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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $780 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $391 in Al Kut, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,178 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $601 in Al Kut, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,576 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $811 in Al Kut, rent included.

Sulaymaniyah costs about 100% more than Al Kut, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sulaymaniyah and Al Kut are more affordable than the global median – Sulaymaniyah 43% lower, Al Kut 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.50 IQD 5,898

$1.75 IQD 2,287

157.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.28 IQD 30.5K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.07 IQD 9,261

Cappuccino

$2.43 IQD 3,183

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

$0.45 IQD 593

$0.31 IQD 411

45.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 274

$0.14 IQD 177

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.70 IQD 6,160

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 IQD 3,048

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 IQD 1,740

$1.12 IQD 1,464

18.75%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 IQD 1,283

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 IQD 2,507

$1.48 IQD 1,937

29.05%

Eggs

$1.76 IQD 2,299

$1.58 IQD 2,067

11.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.95 IQD 6,477

$2.22 IQD 2,910

122.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.55 IQD 4,645

$3.57 IQD 4,670

-0.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.75 IQD 20.6K

$9.24 IQD 12.1K

70.45%

Apples (1kg)

$1.32 IQD 1,724

$0.84 IQD 1,100

57.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,701

$1.06 IQD 1,382

22.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,500

$0.85 IQD 1,112

35.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 911

$0.49 IQD 640

42.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 IQD 721

$0.43 IQD 564

27.91%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 901

$0.43 IQD 560

60.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 IQD 890

$0.39 IQD 509

74.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 689

$0.29 IQD 378

82.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.46 IQD 3,218

$1.02 IQD 1,334

141.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.60 IQD 15.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 IQD 2,450

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 IQD 2,232

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 725

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.88 IQD 30.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,045

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.24 IQD 2,936

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.47 IQD 7,168

$10.06 IQD 13.2K

-45.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 IQD 944

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

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

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

$101 IQD 131.6K

$170 IQD 222.7K

-40.88%

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

$10.98 IQD 14.4K

$15.04 IQD 19.7K

-26.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.50 IQD 37.3K

$24.76 IQD 32.4K

15.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.99 IQD 47.1K

$16.76 IQD 21.9K

114.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.18 IQD 26.4K

Cinema Ticket

$7.54 IQD 9,871

$5.09 IQD 6,662

48.13%

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

$176 IQD 231.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,879 IQD 3.8M

$1,400 IQD 1.8M

105.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.43 IQD 25.4K

$20.36 IQD 26.7K

-4.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.44 IQD 33.3K

$25.17 IQD 33.0K

1.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$42.51 IQD 55.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.09 IQD 49.9K

$30.23 IQD 39.6K

26.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$226 IQD 296.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 IQD 226.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$506 IQD 662.1K

$255 IQD 333.4K

98.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$363 IQD 474.9K

$170 IQD 223.2K

112.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$831 IQD 1.1M

$1,015 IQD 1.3M

-18.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$587 IQD 768.7K

$495 IQD 647.9K

18.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$580 IQD 759.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.77

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: September 14, 2026

Last update for Al Kut: September 14, 2026

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 Kut: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $780 in Sulaymaniyah, $391 in Al Kut – roughly 100% apart. Sulaymaniyah costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,171 per month in Sulaymaniyah and $586 in Al Kut. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $780 in Sulaymaniyah and $391 in Al Kut. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 90% more in Sulaymaniyah, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $780 in Sulaymaniyah and $391 in Al Kut, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Al Kut – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Al Kut. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sulaymaniyah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.