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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $752 in Sulaymaniyah versus $677 in Al Kufah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,169 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,056 in Al Kufah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,586 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,434 in Al Kufah.

Living in Sulaymaniyah is roughly 11% more expensive than in Al Kufah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sulaymaniyah 44% lower, Al Kufah 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.40 IQD 7,068

$5.24 IQD 6,865

3.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.96 IQD 35.3K

$36.37 IQD 47.6K

-25.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.98 IQD 9,142

$7.74 IQD 10.1K

-9.82%

Cappuccino

$2.68 IQD 3,507

$2.99 IQD 3,919

-10.37%

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

$0.39 IQD 512

$0.39 IQD 515

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 274

$0.21 IQD 276

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.04 IQD 2,675

$3.47 IQD 4,539

-41.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 IQD 3,492

$2.95 IQD 3,858

-9.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 IQD 1,948

$1.08 IQD 1,416

37.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 IQD 1,346

$0.61 IQD 801

68.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 IQD 2,100

$1.57 IQD 2,058

1.91%

Eggs

$1.69 IQD 2,219

$1.73 IQD 2,262

-2.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.79 IQD 7,586

$2.24 IQD 2,932

158.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 IQD 4,492

$2.93 IQD 3,836

17.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.35 IQD 18.8K

$9.66 IQD 12.6K

48.55%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,529

$0.52 IQD 674

125.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,703

$0.97 IQD 1,267

34.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 IQD 1,651

$0.73 IQD 952

72.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 925

$0.49 IQD 645

44.90%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 875

$0.38 IQD 495

76.32%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 893

$0.31 IQD 402

119.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 IQD 772

$0.68 IQD 890

-13.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 589

$0.45 IQD 587

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.93 IQD 2,532

$1.95 IQD 2,555

-1.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.63 IQD 15.2K

$13.76 IQD 18.0K

-15.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 IQD 1,992

$1.80 IQD 2,355

-15.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 IQD 2,305

$2.09 IQD 2,733

-15.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 725

$0.35 IQD 454

57.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.33 IQD 30.5K

$30.86 IQD 40.4K

-24.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.28 IQD 2,983

$2.32 IQD 3,036

-1.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.29 IQD 2,993

$1.53 IQD 2,005

49.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.20 IQD 6,812

$7.75 IQD 10.1K

-32.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.71 IQD 931

$0.54 IQD 704

31.48%

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

$21.0K IQD 27.4M

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

5.04%

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

$20.9K IQD 27.4M

$20.2K IQD 26.4M

3.69%

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

$76.1 IQD 99.6K

$39.68 IQD 52.0K

91.66%

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

$16.47 IQD 21.6K

$25.46 IQD 33.3K

-35.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.94 IQD 35.3K

$22.60 IQD 29.6K

19.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.52 IQD 50.4K

$25.81 IQD 33.8K

49.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.02 IQD 22.3K

$16.52 IQD 21.6K

3.03%

Cinema Ticket

$7.47 IQD 9,776

$7.46 IQD 9,765

0.13%

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

$154 IQD 201.3K

$86.1 IQD 112.8K

78.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,465 IQD 4.5M

$2,377 IQD 3.1M

45.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.94 IQD 31.4K

$20.91 IQD 27.4K

14.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 IQD 33.3K

$29.43 IQD 38.5K

-13.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.60 IQD 57.1K

$19.98 IQD 26.2K

118.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.26 IQD 47.5K

$27.57 IQD 36.1K

31.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$236 IQD 309.5K

$213 IQD 279.0K

10.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 IQD 232.3K

$181 IQD 237.0K

-1.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$574 IQD 751.2K

$427 IQD 558.5K

34.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$351 IQD 459.5K

$296 IQD 387.1K

18.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$828 IQD 1.1M

$1,335 IQD 1.7M

-37.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$571 IQD 748.3K

$380 IQD 497.8K

50.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$575 IQD 753.3K

$1,014 IQD 1.3M

-43.28%

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 Kufah: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $236 in Sulaymaniyah and $213 in Al Kufah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Kufah pays 76% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah vs $36.00 in Al Kufah. Groceries flip the comparison at $184 vs $145, with Al Kufah cheaper for home cooking.

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 Kufah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al Kufah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 76% lower in Al Kufah. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $236 in Sulaymaniyah versus $213 in Al Kufah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Al Kufah – a meal for two runs $36.00 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 $677 in Al Kufah – a 11% 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 Kufah 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 Kufah 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 Kufah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.