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 $747 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $819 in Al Hillah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,168 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $1,263 in Al Hillah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,589 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $1,708 in Al Hillah, rent included.

Sulaymaniyah is about 9% 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

$5.32 IQD 6,969

$5.28 IQD 6,917

0.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.82 IQD 35.1K

$30.53 IQD 40.0K

-12.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.08 IQD 9,272

$6.00 IQD 7,851

18.00%

Cappuccino

$2.65 IQD 3,471

$3.11 IQD 4,073

-14.79%

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

$0.37 IQD 481

$0.40 IQD 518

-7.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 236

$0.20 IQD 265

-10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.07 IQD 2,710

$2.97 IQD 3,896

-30.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 IQD 3,570

$2.83 IQD 3,706

-3.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 IQD 1,858

$1.31 IQD 1,713

8.40%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 IQD 1,345

$0.74 IQD 967

39.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 IQD 2,094

$1.64 IQD 2,151

-2.44%

Eggs

$1.78 IQD 2,325

$1.74 IQD 2,280

2.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.76 IQD 7,540

$4.38 IQD 5,733

31.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.46 IQD 4,533

$5.06 IQD 6,623

-31.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.08 IQD 18.4K

$13.96 IQD 18.3K

0.86%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,532

$1.28 IQD 1,673

-8.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 IQD 1,691

$1.16 IQD 1,516

11.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 IQD 1,737

$1.06 IQD 1,385

25.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 923

$0.70 IQD 920

1.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 808

$0.66 IQD 862

-6.06%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 878

$0.68 IQD 890

-1.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 IQD 764

$0.55 IQD 720

5.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 IQD 601

$0.55 IQD 722

-16.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.89 IQD 2,481

$1.95 IQD 2,552

-3.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.23 IQD 14.7K

$13.56 IQD 17.8K

-17.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 IQD 1,971

$1.76 IQD 2,300

-14.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 IQD 2,287

$2.19 IQD 2,863

-20.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 721

$0.40 IQD 522

37.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.10 IQD 30.3K

$63.8 IQD 83.6K

-63.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 IQD 3,087

$2.26 IQD 2,957

4.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 IQD 3,050

$1.54 IQD 2,016

51.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.41 IQD 7,082

$3.33 IQD 4,358

62.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 IQD 943

$0.53 IQD 689

35.85%

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

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

$17.0K IQD 22.2M

22.32%

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

$21.0K IQD 27.5M

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

4.56%

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

$76.0 IQD 99.5K

$76.0 IQD 99.6K

-0.03%

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

$16.72 IQD 21.9K

$15.24 IQD 20.0K

9.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.19 IQD 34.3K

$37.99 IQD 49.8K

-31.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.72 IQD 50.7K

$23.35 IQD 30.6K

65.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.62 IQD 21.8K

$19.37 IQD 25.4K

-14.20%

Cinema Ticket

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$7.55 IQD 9,883

3.05%

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

$155 IQD 202.4K

$96.5 IQD 126.4K

60.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,464 IQD 4.5M

$754 IQD 986.7K

359.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.54 IQD 30.8K

$27.29 IQD 35.7K

-13.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.32 IQD 33.2K

$27.83 IQD 36.4K

-9.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.08 IQD 57.7K

$61.2 IQD 80.1K

-27.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.85 IQD 46.9K

$43.90 IQD 57.5K

-18.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$237 IQD 309.9K

$378 IQD 494.8K

-37.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.7K

$191 IQD 249.6K

-7.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$581 IQD 760.3K

$662 IQD 867.5K

-12.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 IQD 453.6K

$322 IQD 422.1K

7.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$799 IQD 1.0M

$1,702 IQD 2.2M

-53.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$569 IQD 745.3K

$562 IQD 736.0K

1.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$567 IQD 742.3K

$515 IQD 674.7K

10.02%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Al Hillah: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $237 in Sulaymaniyah versus $378 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 10% 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: $182 vs $188 – 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 10%, 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 $1,121 per month in Sulaymaniyah and $1,228 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 176% less in Sulaymaniyah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $155 per month in Sulaymaniyah and $96.5 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 $747 in Sulaymaniyah and $819 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.