Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and Al Hillah Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and Al Hillah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $752 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $810 in Al Hillah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,169 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $1,264 in Al Hillah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,586 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $1,718 in Al Hillah, rent included.

Sulaymaniyah is about 7% cheaper than Al Hillah, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Sulaymaniyah and Al Hillah are more affordable than the global median – Sulaymaniyah 44% lower, Al Hillah 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.40 IQD 7,068

$5.45 IQD 7,132

-0.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.96 IQD 35.3K

$31.09 IQD 40.7K

-13.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.98 IQD 9,142

$6.12 IQD 8,019

14.05%

Cappuccino

$2.68 IQD 3,507

$3.06 IQD 4,005

-12.42%

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

$0.39 IQD 512

$0.40 IQD 518

-2.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 274

$0.18 IQD 242

16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.04 IQD 2,675

$2.93 IQD 3,833

-30.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 IQD 3,492

$2.90 IQD 3,793

-7.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 IQD 1,948

$1.37 IQD 1,800

8.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 IQD 1,346

$0.74 IQD 963

39.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 IQD 2,100

$1.65 IQD 2,156

-3.03%

Eggs

$1.69 IQD 2,219

$1.80 IQD 2,359

-6.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.79 IQD 7,586

$4.49 IQD 5,874

28.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 IQD 4,492

$4.80 IQD 6,290

-28.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.35 IQD 18.8K

$14.01 IQD 18.3K

2.43%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,529

$1.23 IQD 1,607

-4.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,703

$1.19 IQD 1,564

9.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 IQD 1,651

$1.04 IQD 1,368

21.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 925

$0.69 IQD 899

2.90%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 875

$0.66 IQD 863

1.52%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 893

$0.63 IQD 820

7.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 IQD 772

$0.59 IQD 778

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 589

$0.55 IQD 721

-18.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.93 IQD 2,532

$1.90 IQD 2,485

1.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.63 IQD 15.2K

$13.82 IQD 18.1K

-15.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 IQD 1,992

$1.84 IQD 2,415

-17.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 IQD 2,305

$2.17 IQD 2,840

-18.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 725

$0.40 IQD 520

37.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.33 IQD 30.5K

$65.4 IQD 85.6K

-64.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.28 IQD 2,983

$2.36 IQD 3,092

-3.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.29 IQD 2,993

$1.55 IQD 2,031

47.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.20 IQD 6,812

$3.37 IQD 4,414

54.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.71 IQD 931

$0.54 IQD 703

31.48%

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

$21.0K IQD 27.4M

$17.4K IQD 22.8M

20.33%

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

$20.9K IQD 27.4M

$20.3K IQD 26.5M

3.25%

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

$76.1 IQD 99.6K

$75.8 IQD 99.3K

0.29%

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

$16.47 IQD 21.6K

$15.12 IQD 19.8K

8.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.94 IQD 35.3K

$39.00 IQD 51.1K

-30.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.52 IQD 50.4K

$23.41 IQD 30.7K

64.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.02 IQD 22.3K

$19.19 IQD 25.1K

-11.31%

Cinema Ticket

$7.47 IQD 9,776

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

-3.86%

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

$154 IQD 201.3K

$95.6 IQD 125.2K

60.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,465 IQD 4.5M

$779 IQD 1.0M

344.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.94 IQD 31.4K

$27.22 IQD 35.6K

-12.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 IQD 33.3K

$27.73 IQD 36.3K

-8.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.60 IQD 57.1K

$61.6 IQD 80.7K

-29.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.26 IQD 47.5K

$43.71 IQD 57.2K

-17.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$236 IQD 309.5K

$364 IQD 476.8K

-35.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 IQD 232.3K

$196 IQD 256.8K

-9.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$574 IQD 751.2K

$667 IQD 874.0K

-14.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$351 IQD 459.5K

$313 IQD 410.0K

12.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$828 IQD 1.1M

$1,746 IQD 2.3M

-52.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$571 IQD 748.3K

$545 IQD 713.5K

4.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$575 IQD 753.3K

$517 IQD 677.5K

11.17%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Al Hillah: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $236 in Sulaymaniyah versus $364 in Al Hillah. 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 11% higher in Sulaymaniyah, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah versus $31.00 in Al Hillah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $184 vs $189 – making Sulaymaniyah 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 Al Hillah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Al Hillah is pricier by about 8%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,128 per month in Sulaymaniyah and $1,215 in Al Hillah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sulaymaniyah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 180% less in Sulaymaniyah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $154 per month in Sulaymaniyah and $95.6 in Al Hillah. 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 $752 in Sulaymaniyah and $810 in Al Hillah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Sulaymaniyah – 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 Sulaymaniyah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Al Hillah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.