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: $750 in Sulaymaniyah versus $735 in Al-mawsil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,166 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,098 in Al-mawsil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,581 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,460 in Al-mawsil.

Living in Sulaymaniyah is roughly 2% more expensive than Al-mawsil, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sulaymaniyah 44% lower, Al-mawsil 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.26 IQD 6,895

$7.50 IQD 9,825

-29.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.81 IQD 35.1K

$12.23 IQD 16.0K

119.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.01 IQD 9,182

$5.65 IQD 7,402

24.07%

Cappuccino

$2.64 IQD 3,461

$0.73 IQD 959

261.64%

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

$0.39 IQD 514

$0.36 IQD 478

8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 269

$0.18 IQD 235

16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.07 IQD 2,714

$0.95 IQD 1,242

117.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 IQD 3,550

$1.52 IQD 1,986

78.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 IQD 1,851

$0.90 IQD 1,177

56.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 IQD 1,332

$0.75 IQD 989

36.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 IQD 2,109

$1.06 IQD 1,391

51.89%

Eggs

$1.78 IQD 2,329

$1.92 IQD 2,521

-7.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.10 IQD 7,998

$7.31 IQD 9,583

-16.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.56 IQD 4,667

$3.30 IQD 4,327

7.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.01 IQD 18.4K

$6.96 IQD 9,122

101.29%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,532

$0.90 IQD 1,185

30.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 IQD 1,694

$0.90 IQD 1,173

43.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.27 IQD 1,662

$0.80 IQD 1,055

58.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 957

$0.39 IQD 516

87.18%

Potato (1kg)

$0.61 IQD 798

$0.38 IQD 501

60.53%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 879

$0.46 IQD 596

45.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 IQD 777

$0.48 IQD 625

22.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 590

$0.49 IQD 640

-8.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 IQD 2,536

$1.97 IQD 2,583

-1.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.61 IQD 15.2K

$12.39 IQD 16.2K

-6.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 IQD 1,975

$1.43 IQD 1,874

5.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 IQD 2,367

$1.93 IQD 2,532

-6.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 715

$0.36 IQD 476

52.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.16 IQD 30.3K

$31.31 IQD 41.0K

-26.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 IQD 3,096

$2.11 IQD 2,759

11.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 IQD 3,053

$2.06 IQD 2,693

13.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.46 IQD 7,150

$3.26 IQD 4,265

67.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 IQD 1,006

$0.33 IQD 429

133.33%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$15.0K IQD 19.7M

35.14%

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

$20.6K IQD 26.9M

$17.9K IQD 23.5M

14.57%

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

$76.6 IQD 100.4K

$100 IQD 131.3K

-23.58%

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

$16.90 IQD 22.1K

$17.45 IQD 22.9K

-3.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.27 IQD 34.4K

$26.64 IQD 34.9K

-1.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.65 IQD 51.9K

$23.52 IQD 30.8K

68.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.92 IQD 22.2K

$18.63 IQD 24.4K

-9.18%

Cinema Ticket

$7.47 IQD 9,788

$11.17 IQD 14.6K

-33.12%

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

$151 IQD 198.4K

$200 IQD 261.6K

-24.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,491 IQD 4.6M

$699 IQD 916.2K

399.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.36 IQD 30.6K

$14.26 IQD 18.7K

63.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.92 IQD 32.6K

$17.36 IQD 22.7K

43.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.74 IQD 57.3K

$83.7 IQD 109.6K

-47.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.40 IQD 47.7K

$19.20 IQD 25.2K

89.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$240 IQD 315.0K

$242 IQD 317.4K

-0.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.4K

$176 IQD 230.0K

-0.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$572 IQD 749.7K

$588 IQD 769.8K

-2.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$341 IQD 446.4K

$348 IQD 455.7K

-2.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$810 IQD 1.1M

$1,987 IQD 2.6M

-59.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$579 IQD 758.5K

$1,490 IQD 2.0M

-61.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$580 IQD 759.7K

$602 IQD 789.0K

-3.71%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Al-mawsil: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $240 in Sulaymaniyah and $242 in Al-mawsil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al-mawsil pays 4% 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 $12.00 in Al-mawsil for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $184 vs $149 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, Sport & Entertainment. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Al-mawsil earns 4% 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: $240 in Sulaymaniyah versus $242 in Al-mawsil. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $151 in Sulaymaniyah versus $200 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 2% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.