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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $765 in Sulaymaniyah versus $691 in Al-miqdadiyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,170 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,085 in Al-miqdadiyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,575 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,479 in Al-miqdadiyah.

Living in Sulaymaniyah is roughly 11% more expensive than in Al-miqdadiyah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sulaymaniyah 45% lower, Al-miqdadiyah 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 IQD 5,959

$7.59 IQD 9,945

-40.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.34 IQD 30.6K

$43.52 IQD 57.0K

-46.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.94 IQD 9,095

$8.38 IQD 11.0K

-17.18%

Cappuccino

$2.47 IQD 3,240

$3.76 IQD 4,920

-34.31%

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

$0.46 IQD 596

$1.04 IQD 1,357

-55.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 IQD 302

$0.45 IQD 591

-48.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.48 IQD 5,865

$6.13 IQD 8,034

-26.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 IQD 2,958

$4.65 IQD 6,094

-51.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 IQD 1,803

$1.28 IQD 1,678

7.81%

White Bread (500g)

$0.90 IQD 1,183

$0.77 IQD 1,013

16.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 IQD 2,546

$1.76 IQD 2,300

10.23%

Eggs

$1.70 IQD 2,227

$1.84 IQD 2,415

-7.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.03 IQD 6,585

$8.33 IQD 10.9K

-39.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.57 IQD 4,682

$5.54 IQD 7,254

-35.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.05 IQD 21.0K

$14.79 IQD 19.4K

8.52%

Apples (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,707

$1.15 IQD 1,505

13.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,696

$1.10 IQD 1,446

18.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,563

$1.19 IQD 1,555

Tomato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 891

$0.82 IQD 1,070

-17.07%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 IQD 760

$0.76 IQD 993

-23.68%

Onion (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 964

$0.69 IQD 905

7.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 IQD 933

$0.74 IQD 964

-4.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 IQD 651

$0.59 IQD 776

-15.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.42 IQD 3,165

Wine (Bottle)

$11.35 IQD 14.9K

$12.69 IQD 16.6K

-10.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 IQD 2,429

$1.63 IQD 2,133

13.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 IQD 2,185

$2.08 IQD 2,727

-19.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 IQD 782

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.06 IQD 30.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,046

$1.86 IQD 2,442

25.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.35 IQD 3,083

$1.83 IQD 2,400

28.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.50 IQD 7,198

$6.54 IQD 8,564

-15.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 877

$0.62 IQD 813

8.06%

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

$20.5K IQD 26.8M

$18.1K IQD 23.7M

13.02%

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

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

-6.11%

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

$101 IQD 132.5K

$130 IQD 170.0K

-22.05%

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

$11.03 IQD 14.4K

$13.90 IQD 18.2K

-20.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.65 IQD 37.5K

$27.70 IQD 36.3K

3.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.86 IQD 47.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.57 IQD 26.9K

Cinema Ticket

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

$11.23 IQD 14.7K

-30.10%

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

$175 IQD 229.1K

$312 IQD 409.2K

-44.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,899 IQD 3.8M

$3,084 IQD 4.0M

-5.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.45 IQD 25.5K

$31.12 IQD 40.8K

-37.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.14 IQD 32.9K

$44.33 IQD 58.1K

-43.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$42.60 IQD 55.8K

$70.1 IQD 91.7K

-39.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.79 IQD 49.5K

$69.2 IQD 90.6K

-45.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$234 IQD 306.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 IQD 672.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$362 IQD 473.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$800 IQD 1.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$574 IQD 751.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$572 IQD 749.1K

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 6, 2026

Last update for Al-miqdadiyah: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah vs $44.00 in Al-miqdadiyah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $205 per month, with Sulaymaniyah 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-miqdadiyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sulaymaniyah and Al-miqdadiyah differ by about 11% in total monthly costs ($765 vs $691 including rent). Al-miqdadiyah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,147 in Sulaymaniyah and $1,036 in Al-miqdadiyah to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Shoppers in Sulaymaniyah pay roughly 9% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $765 per month in Sulaymaniyah versus $691 in Al-miqdadiyah – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Al-miqdadiyah 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-miqdadiyah 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-miqdadiyah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.