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: $761 in Sulaymaniyah versus $887 in Al-musayyib.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,176 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,338 in Al-musayyib.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,591 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,789 in Al-musayyib.

Living in Sulaymaniyah costs roughly 14% less than in Al-musayyib, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sulaymaniyah 43% lower, Al-musayyib 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.42 IQD 7,098

$5.49 IQD 7,189

-1.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.66 IQD 34.9K

$36.28 IQD 47.5K

-26.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.84 IQD 8,953

$7.48 IQD 9,792

-8.56%

Cappuccino

$2.65 IQD 3,468

$2.99 IQD 3,911

-11.37%

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

$0.39 IQD 515

$0.37 IQD 483

5.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 256

$0.19 IQD 244

5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 IQD 2,681

$3.43 IQD 4,488

-40.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 IQD 3,529

$2.81 IQD 3,683

-4.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 IQD 1,913

$1.17 IQD 1,538

24.79%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 IQD 1,295

$0.84 IQD 1,104

17.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 IQD 2,105

$1.51 IQD 1,975

6.62%

Eggs

$1.71 IQD 2,244

$1.49 IQD 1,956

14.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.05 IQD 7,920

$4.54 IQD 5,947

33.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.53 IQD 4,617

$3.74 IQD 4,897

-5.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.46 IQD 18.9K

$11.28 IQD 14.8K

28.19%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,527

$1.18 IQD 1,543

-0.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,615

$1.13 IQD 1,479

8.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.28 IQD 1,671

$1.01 IQD 1,326

26.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 985

$0.58 IQD 764

29.31%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 871

$0.59 IQD 773

13.56%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 845

$0.59 IQD 771

10.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 IQD 715

$0.54 IQD 712

1.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 586

$0.37 IQD 481

21.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 IQD 2,543

$2.05 IQD 2,685

-5.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.56 IQD 15.1K

$13.81 IQD 18.1K

-16.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 IQD 1,976

$1.76 IQD 2,301

-14.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 IQD 2,269

$2.08 IQD 2,721

-16.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 724

$0.37 IQD 479

48.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.59 IQD 29.6K

$31.47 IQD 41.2K

-28.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.27 IQD 2,966

$3.91 IQD 5,122

-41.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.28 IQD 2,986

$1.52 IQD 1,996

50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.21 IQD 6,828

$7.61 IQD 9,960

-31.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 IQD 985

$0.58 IQD 755

29.31%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

3.92%

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

$21.1K IQD 27.7M

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

5.85%

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

$77.5 IQD 101.5K

$180 IQD 235.5K

-56.92%

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

$16.80 IQD 22.0K

$25.74 IQD 33.7K

-34.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.70 IQD 35.0K

$40.78 IQD 53.4K

-34.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.57 IQD 50.5K

$36.66 IQD 48.0K

5.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.67 IQD 21.8K

$16.60 IQD 21.7K

0.42%

Cinema Ticket

$7.48 IQD 9,799

$7.63 IQD 9,992

-1.97%

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

$150 IQD 196.2K

$167 IQD 218.1K

-10.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,550 IQD 4.6M

$3,566 IQD 4.7M

-0.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.44 IQD 30.7K

$28.32 IQD 37.1K

-17.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.93 IQD 32.6K

$30.26 IQD 39.6K

-17.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.58 IQD 57.1K

$64.4 IQD 84.3K

-32.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.28 IQD 47.5K

$42.85 IQD 56.1K

-15.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$235 IQD 308.2K

$241 IQD 315.4K

-2.29%

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

$583 IQD 763.9K

-2.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$340 IQD 445.3K

$342 IQD 448.0K

-0.59%

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

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-musayyib: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $235 in Sulaymaniyah and $241 in Al-musayyib. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah vs $36.00 in Al-musayyib. Groceries flip the comparison at $184 vs $168, 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 16% in total monthly costs ($761 vs $887 including rent). Sulaymaniyah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,142 in Sulaymaniyah and $1,330 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $235 in Sulaymaniyah versus $241 in Al-musayyib. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $150 in Sulaymaniyah versus $167 in Al-musayyib. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

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

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Sulaymaniyah 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 Sulaymaniyah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Al-musayyib. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.