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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $752 in Sulaymaniyah versus $723 in Al Kazimiyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,169 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,154 in Al Kazimiyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,586 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,585 in Al Kazimiyah.

Living in Sulaymaniyah is roughly 4% more expensive than in Al Kazimiyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sulaymaniyah 44% lower, Al Kazimiyah 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.40 IQD 7,068

$3.94 IQD 5,161

37.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.96 IQD 35.3K

$24.95 IQD 32.7K

8.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.98 IQD 9,142

$6.91 IQD 9,055

1.01%

Cappuccino

$2.68 IQD 3,507

$2.55 IQD 3,337

5.10%

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

$0.39 IQD 512

$0.37 IQD 483

5.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 274

$0.16 IQD 214

31.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.04 IQD 2,675

$2.99 IQD 3,917

-31.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 IQD 3,492

$2.86 IQD 3,741

-6.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 IQD 1,948

$1.37 IQD 1,788

8.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 IQD 1,346

$0.84 IQD 1,100

22.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 IQD 2,100

$1.64 IQD 2,146

-2.44%

Eggs

$1.69 IQD 2,219

$1.80 IQD 2,357

-6.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.79 IQD 7,586

$4.42 IQD 5,790

31.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 IQD 4,492

$4.78 IQD 6,259

-28.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.35 IQD 18.8K

$13.42 IQD 17.6K

6.93%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,529

$1.20 IQD 1,578

-2.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,703

$1.21 IQD 1,585

7.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 IQD 1,651

$1.00 IQD 1,313

26.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 925

$0.73 IQD 961

-2.74%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 875

$0.64 IQD 841

4.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 893

$0.62 IQD 814

9.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 IQD 772

$0.63 IQD 829

-6.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 589

$0.56 IQD 737

-19.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.93 IQD 2,532

$1.88 IQD 2,457

2.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.63 IQD 15.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 IQD 1,992

$1.84 IQD 2,416

-17.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 IQD 2,305

$2.15 IQD 2,822

-18.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 725

$0.40 IQD 518

37.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.33 IQD 30.5K

$31.10 IQD 40.7K

-24.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.28 IQD 2,983

$2.33 IQD 3,048

-2.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.29 IQD 2,993

$1.53 IQD 2,007

49.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.20 IQD 6,812

$5.96 IQD 7,801

-12.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.71 IQD 931

$0.57 IQD 752

24.56%

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

$21.0K IQD 27.4M

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

11.42%

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

$20.9K IQD 27.4M

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

5.05%

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

$76.1 IQD 99.6K

$76.3 IQD 99.9K

-0.34%

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

$16.47 IQD 21.6K

$17.47 IQD 22.9K

-5.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.94 IQD 35.3K

$34.12 IQD 44.7K

-21.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.52 IQD 50.4K

$36.07 IQD 47.2K

6.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.02 IQD 22.3K

$16.91 IQD 22.1K

0.65%

Cinema Ticket

$7.47 IQD 9,776

$7.73 IQD 10.1K

-3.36%

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

$154 IQD 201.3K

$151 IQD 197.3K

2.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,465 IQD 4.5M

$3,327 IQD 4.4M

4.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.94 IQD 31.4K

$27.55 IQD 36.1K

-13.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 IQD 33.3K

$25.18 IQD 33.0K

1.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.60 IQD 57.1K

$62.0 IQD 81.2K

-29.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.26 IQD 47.5K

$40.64 IQD 53.2K

-10.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$236 IQD 309.5K

$241 IQD 315.8K

-2.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 IQD 232.3K

$179 IQD 234.1K

-0.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$574 IQD 751.2K

$580 IQD 759.4K

-1.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$351 IQD 459.5K

$348 IQD 456.2K

0.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$828 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$571 IQD 748.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$575 IQD 753.3K

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 Kazimiyah: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $236 in Sulaymaniyah and $241 in Al Kazimiyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah vs $25.00 in Al Kazimiyah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $184 vs $160 per month, with Al Kazimiyah cheaper across the board.

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 Kazimiyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al Kazimiyah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,128 in Sulaymaniyah and $1,084 in Al Kazimiyah to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $236 in Sulaymaniyah versus $241 in Al Kazimiyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Al Kazimiyah – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $752 per month in Sulaymaniyah versus $723 in Al Kazimiyah – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Al Kazimiyah gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Sulaymaniyah and Al Kazimiyah are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Al Kazimiyah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.