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 $780 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $574 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,178 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $882 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,576 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $1,189 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

Sulaymaniyah costs about 36% more than Ad Diwaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sulaymaniyah and Ad Diwaniyah are more affordable than the global median – Sulaymaniyah 43% lower, Ad Diwaniyah 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.50 IQD 5,898

$3.32 IQD 4,342

35.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.28 IQD 30.5K

$11.67 IQD 15.3K

99.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.07 IQD 9,261

$5.38 IQD 7,041

31.41%

Cappuccino

$2.43 IQD 3,183

$1.95 IQD 2,559

24.62%

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

$0.45 IQD 593

$0.37 IQD 481

21.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 274

$0.26 IQD 343

-19.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.70 IQD 6,159

$3.91 IQD 5,121

20.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 IQD 3,048

$3.84 IQD 5,024

-39.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 IQD 1,740

$1.04 IQD 1,368

27.88%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 IQD 1,283

$0.75 IQD 981

30.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 IQD 2,507

$1.37 IQD 1,796

39.42%

Eggs

$1.76 IQD 2,299

$1.91 IQD 2,495

-7.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.95 IQD 6,477

$3.93 IQD 5,152

25.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.55 IQD 4,645

$3.73 IQD 4,882

-4.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.75 IQD 20.6K

$11.42 IQD 14.9K

37.92%

Apples (1kg)

$1.32 IQD 1,723

$0.73 IQD 958

80.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,701

$0.78 IQD 1,020

66.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,500

$0.79 IQD 1,037

45.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 911

$0.78 IQD 1,027

-10.26%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 IQD 721

$0.70 IQD 922

-21.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 901

$0.64 IQD 838

7.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 IQD 890

$0.39 IQD 514

74.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 689

$0.65 IQD 854

-18.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.46 IQD 3,218

$1.80 IQD 2,356

36.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.60 IQD 15.2K

$3.79 IQD 4,966

206.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 IQD 2,450

$2.14 IQD 2,798

-12.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 IQD 2,232

$2.17 IQD 2,841

-21.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 725

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.88 IQD 30.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,045

$2.35 IQD 3,083

-0.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.24 IQD 2,936

$1.00 IQD 1,306

124.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.47 IQD 7,168

$7.58 IQD 9,930

-27.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 IQD 944

$0.33 IQD 430

118.18%

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

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

8.76%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

$18.9K IQD 24.7M

0.91%

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

$101 IQD 131.6K

$37.82 IQD 49.5K

165.79%

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

$10.98 IQD 14.4K

$17.08 IQD 22.4K

-35.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.50 IQD 37.3K

$38.02 IQD 49.8K

-25.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.99 IQD 47.1K

$18.73 IQD 24.5K

92.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.18 IQD 26.4K

$7.76 IQD 10.2K

160.05%

Cinema Ticket

$7.54 IQD 9,871

$7.56 IQD 9,897

-0.26%

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

$176 IQD 231.0K

$74.9 IQD 98.1K

135.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,879 IQD 3.8M

$3,527 IQD 4.6M

-18.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.43 IQD 25.4K

$29.14 IQD 38.2K

-33.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.44 IQD 33.3K

$37.50 IQD 49.1K

-32.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$42.51 IQD 55.7K

$72.8 IQD 95.3K

-41.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.09 IQD 49.9K

$47.48 IQD 62.2K

-19.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$226 IQD 296.1K

$76.5 IQD 100.2K

195.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 IQD 226.6K

$114 IQD 149.8K

51.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$506 IQD 662.0K

$154 IQD 201.7K

228.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$363 IQD 474.9K

$226 IQD 295.9K

60.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$831 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$587 IQD 768.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$580 IQD 759.1K

$387 IQD 507.4K

49.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.77

4.12

40.05%

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

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: September 14, 2026

Last update for Ad Diwaniyah: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $226 in Sulaymaniyah versus $76.5 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 50% 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 $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah versus $12.00 in Ad Diwaniyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $147 – 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 36%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,171 per month in Sulaymaniyah and $862 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $780 in Sulaymaniyah and $574 in Ad Diwaniyah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $176 per month in Sulaymaniyah and $74.9 in Ad Diwaniyah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $780 in Sulaymaniyah and $574 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.