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: $761 in Sulaymaniyah versus $720 in Al-mawsil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,176 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,071 in Al-mawsil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,591 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,422 in Al-mawsil.

Living in Sulaymaniyah is roughly 6% more expensive than in Al-mawsil, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sulaymaniyah 43% lower, Al-mawsil 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.42 IQD 7,098

$7.88 IQD 10.3K

-31.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.66 IQD 34.9K

$12.14 IQD 15.9K

119.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.84 IQD 8,953

$5.57 IQD 7,296

22.80%

Cappuccino

$2.65 IQD 3,468

$0.80 IQD 1,051

231.25%

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

$0.39 IQD 515

$0.39 IQD 513

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 256

$0.16 IQD 214

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 IQD 2,681

$0.99 IQD 1,301

107.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 IQD 3,529

$1.55 IQD 2,030

73.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 IQD 1,913

$0.90 IQD 1,172

62.22%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 IQD 1,295

$0.76 IQD 994

30.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 IQD 2,105

$1.06 IQD 1,383

51.89%

Eggs

$1.71 IQD 2,244

$1.95 IQD 2,559

-12.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.05 IQD 7,920

$7.48 IQD 9,791

-19.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.53 IQD 4,617

$3.23 IQD 4,232

9.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.46 IQD 18.9K

$6.93 IQD 9,070

108.66%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,527

$0.84 IQD 1,096

39.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,615

$0.87 IQD 1,139

41.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.28 IQD 1,671

$0.77 IQD 1,015

66.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 985

$0.39 IQD 511

92.31%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 871

$0.39 IQD 505

71.79%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 845

$0.42 IQD 548

54.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 IQD 715

$0.52 IQD 677

5.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 586

$0.50 IQD 650

-10.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 IQD 2,543

$2.00 IQD 2,622

-3.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.56 IQD 15.1K

$12.48 IQD 16.3K

-7.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 IQD 1,976

$1.43 IQD 1,867

5.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 IQD 2,269

$1.97 IQD 2,578

-12.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 724

$0.36 IQD 474

52.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.59 IQD 29.6K

$31.06 IQD 40.7K

-27.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.27 IQD 2,966

$2.19 IQD 2,866

3.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.28 IQD 2,986

$1.99 IQD 2,604

14.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.21 IQD 6,828

$3.29 IQD 4,303

58.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 IQD 985

$0.32 IQD 425

134.38%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

$15.5K IQD 20.2M

34.03%

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

$21.1K IQD 27.7M

$17.8K IQD 23.3M

18.57%

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

$77.5 IQD 101.5K

$102 IQD 134.0K

-24.29%

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

$16.80 IQD 22.0K

$17.93 IQD 23.5K

-6.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.70 IQD 35.0K

$26.91 IQD 35.2K

-0.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.57 IQD 50.5K

$23.79 IQD 31.2K

62.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.67 IQD 21.8K

$18.68 IQD 24.5K

-10.76%

Cinema Ticket

$7.48 IQD 9,799

$11.15 IQD 14.6K

-32.91%

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

$150 IQD 196.2K

$196 IQD 257.2K

-23.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,550 IQD 4.6M

$696 IQD 911.7K

409.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.44 IQD 30.7K

$14.02 IQD 18.4K

67.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.93 IQD 32.6K

$17.43 IQD 22.8K

43.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.58 IQD 57.1K

$83.1 IQD 108.8K

-47.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.28 IQD 47.5K

$19.33 IQD 25.3K

87.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$235 IQD 308.2K

$243 IQD 318.5K

-3.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 IQD 236.2K

$180 IQD 236.1K

0.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$568 IQD 744.4K

$588 IQD 769.6K

-3.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$340 IQD 445.3K

$339 IQD 444.1K

0.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$820 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$576 IQD 753.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$570 IQD 746.9K

$601 IQD 786.5K

-5.04%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Al-mawsil: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $235 in Sulaymaniyah and $243 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: $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah vs $12.00 in Al-mawsil for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $184 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 6% 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: $235 in Sulaymaniyah versus $243 in Al-mawsil. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $150 in Sulaymaniyah versus $196 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 6% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.