQD 6,414

-27.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.46 IQD 18.9K

$10.43 IQD 13.7K

38.64%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,527

$0.76 IQD 999

53.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,615

$0.89 IQD 1,169

38.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.28 IQD 1,671

$0.97 IQD 1,270

31.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 985

$0.60 IQD 780

25.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 871

$0.65 IQD 846

3.08%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 845

$0.64 IQD 836

1.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 IQD 715

$0.49 IQD 640

12.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 586

$0.66 IQD 871

-31.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 IQD 2,543

$1.87 IQD 2,443

3.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.56 IQD 15.1K

$3.72 IQD 4,870

210.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 IQD 1,976

$1.76 IQD 2,308

-14.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 IQD 2,269

$2.07 IQD 2,715

-16.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 724

$0.39 IQD 515

41.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.59 IQD 29.6K

$30.61 IQD 40.1K

-26.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.27 IQD 2,966

$1.98 IQD 2,589

14.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.28 IQD 2,986

$1.19 IQD 1,559

91.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.21 IQD 6,828

$7.63 IQD 9,993

-31.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 IQD 985

$0.39 IQD 506

92.31%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

$9,833 IQD 12.9M

110.74%

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

$21.1K IQD 27.7M

$18.2K IQD 23.8M

16.34%

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

$77.5 IQD 101.5K

$38.45 IQD 50.4K

101.48%

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

$16.80 IQD 22.0K

$17.23 IQD 22.6K

-2.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.70 IQD 35.0K

$38.07 IQD 49.8K

-29.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.57 IQD 50.5K

$16.81 IQD 22.0K

129.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.67 IQD 21.8K

$8.99 IQD 11.8K

85.43%

Cinema Ticket

$7.48 IQD 9,799

$5.47 IQD 7,167

36.75%

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

$150 IQD 196.2K

$92.0 IQD 120.5K

62.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,550 IQD 4.6M

$743 IQD 973.4K

377.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.44 IQD 30.7K

$19.82 IQD 26.0K

18.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.93 IQD 32.6K

$30.71 IQD 40.2K

-18.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.58 IQD 57.1K

$20.23 IQD 26.5K

115.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.28 IQD 47.5K

$25.24 IQD 33.1K

43.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$235 IQD 308.2K

$140 IQD 183.4K

68.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 IQD 236.2K

$177 IQD 231.9K

1.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$568 IQD 744.4K

$241 IQD 315.3K

136.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$340 IQD 445.3K

$203 IQD 266.1K

67.35%

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

$389 IQD 509.3K

46.66%

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 Ad Diwaniyah: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $235 in Sulaymaniyah versus $140 in Ad Diwaniyah. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 47% higher in Sulaymaniyah, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah versus $12.00 in Ad Diwaniyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $184 vs $152 – making Ad Diwaniyah 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 Ad Diwaniyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sulaymaniyah is pricier by about 26%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,142 per month in Sulaymaniyah and $909 in Ad Diwaniyah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $150 per month in Sulaymaniyah and $92.0 in Ad Diwaniyah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 21% more in Sulaymaniyah, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $761 in Sulaymaniyah and $606 in Ad Diwaniyah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Ad Diwaniyah – 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 Ad Diwaniyah. 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.