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 $765 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $802 in Al Hillah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,170 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $1,239 in Al Hillah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,575 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $1,677 in Al Hillah, rent included.

Sulaymaniyah is about 5% cheaper than Al Hillah, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Sulaymaniyah and Al Hillah are more affordable than the global median – Sulaymaniyah 45% lower, Al Hillah 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 IQD 5,959

$4.76 IQD 6,238

-4.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.34 IQD 30.6K

$30.94 IQD 40.5K

-24.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.94 IQD 9,095

$6.22 IQD 8,147

11.58%

Cappuccino

$2.47 IQD 3,240

$3.04 IQD 3,984

-18.75%

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

$0.46 IQD 596

$0.36 IQD 477

27.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 IQD 302

$0.20 IQD 261

15.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.48 IQD 5,865

$2.89 IQD 3,780

55.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 IQD 2,958

$3.93 IQD 5,145

-42.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 IQD 1,803

$1.07 IQD 1,407

28.97%

White Bread (500g)

$0.90 IQD 1,183

$0.74 IQD 970

21.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 IQD 2,546

$1.57 IQD 2,062

23.57%

Eggs

$1.70 IQD 2,227

$1.86 IQD 2,434

-8.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.03 IQD 6,585

$3.97 IQD 5,201

26.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.57 IQD 4,682

$4.82 IQD 6,316

-25.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.05 IQD 21.0K

$14.51 IQD 19.0K

10.61%

Apples (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,707

$1.13 IQD 1,486

15.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,696

$1.12 IQD 1,466

16.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,563

$1.05 IQD 1,380

13.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 891

$0.79 IQD 1,031

-13.92%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 IQD 760

$0.71 IQD 934

-18.31%

Onion (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 964

$0.64 IQD 839

15.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 IQD 933

$0.56 IQD 732

26.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 IQD 651

$0.55 IQD 720

-9.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.42 IQD 3,165

$1.76 IQD 2,306

37.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.35 IQD 14.9K

$13.44 IQD 17.6K

-15.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 IQD 2,429

$2.13 IQD 2,793

-13.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 IQD 2,185

$2.27 IQD 2,968

-26.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 IQD 782

$0.40 IQD 521

50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.06 IQD 30.2K

$65.7 IQD 86.0K

-64.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,046

$2.31 IQD 3,025

0.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.35 IQD 3,083

$1.54 IQD 2,021

52.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.50 IQD 7,198

$3.39 IQD 4,439

62.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 877

$0.54 IQD 710

24.07%

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

$20.5K IQD 26.8M

$17.4K IQD 22.8M

17.51%

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

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

0.52%

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

$101 IQD 132.5K

$76.8 IQD 100.6K

31.77%

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

$11.03 IQD 14.4K

$15.23 IQD 19.9K

-27.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.65 IQD 37.5K

$37.47 IQD 49.1K

-23.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.86 IQD 47.0K

$22.76 IQD 29.8K

57.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.57 IQD 26.9K

$19.21 IQD 25.2K

7.08%

Cinema Ticket

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

$7.79 IQD 10.2K

0.77%

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

$175 IQD 229.1K

$95.1 IQD 124.5K

83.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,899 IQD 3.8M

$776 IQD 1.0M

273.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.45 IQD 25.5K

$21.89 IQD 28.7K

-11.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.14 IQD 32.9K

$24.96 IQD 32.7K

0.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$42.60 IQD 55.8K

$67.9 IQD 88.8K

-37.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.79 IQD 49.5K

$46.44 IQD 60.8K

-18.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$234 IQD 306.0K

$283 IQD 371.0K

-17.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.7K

$179 IQD 234.3K

-1.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 IQD 672.3K

$493 IQD 645.0K

4.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$362 IQD 473.7K

$290 IQD 379.3K

24.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$800 IQD 1.0M

$1,725 IQD 2.3M

-53.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$574 IQD 751.4K

$562 IQD 735.6K

2.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$572 IQD 749.1K

$509 IQD 666.8K

12.34%

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 6, 2026

Last update for Al Hillah: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $234 in Sulaymaniyah versus $283 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 12% 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 $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah versus $31.00 in Al Hillah. Groceries tell a different story – $188 in Sulaymaniyah vs $186 in Al Hillah – so Al Hillah wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 5%, 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 $1,147 per month in Sulaymaniyah and $1,203 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 185% less in Sulaymaniyah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $175 per month in Sulaymaniyah and $95.1 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 $765 in Sulaymaniyah and $802 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.