Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and Al-mawsil Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and Al-mawsil

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $780 in Sulaymaniyah versus $617 in Al-mawsil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,178 in Sulaymaniyah versus $827 in Al-mawsil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,576 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,038 in Al-mawsil.

Living in Sulaymaniyah is roughly 27% more expensive than in Al-mawsil, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sulaymaniyah 43% lower, Al-mawsil 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.50 IQD 5,898

$7.55 IQD 9,891

-40.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.28 IQD 30.5K

$12.36 IQD 16.2K

88.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.07 IQD 9,261

$5.61 IQD 7,344

26.02%

Cappuccino

$2.43 IQD 3,183

$0.75 IQD 981

224.00%

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

$0.45 IQD 593

$0.37 IQD 484

21.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 274

$0.19 IQD 252

10.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.70 IQD 6,159

$0.97 IQD 1,265

384.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 IQD 3,048

$1.51 IQD 1,982

54.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 IQD 1,740

$0.78 IQD 1,015

70.51%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 IQD 1,283

$0.73 IQD 959

34.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 IQD 2,507

$0.62 IQD 815

208.06%

Eggs

$1.76 IQD 2,299

$1.13 IQD 1,482

55.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.95 IQD 6,477

$7.97 IQD 10.4K

-37.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.55 IQD 4,645

$3.48 IQD 4,551

2.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.75 IQD 20.6K

$9.22 IQD 12.1K

70.82%

Apples (1kg)

$1.32 IQD 1,723

$0.73 IQD 956

80.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,701

$0.74 IQD 965

75.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,500

$0.60 IQD 781

91.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 911

$0.28 IQD 368

150.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 IQD 721

$0.32 IQD 425

71.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 901

$0.37 IQD 482

86.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 IQD 890

$0.78 IQD 1,028

-12.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 689

$0.59 IQD 772

-10.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.46 IQD 3,218

$1.87 IQD 2,444

31.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.60 IQD 15.2K

$12.38 IQD 16.2K

-6.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 IQD 2,450

$1.69 IQD 2,210

10.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 IQD 2,232

$2.08 IQD 2,720

-18.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 725

$0.39 IQD 514

41.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.88 IQD 30.0K

$30.48 IQD 39.9K

-24.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,045

$1.85 IQD 2,426

25.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.24 IQD 2,936

$1.82 IQD 2,382

23.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.47 IQD 7,168

$4.54 IQD 5,945

20.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 IQD 944

$0.33 IQD 430

118.18%

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

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

$15.3K IQD 20.0M

34.99%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

$17.8K IQD 23.3M

7.11%

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

$101 IQD 131.6K

$109 IQD 142.3K

-7.51%

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

$10.98 IQD 14.4K

$13.97 IQD 18.3K

-21.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.50 IQD 37.3K

$26.34 IQD 34.5K

8.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.99 IQD 47.1K

$23.02 IQD 30.1K

56.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.18 IQD 26.4K

$7.44 IQD 9,736

171.24%

Cinema Ticket

$7.54 IQD 9,871

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

-3.46%

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

$176 IQD 231.0K

$306 IQD 401.0K

-42.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,879 IQD 3.8M

$688 IQD 900.4K

318.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.43 IQD 25.4K

$19.01 IQD 24.9K

2.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.44 IQD 33.3K

$15.44 IQD 20.2K

64.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$42.51 IQD 55.7K

$70.5 IQD 92.3K

-39.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.09 IQD 49.9K

$18.06 IQD 23.6K

110.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$226 IQD 296.1K

$113 IQD 148.3K

99.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 IQD 226.6K

$76.3 IQD 100.0K

126.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$506 IQD 662.0K

$301 IQD 393.7K

68.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$363 IQD 474.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$831 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$587 IQD 768.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$580 IQD 759.1K

$608 IQD 795.7K

-4.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.77

2.53

128.06%

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

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: September 14, 2026

Last update for Al-mawsil: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $226 in Sulaymaniyah and $113 in Al-mawsil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al-mawsil pays 5% 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 $12.00 in Al-mawsil for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $152 per month, with Al-mawsil 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-mawsil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al-mawsil is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 5% lower in Al-mawsil. 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: $226 in Sulaymaniyah versus $113 in Al-mawsil. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $176 in Sulaymaniyah versus $306 in Al-mawsil. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 24% higher in Sulaymaniyah. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Al-mawsil 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-mawsil 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-mawsil gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.