Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and Al-'amarah Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and Al-'amarah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $780 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $273 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,178 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $294 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,576 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $316 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

Sulaymaniyah costs about 186% more than Al-'amarah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sulaymaniyah and Al-'amarah are more affordable than the global median – Sulaymaniyah 43% lower, Al-'amarah 80% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.50 IQD 5,898

$1.89 IQD 2,477

138.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.28 IQD 30.5K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.07 IQD 9,261

$4.49 IQD 5,883

57.46%

Cappuccino

$2.43 IQD 3,183

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

$0.45 IQD 593

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 274

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.70 IQD 6,159

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 IQD 3,048

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 IQD 1,740

$2.72 IQD 3,567

-51.10%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 IQD 1,283

$0.74 IQD 965

32.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 IQD 2,507

$0.93 IQD 1,214

105.38%

Eggs

$1.76 IQD 2,299

$1.49 IQD 1,945

18.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.95 IQD 6,477

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.55 IQD 4,645

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.75 IQD 20.6K

Apples (1kg)

$1.32 IQD 1,723

$0.75 IQD 978

76.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,701

$1.16 IQD 1,519

12.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,500

$0.79 IQD 1,029

45.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 911

$0.26 IQD 340

169.23%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 IQD 721

$0.79 IQD 1,029

-30.38%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 901

$0.40 IQD 519

72.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 IQD 890

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 689

$0.56 IQD 733

-5.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.46 IQD 3,218

Wine (Bottle)

$11.60 IQD 15.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 IQD 2,450

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 IQD 2,232

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

$2.31 IQD 3,030

0.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.24 IQD 2,936

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.47 IQD 7,168

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 IQD 944

$0.33 IQD 431

118.18%

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

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

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

$101 IQD 131.6K

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

$10.98 IQD 14.4K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.50 IQD 37.3K

$26.98 IQD 35.3K

5.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.99 IQD 47.1K

$30.44 IQD 39.9K

18.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.18 IQD 26.4K

Cinema Ticket

$7.54 IQD 9,871

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

$176 IQD 231.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,879 IQD 3.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.43 IQD 25.4K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.44 IQD 33.3K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$42.51 IQD 55.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.09 IQD 49.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$226 IQD 296.1K

$152 IQD 198.5K

49.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 IQD 226.6K

$115 IQD 150.3K

50.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$506 IQD 662.0K

$195 IQD 254.9K

159.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$363 IQD 474.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$831 IQD 1.1M

$578 IQD 757.5K

43.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$587 IQD 768.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$580 IQD 759.1K

$501 IQD 655.6K

15.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.77

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

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: September 14, 2026

Last update for Al-'amarah: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $226 in Sulaymaniyah versus $152 in Al-'amarah. 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 16% higher in Sulaymaniyah, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 Al-'amarah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sulaymaniyah is pricier by about 186%, 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 $409 in Al-'amarah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Al-'amarah, 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 $273 in Al-'amarah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 172% 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 $780 in Sulaymaniyah and $273 in Al-'amarah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Al-'amarah – 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 Al-'amarah. 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.