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 $744 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $620 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,167 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $873 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,591 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $1,127 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

Sulaymaniyah costs about 20% more than Ad Diwaniyah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sulaymaniyah and Ad Diwaniyah are more affordable than the global median – Sulaymaniyah 45% lower, Ad Diwaniyah 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.32 IQD 6,971

$3.01 IQD 3,943

76.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.03 IQD 35.4K

$11.58 IQD 15.2K

133.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.90 IQD 9,040

$5.04 IQD 6,602

36.90%

Cappuccino

$2.56 IQD 3,349

$1.47 IQD 1,926

74.15%

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

$0.37 IQD 482

$0.37 IQD 484

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 277

$0.19 IQD 245

10.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 IQD 2,683

$2.87 IQD 3,756

-28.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 IQD 3,454

$2.95 IQD 3,867

-10.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 IQD 1,862

$1.37 IQD 1,796

3.65%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 IQD 1,277

$0.74 IQD 975

32.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 IQD 2,172

$1.35 IQD 1,774

22.96%

Eggs

$1.76 IQD 2,299

$1.73 IQD 2,265

1.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.80 IQD 7,598

$4.59 IQD 6,009

26.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.44 IQD 4,501

$5.00 IQD 6,546

-31.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 IQD 18.7K

$10.40 IQD 13.6K

37.50%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,607

$0.80 IQD 1,048

53.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.25 IQD 1,634

$0.97 IQD 1,266

28.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 IQD 1,645

$0.90 IQD 1,184

40.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 921

$0.56 IQD 727

25.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 821

$0.65 IQD 857

-3.08%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 844

$0.66 IQD 868

-3.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 IQD 711

$0.49 IQD 643

10.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 591

$0.62 IQD 811

-27.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.89 IQD 2,470

$1.93 IQD 2,534

-2.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.68 IQD 15.3K

$7.09 IQD 9,290

64.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 IQD 2,072

$1.79 IQD 2,338

-11.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 IQD 2,272

$2.18 IQD 2,859

-20.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 724

$0.40 IQD 519

37.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.87 IQD 29.9K

$30.85 IQD 40.4K

-25.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,949

$1.96 IQD 2,567

14.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.24 IQD 2,929

$1.24 IQD 1,630

80.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.37 IQD 7,033

$7.80 IQD 10.2K

-31.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 IQD 985

$0.38 IQD 504

97.37%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

$9,802 IQD 12.8M

111.31%

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

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

$18.2K IQD 23.8M

13.39%

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

$75.9 IQD 99.4K

$38.14 IQD 49.9K

99.11%

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

$16.34 IQD 21.4K

$17.12 IQD 22.4K

-4.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.04 IQD 34.1K

$38.65 IQD 50.6K

-32.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.68 IQD 52.0K

$17.24 IQD 22.6K

130.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.91 IQD 22.1K

$9.01 IQD 11.8K

87.68%

Cinema Ticket

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

$5.51 IQD 7,219

42.47%

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

$154 IQD 201.3K

$91.8 IQD 120.1K

67.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,539 IQD 4.6M

$756 IQD 989.9K

368.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.16 IQD 31.6K

$19.63 IQD 25.7K

23.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.00 IQD 32.7K

$30.39 IQD 39.8K

-17.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.01 IQD 56.3K

$19.73 IQD 25.8K

117.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.77 IQD 46.8K

$24.74 IQD 32.4K

44.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$237 IQD 310.3K

$138 IQD 180.1K

72.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 IQD 236.9K

$181 IQD 237.3K

-0.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$569 IQD 744.6K

$237 IQD 310.8K

139.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$344 IQD 450.5K

$196 IQD 256.5K

75.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$805 IQD 1.1M

$743 IQD 972.5K

8.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$587 IQD 768.2K

$298 IQD 389.6K

97.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$562 IQD 735.6K

$482 IQD 631.3K

16.52%

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 Ad Diwaniyah: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $237 in Sulaymaniyah versus $138 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 17% 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: $183 vs $160 – 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 20%, 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 $1,116 per month in Sulaymaniyah and $930 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 $154 per month in Sulaymaniyah and $91.8 in Ad Diwaniyah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 14% 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 $744 in Sulaymaniyah and $620 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.