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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $765 in Sulaymaniyah versus $703 in Al-musayyib.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,170 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,023 in Al-musayyib.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,575 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,344 in Al-musayyib.

Living in Sulaymaniyah is roughly 9% more expensive than in Al-musayyib, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sulaymaniyah 45% lower, Al-musayyib 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 IQD 5,959

$4.65 IQD 6,091

-2.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.34 IQD 30.6K

$34.61 IQD 45.3K

-32.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.94 IQD 9,095

$7.70 IQD 10.1K

-9.87%

Cappuccino

$2.47 IQD 3,240

$3.18 IQD 4,163

-22.33%

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

$0.46 IQD 596

$0.39 IQD 514

17.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 IQD 302

$0.26 IQD 342

-11.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.48 IQD 5,865

$3.90 IQD 5,105

14.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 IQD 2,958

$3.83 IQD 5,021

-40.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 IQD 1,803

$1.08 IQD 1,413

27.78%

White Bread (500g)

$0.90 IQD 1,183

$0.77 IQD 1,014

16.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 IQD 2,546

$1.52 IQD 1,985

27.63%

Eggs

$1.70 IQD 2,227

$1.56 IQD 2,047

8.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.03 IQD 6,585

$3.87 IQD 5,068

29.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.57 IQD 4,682

$3.83 IQD 5,016

-6.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.05 IQD 21.0K

$11.30 IQD 14.8K

42.04%

Apples (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,707

$1.14 IQD 1,487

14.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,696

$1.07 IQD 1,396

21.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,563

$1.05 IQD 1,376

13.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 891

$0.54 IQD 711

25.93%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 IQD 760

$0.60 IQD 781

-3.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 964

$0.59 IQD 768

25.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 IQD 933

$0.55 IQD 721

29.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 IQD 651

$0.36 IQD 474

38.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.42 IQD 3,165

$1.82 IQD 2,386

32.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.35 IQD 14.9K

$13.77 IQD 18.0K

-17.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 IQD 2,429

$2.24 IQD 2,935

-17.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 IQD 2,185

$2.29 IQD 2,997

-27.07%

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

$2.26 IQD 2,957

3.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.35 IQD 3,083

$1.49 IQD 1,952

57.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.50 IQD 7,198

$7.66 IQD 10.0K

-28.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 877

$0.63 IQD 823

6.35%

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

$20.5K IQD 26.8M

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

7.75%

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

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

$19.1K IQD 25.1M

-0.16%

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

$101 IQD 132.5K

$212 IQD 277.1K

-52.17%

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

$11.03 IQD 14.4K

$20.98 IQD 27.5K

-47.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.65 IQD 37.5K

$41.50 IQD 54.3K

-30.96%

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

$10.68 IQD 14.0K

-26.50%

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

$175 IQD 229.1K

$170 IQD 222.6K

2.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,899 IQD 3.8M

$3,519 IQD 4.6M

-17.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.45 IQD 25.5K

$29.66 IQD 38.8K

-34.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.14 IQD 32.9K

$37.55 IQD 49.2K

-33.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$42.60 IQD 55.8K

$72.8 IQD 95.4K

-41.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.79 IQD 49.5K

$46.52 IQD 60.9K

-18.77%

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

4.12

40.05%

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

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: September 6, 2026

Last update for Al-musayyib: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah vs $35.00 in Al-musayyib. Groceries flip the comparison at $188 vs $167, with Al-musayyib cheaper for home cooking.

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-musayyib: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sulaymaniyah and Al-musayyib differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($765 vs $703 including rent). Al-musayyib 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 $1,054 in Al-musayyib 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.

Childcare runs $175 in Sulaymaniyah versus $170 in Al-musayyib. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Al-musayyib – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Al-musayyib 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-musayyib 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-musayyib gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.