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: $747 in Sulaymaniyah versus $732 in Al Kazimiyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,168 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,160 in Al Kazimiyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,589 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,589 in Al Kazimiyah.

Living in Sulaymaniyah is roughly 2% more expensive than Al Kazimiyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sulaymaniyah 44% lower, Al Kazimiyah 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.32 IQD 6,969

$3.99 IQD 5,226

33.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.82 IQD 35.1K

$24.69 IQD 32.3K

8.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.08 IQD 9,272

$6.81 IQD 8,912

3.96%

Cappuccino

$2.65 IQD 3,471

$2.64 IQD 3,455

0.38%

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

$0.37 IQD 481

$0.37 IQD 483

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 236

$0.21 IQD 280

-14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.07 IQD 2,710

$2.89 IQD 3,779

-28.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 IQD 3,570

$2.81 IQD 3,683

-2.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 IQD 1,858

$1.33 IQD 1,741

6.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 IQD 1,345

$0.78 IQD 1,015

32.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 IQD 2,094

$1.58 IQD 2,064

1.27%

Eggs

$1.78 IQD 2,325

$1.72 IQD 2,258

3.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.76 IQD 7,540

$4.48 IQD 5,860

28.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.46 IQD 4,533

$4.64 IQD 6,082

-25.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.08 IQD 18.4K

$13.08 IQD 17.1K

7.65%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,532

$1.15 IQD 1,510

1.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 IQD 1,691

$1.15 IQD 1,505

12.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 IQD 1,737

$1.05 IQD 1,380

26.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 923

$0.75 IQD 979

-5.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 808

$0.68 IQD 892

-8.82%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 878

$0.67 IQD 875

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 IQD 764

$0.68 IQD 884

-14.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 IQD 601

$0.55 IQD 720

-16.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.89 IQD 2,481

$1.88 IQD 2,460

0.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.23 IQD 14.7K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 IQD 1,971

$1.86 IQD 2,438

-19.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 IQD 2,287

$2.07 IQD 2,714

-15.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 721

$0.40 IQD 518

37.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.10 IQD 30.3K

$31.41 IQD 41.1K

-26.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 IQD 3,087

$2.34 IQD 3,069

0.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 IQD 3,050

$1.50 IQD 1,960

55.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.41 IQD 7,082

$5.86 IQD 7,678

-7.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 IQD 943

$0.54 IQD 704

33.33%

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

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

10.79%

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

$21.0K IQD 27.5M

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

6.21%

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

$76.0 IQD 99.5K

$76.2 IQD 99.8K

-0.29%

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

$16.72 IQD 21.9K

$17.58 IQD 23.0K

-4.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.19 IQD 34.3K

$34.07 IQD 44.6K

-23.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.72 IQD 50.7K

$37.20 IQD 48.7K

4.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.62 IQD 21.8K

$16.68 IQD 21.8K

-0.36%

Cinema Ticket

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$7.56 IQD 9,905

2.91%

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

$155 IQD 202.4K

$152 IQD 199.3K

1.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,464 IQD 4.5M

$3,248 IQD 4.3M

6.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.54 IQD 30.8K

$26.60 IQD 34.8K

-11.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.32 IQD 33.2K

$25.38 IQD 33.2K

-0.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.08 IQD 57.7K

$60.1 IQD 78.7K

-26.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.85 IQD 46.9K

$41.64 IQD 54.5K

-13.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$237 IQD 309.9K

$247 IQD 322.9K

-4.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.7K

$177 IQD 232.4K

-1.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$581 IQD 760.3K

$572 IQD 748.4K

1.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 IQD 453.6K

$350 IQD 458.5K

-1.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$799 IQD 1.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$569 IQD 745.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$567 IQD 742.3K

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Al Kazimiyah: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $237 in Sulaymaniyah and $247 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 $182 vs $157 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 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,121 in Sulaymaniyah and $1,098 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: $237 in Sulaymaniyah versus $247 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 $747 per month in Sulaymaniyah versus $732 in Al Kazimiyah – a 2% 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 2% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.