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: $765 in Sulaymaniyah versus $630 in Al Kufah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,170 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,038 in Al Kufah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,575 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,446 in Al Kufah.

Living in Sulaymaniyah is roughly 21% more expensive than in Al Kufah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sulaymaniyah 45% lower, Al Kufah 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 IQD 5,959

$4.83 IQD 6,320

-5.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.34 IQD 30.6K

$34.07 IQD 44.6K

-31.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.94 IQD 9,095

$7.48 IQD 9,795

-7.22%

Cappuccino

$2.47 IQD 3,240

$3.20 IQD 4,191

-22.81%

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

$0.46 IQD 596

$0.36 IQD 474

27.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 IQD 302

$0.24 IQD 312

-4.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.48 IQD 5,865

$3.86 IQD 5,055

16.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 IQD 2,958

$3.89 IQD 5,100

-41.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 IQD 1,803

$1.03 IQD 1,347

33.98%

White Bread (500g)

$0.90 IQD 1,183

$0.79 IQD 1,035

13.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 IQD 2,546

$1.52 IQD 1,993

27.63%

Eggs

$1.70 IQD 2,227

$1.82 IQD 2,390

-6.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.03 IQD 6,585

$2.33 IQD 3,046

115.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.57 IQD 4,682

$4.57 IQD 5,980

-21.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.05 IQD 21.0K

$9.29 IQD 12.2K

72.77%

Apples (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,707

$0.75 IQD 976

73.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,696

$1.05 IQD 1,370

23.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,563

$0.61 IQD 801

95.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 891

$0.56 IQD 739

21.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 IQD 760

$0.51 IQD 668

13.73%

Onion (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 964

$0.33 IQD 431

124.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 IQD 933

$0.20 IQD 267

255.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 IQD 651

$0.55 IQD 716

-9.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.42 IQD 3,165

$1.59 IQD 2,077

52.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.35 IQD 14.9K

$13.80 IQD 18.1K

-17.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 IQD 2,429

$2.22 IQD 2,908

-16.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 IQD 2,185

$2.21 IQD 2,893

-24.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 IQD 782

$0.37 IQD 482

62.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.06 IQD 30.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,046

$2.22 IQD 2,909

4.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.35 IQD 3,083

$1.55 IQD 2,027

51.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.50 IQD 7,198

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

-28.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 877

$0.58 IQD 762

15.52%

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

$20.5K IQD 26.8M

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

5.57%

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

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

$19.6K IQD 25.6M

-2.34%

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

$101 IQD 132.5K

$218 IQD 285.9K

-53.64%

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

$11.03 IQD 14.4K

$21.02 IQD 27.5K

-47.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.65 IQD 37.5K

$22.69 IQD 29.7K

26.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.86 IQD 47.0K

$15.54 IQD 20.3K

130.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.57 IQD 26.9K

Cinema Ticket

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

$9.96 IQD 13.0K

-21.18%

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

$175 IQD 229.1K

$72.7 IQD 95.2K

140.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,899 IQD 3.8M

$2,401 IQD 3.1M

20.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.45 IQD 25.5K

$9.86 IQD 12.9K

97.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.14 IQD 32.9K

$29.84 IQD 39.1K

-15.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$42.60 IQD 55.8K

$20.17 IQD 26.4K

111.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.79 IQD 49.5K

$34.50 IQD 45.2K

9.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$234 IQD 306.0K

$189 IQD 247.3K

23.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 IQD 672.3K

$250 IQD 327.9K

105.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$362 IQD 473.7K

$204 IQD 266.8K

77.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$800 IQD 1.0M

$1,333 IQD 1.7M

-40.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$574 IQD 751.4K

$382 IQD 499.8K

50.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$572 IQD 749.1K

$1,017 IQD 1.3M

-43.75%

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 Kufah: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $234 in Sulaymaniyah and $189 in Al Kufah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Kufah pays 78% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah vs $34.00 in Al Kufah. Groceries flip the comparison at $188 vs $157, 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, Getting Around. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 78% 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: $234 in Sulaymaniyah versus $189 in Al Kufah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 20% higher in Sulaymaniyah. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $765 per month in Sulaymaniyah versus $630 in Al Kufah – a 21% 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 21% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.