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: $747 in Sulaymaniyah versus $656 in Al Kufah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,168 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,043 in Al Kufah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,589 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,429 in Al Kufah.

Living in Sulaymaniyah is roughly 14% more expensive than Al Kufah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sulaymaniyah 44% lower, Al Kufah 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.32 IQD 6,969

$5.45 IQD 7,142

-2.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.82 IQD 35.1K

$36.32 IQD 47.6K

-26.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.08 IQD 9,272

$7.50 IQD 9,815

-5.60%

Cappuccino

$2.65 IQD 3,471

$3.05 IQD 3,990

-13.11%

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

$0.37 IQD 481

$0.39 IQD 517

-5.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 236

$0.20 IQD 266

-10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.07 IQD 2,710

$3.34 IQD 4,375

-38.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 IQD 3,570

$2.83 IQD 3,711

-3.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 IQD 1,858

$1.11 IQD 1,454

27.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 IQD 1,345

$0.66 IQD 861

56.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 IQD 2,094

$1.63 IQD 2,135

-1.84%

Eggs

$1.78 IQD 2,325

$1.74 IQD 2,283

2.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.76 IQD 7,540

$2.24 IQD 2,934

157.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.46 IQD 4,533

$3.08 IQD 4,038

12.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.08 IQD 18.4K

$10.18 IQD 13.3K

38.31%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,532

$0.52 IQD 683

125.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 IQD 1,691

$0.92 IQD 1,209

40.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 IQD 1,737

$0.71 IQD 933

87.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 923

$0.49 IQD 646

44.90%

Potato (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 808

$0.40 IQD 527

55.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 878

$0.31 IQD 401

116.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 IQD 764

$0.68 IQD 884

-14.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 IQD 601

$0.42 IQD 545

9.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.89 IQD 2,481

$1.96 IQD 2,566

-3.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.23 IQD 14.7K

$13.80 IQD 18.1K

-18.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 IQD 1,971

$1.82 IQD 2,388

-17.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 IQD 2,287

$2.12 IQD 2,771

-17.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 721

$0.37 IQD 488

48.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.10 IQD 30.3K

$31.06 IQD 40.7K

-25.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 IQD 3,087

$2.34 IQD 3,068

0.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 IQD 3,050

$1.53 IQD 2,004

52.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.41 IQD 7,082

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

-29.83%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

3.67%

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

$21.0K IQD 27.5M

$19.6K IQD 25.7M

6.81%

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

$76.0 IQD 99.5K

$40.32 IQD 52.8K

88.52%

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

$16.72 IQD 21.9K

$26.29 IQD 34.4K

-36.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.19 IQD 34.3K

$22.61 IQD 29.6K

15.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.72 IQD 50.7K

$25.46 IQD 33.3K

52.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.62 IQD 21.8K

$16.55 IQD 21.7K

0.42%

Cinema Ticket

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$7.43 IQD 9,724

4.71%

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

$155 IQD 202.4K

$87.4 IQD 114.4K

76.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,464 IQD 4.5M

$2,386 IQD 3.1M

45.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.54 IQD 30.8K

$21.39 IQD 28.0K

10.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.32 IQD 33.2K

$30.55 IQD 40.0K

-17.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.08 IQD 57.7K

$19.88 IQD 26.0K

121.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.85 IQD 46.9K

$27.88 IQD 36.5K

28.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$237 IQD 309.9K

$210 IQD 275.6K

12.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.7K

$181 IQD 237.0K

-3.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$581 IQD 760.3K

$424 IQD 555.4K

36.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 IQD 453.6K

$290 IQD 379.6K

19.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$799 IQD 1.0M

$3,193 IQD 4.2M

-74.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$569 IQD 745.3K

$1,688 IQD 2.2M

-66.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$567 IQD 742.3K

$776 IQD 1.0M

-26.92%

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 Kufah: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $237 in Sulaymaniyah and $210 in Al Kufah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Kufah pays 37% 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 $182 vs $148, 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 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Al Kufah earns 37% less. 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: $237 in Sulaymaniyah versus $210 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 $747 per month in Sulaymaniyah versus $656 in Al Kufah – a 14% 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 14% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.