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: $744 in Sulaymaniyah versus $714 in Al-mawsil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,167 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,063 in Al-mawsil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,591 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,412 in Al-mawsil.

Living in Sulaymaniyah is roughly 4% more expensive than Al-mawsil, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sulaymaniyah 45% lower, Al-mawsil 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.32 IQD 6,971

$7.48 IQD 9,795

-28.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.03 IQD 35.4K

$12.45 IQD 16.3K

117.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.90 IQD 9,040

$5.61 IQD 7,350

22.99%

Cappuccino

$2.56 IQD 3,349

$0.74 IQD 965

245.95%

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

$0.37 IQD 482

$0.36 IQD 473

2.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 277

$0.18 IQD 229

16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 IQD 2,683

$0.98 IQD 1,288

109.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 IQD 3,454

$1.55 IQD 2,025

70.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 IQD 1,862

$0.92 IQD 1,206

54.35%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 IQD 1,277

$0.73 IQD 959

34.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 IQD 2,172

$1.10 IQD 1,441

50.91%

Eggs

$1.76 IQD 2,299

$1.90 IQD 2,482

-7.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.80 IQD 7,598

$7.24 IQD 9,476

-19.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.44 IQD 4,501

$3.27 IQD 4,287

5.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 IQD 18.7K

$7.26 IQD 9,502

96.97%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,607

$0.90 IQD 1,177

36.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.25 IQD 1,634

$0.87 IQD 1,136

43.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 IQD 1,645

$0.80 IQD 1,049

57.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 921

$0.36 IQD 476

94.44%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 821

$0.38 IQD 498

65.79%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 844

$0.46 IQD 602

39.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 IQD 711

$0.52 IQD 685

3.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 591

$0.49 IQD 647

-8.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.89 IQD 2,470

$2.02 IQD 2,642

-6.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.68 IQD 15.3K

$12.27 IQD 16.1K

-4.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 IQD 2,072

$1.38 IQD 1,804

14.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 IQD 2,272

$1.94 IQD 2,536

-10.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 724

$0.39 IQD 514

41.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.87 IQD 29.9K

$30.80 IQD 40.3K

-25.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,949

$2.19 IQD 2,867

2.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.24 IQD 2,929

$2.02 IQD 2,639

10.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.37 IQD 7,033

$3.26 IQD 4,266

64.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 IQD 985

$0.35 IQD 458

114.29%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

$15.3K IQD 20.0M

35.59%

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

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

$17.6K IQD 23.0M

17.59%

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

$75.9 IQD 99.4K

$102 IQD 134.1K

-25.83%

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

$16.34 IQD 21.4K

$17.73 IQD 23.2K

-7.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.04 IQD 34.1K

$27.00 IQD 35.4K

-3.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.68 IQD 52.0K

$24.44 IQD 32.0K

62.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.91 IQD 22.1K

$18.72 IQD 24.5K

-9.67%

Cinema Ticket

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

$11.16 IQD 14.6K

-29.66%

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

$154 IQD 201.3K

$204 IQD 267.1K

-24.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,539 IQD 4.6M

$681 IQD 891.8K

419.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.16 IQD 31.6K

$13.92 IQD 18.2K

73.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.00 IQD 32.7K

$17.64 IQD 23.1K

41.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.01 IQD 56.3K

$83.6 IQD 109.5K

-48.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.77 IQD 46.8K

$18.91 IQD 24.8K

89.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$237 IQD 310.3K

$245 IQD 320.9K

-3.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 IQD 236.9K

$180 IQD 236.1K

0.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$569 IQD 744.6K

$574 IQD 752.2K

-1.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$344 IQD 450.5K

$346 IQD 453.1K

-0.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$805 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$587 IQD 768.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$562 IQD 735.6K

$621 IQD 813.8K

-9.61%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Al-mawsil: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $237 in Sulaymaniyah and $245 in Al-mawsil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al-mawsil pays 11% 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 $183 vs $148 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 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Al-mawsil earns 11% 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 $245 in Al-mawsil. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $154 in Sulaymaniyah versus $204 in Al-mawsil. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 23% 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 4% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.