😐A single person spends $750 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $681 in Al-'amarah, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,166 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $1,090 in Al-'amarah, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,581 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $1,499 in Al-'amarah, rent included.
😐Sulaymaniyah costs about 10% more than Al-'amarah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Sulaymaniyah and Al-'amarah are more affordable than the global median – Sulaymaniyah44% lower, Al-'amarah49% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Sulaymaniyah
Al-'amarah
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.26IQD 6,895
$3.95IQD 5,175
33.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.81IQD 35.1K
$24.93IQD 32.7K
7.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.01IQD 9,182
$6.95IQD 9,106
0.86%
Cappuccino
$2.64IQD 3,461
$2.57IQD 3,369
2.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39IQD 514
$0.37IQD 481
5.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21IQD 269
$0.19IQD 250
10.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.07IQD 2,714
$2.87IQD 3,756
-27.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71IQD 3,550
$2.81IQD 3,678
-3.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sulaymaniyah
Al-'amarah
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.41IQD 1,851
$1.86IQD 2,442
-24.19%
White Bread(500g)
$1.02IQD 1,332
$0.75IQD 979
36.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61IQD 2,109
$1.09IQD 1,427
47.71%
Eggs
$1.78IQD 2,329
$1.50IQD 1,963
18.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.10IQD 7,998
$4.41IQD 5,774
38.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.56IQD 4,667
$4.69IQD 6,150
-24.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.01IQD 18.4K
$13.07IQD 17.1K
7.19%
Apples(1kg)
$1.17IQD 1,532
$0.86IQD 1,122
36.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.29IQD 1,694
$1.08IQD 1,415
19.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.27IQD 1,662
$0.89IQD 1,168
42.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.73IQD 957
$0.39IQD 517
87.18%
Potato(1kg)
$0.61IQD 798
$0.74IQD 971
-17.57%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67IQD 879
$0.34IQD 450
97.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.59IQD 777
$0.62IQD 817
-4.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45IQD 590
$0.47IQD 618
-4.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.94IQD 2,536
$1.85IQD 2,430
4.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.61IQD 15.2K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.51IQD 1,975
$1.82IQD 2,385
-17.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81IQD 2,367
$2.10IQD 2,752
-13.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Sulaymaniyah
Al-'amarah
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.55IQD 715
$0.37IQD 479
48.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.16IQD 30.3K
$30.84IQD 40.4K
-24.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.36IQD 3,096
$1.69IQD 2,214
39.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.33IQD 3,053
$1.55IQD 2,025
50.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.46IQD 7,150
$6.16IQD 8,067
-11.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.77IQD 1,006
$0.33IQD 434
133.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.3KIQD 26.6M
$19.3KIQD 25.2M
5.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.6KIQD 26.9M
$20.0KIQD 26.2M
2.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sulaymaniyah
Al-'amarah
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$76.6IQD 100.4K
$78.3IQD 102.6K
-2.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.90IQD 22.1K
$17.40IQD 22.8K
-2.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.27IQD 34.4K
$34.87IQD 45.7K
-24.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sulaymaniyah
Al-'amarah
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.65IQD 51.9K
$22.48IQD 29.4K
76.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.92IQD 22.2K
$16.71IQD 21.9K
1.26%
Cinema Ticket
$7.47IQD 9,788
$7.68IQD 10.1K
-2.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sulaymaniyah
Al-'amarah
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$151IQD 198.4K
$150IQD 196.3K
1.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,491IQD 4.6M
$3,269IQD 4.3M
6.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sulaymaniyah
Al-'amarah
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.36IQD 30.6K
$26.78IQD 35.1K
-12.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.92IQD 32.6K
$25.37IQD 33.2K
-1.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$43.74IQD 57.3K
$61.7IQD 80.8K
-29.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.40IQD 47.7K
$40.93IQD 53.6K
-11.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sulaymaniyah
Al-'amarah
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$240IQD 315.0K
$320IQD 419.8K
-24.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$175IQD 229.4K
$130IQD 170.2K
34.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$572IQD 749.7K
$446IQD 584.3K
28.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$341IQD 446.4K
$343IQD 449.7K
-0.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$810IQD 1.1M
$574IQD 752.3K
41.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$579IQD 758.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sulaymaniyah
Al-'amarah
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$580IQD 759.7K
$505IQD 661.2K
14.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9
5.67
58.73%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Sulaymaniyah: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Al-'amarah: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $240 in Sulaymaniyah versus $320 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 15% 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 $25.00 in Al-'amarah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $184 vs $153 – making Al-'amarah the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Sulaymaniyah vs Al-'amarah: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Al-'amarah cheaper than Sulaymaniyah?
Yes – Sulaymaniyah is pricier by about 10%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,126 per month in Sulaymaniyah and $1,022 in Al-'amarah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
How do food prices compare in Sulaymaniyah and Al-'amarah?
Groceries cost about 20% more in Sulaymaniyah, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Sulaymaniyah or Al-'amarah?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah and $25.00 in Al-'amarah. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 enough for either Sulaymaniyah or Al-'amarah?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $750 in Sulaymaniyah and $681 in Al-'amarah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Sulaymaniyah or Al-'amarah more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Sulaymaniyah or Al-'amarah?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
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.
Sulaymaniyah vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado