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 $750 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $621 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,166 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $872 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,581 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $1,123 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

Sulaymaniyah costs about 21% more than Ad Diwaniyah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sulaymaniyah and Ad Diwaniyah are more affordable than the global median – Sulaymaniyah 44% lower, Ad Diwaniyah 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.26 IQD 6,895

$3.04 IQD 3,984

73.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.81 IQD 35.1K

$11.37 IQD 14.9K

135.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.01 IQD 9,182

$5.31 IQD 6,963

32.02%

Cappuccino

$2.64 IQD 3,461

$1.49 IQD 1,948

77.18%

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

$0.39 IQD 514

$0.40 IQD 521

-2.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 269

$0.19 IQD 249

10.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.07 IQD 2,714

$2.97 IQD 3,886

-30.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 IQD 3,550

$2.81 IQD 3,678

-3.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 IQD 1,851

$1.36 IQD 1,785

3.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 IQD 1,332

$0.75 IQD 983

36.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 IQD 2,109

$1.35 IQD 1,768

19.26%

Eggs

$1.78 IQD 2,329

$1.74 IQD 2,284

2.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.10 IQD 7,998

$4.40 IQD 5,762

38.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.56 IQD 4,667

$5.05 IQD 6,621

-29.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.01 IQD 18.4K

$10.21 IQD 13.4K

37.22%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,532

$0.81 IQD 1,067

44.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 IQD 1,694

$0.92 IQD 1,201

40.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.27 IQD 1,662

$0.89 IQD 1,172

42.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 957

$0.60 IQD 787

21.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.61 IQD 798

$0.64 IQD 844

-4.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 879

$0.62 IQD 816

8.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 IQD 777

$0.45 IQD 586

31.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 590

$0.66 IQD 859

-31.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 IQD 2,536

$1.96 IQD 2,565

-1.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.61 IQD 15.2K

$7.02 IQD 9,199

65.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 IQD 1,975

$1.82 IQD 2,389

-17.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 IQD 2,367

$2.15 IQD 2,820

-15.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 715

$0.36 IQD 474

52.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.16 IQD 30.3K

$30.64 IQD 40.1K

-24.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 IQD 3,096

$1.94 IQD 2,542

21.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 IQD 3,053

$1.25 IQD 1,632

86.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.46 IQD 7,150

$7.87 IQD 10.3K

-30.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 IQD 1,006

$0.38 IQD 498

102.63%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$9,902 IQD 13.0M

105.13%

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

$20.6K IQD 26.9M

$17.9K IQD 23.4M

15.02%

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

$76.6 IQD 100.4K

$37.55 IQD 49.2K

103.99%

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

$16.90 IQD 22.1K

$17.19 IQD 22.5K

-1.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.27 IQD 34.4K

$38.47 IQD 50.4K

-31.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.65 IQD 51.9K

$17.10 IQD 22.4K

131.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.92 IQD 22.2K

$8.85 IQD 11.6K

91.19%

Cinema Ticket

$7.47 IQD 9,788

$5.62 IQD 7,364

32.92%

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

$151 IQD 198.4K

$92.9 IQD 121.7K

63.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,491 IQD 4.6M

$738 IQD 966.2K

373.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.36 IQD 30.6K

$20.20 IQD 26.5K

15.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.92 IQD 32.6K

$30.87 IQD 40.4K

-19.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.74 IQD 57.3K

$20.14 IQD 26.4K

117.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.40 IQD 47.7K

$25.08 IQD 32.9K

45.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$240 IQD 315.0K

$138 IQD 180.2K

74.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.4K

$181 IQD 237.2K

-3.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$572 IQD 749.7K

$241 IQD 315.1K

137.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$341 IQD 446.4K

$199 IQD 261.0K

71.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$810 IQD 1.1M

$757 IQD 991.2K

7.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$579 IQD 758.5K

$302 IQD 395.4K

91.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$580 IQD 759.7K

$481 IQD 630.1K

20.57%

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 Ad Diwaniyah: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $240 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 21% 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 $11.00 in Ad Diwaniyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $184 vs $159 – 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 21%, 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 $1,126 per month in Sulaymaniyah and $931 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 $151 per month in Sulaymaniyah and $92.9 in Ad Diwaniyah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% 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 $750 in Sulaymaniyah and $621 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.