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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $774 in Sulaymaniyah versus $388 in Al-Rumaitha.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,198 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,246 in Al-Rumaitha.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,623 in Sulaymaniyah versus $2,105 in Al-Rumaitha.

Living in Sulaymaniyah is roughly 100% more expensive than in Al-Rumaitha, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sulaymaniyah 44% lower, Al-Rumaitha 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.68 IQD 6,133

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.61 IQD 29.6K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.95 IQD 9,102

Cappuccino

$2.37 IQD 3,097

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

$0.42 IQD 553

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 274

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.67 IQD 6,119

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 IQD 3,029

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 IQD 1,768

White Bread (500g)

$0.91 IQD 1,191

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.01 IQD 2,636

$0.78 IQD 1,015

157.69%

Eggs

$1.68 IQD 2,201

$1.80 IQD 2,355

-6.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.99 IQD 6,531

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.56 IQD 4,658

$1.95 IQD 2,549

82.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.68 IQD 20.5K

$10.57 IQD 13.8K

48.34%

Apples (1kg)

$1.32 IQD 1,728

$0.75 IQD 982

76.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 IQD 1,686

$0.78 IQD 1,027

65.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 IQD 1,568

$0.77 IQD 1,011

55.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 919

$0.36 IQD 476

94.44%

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 IQD 778

$0.40 IQD 520

47.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 893

$0.39 IQD 515

74.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 IQD 937

$0.39 IQD 512

84.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 IQD 650

$0.39 IQD 512

28.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.40 IQD 3,148

$1.50 IQD 1,965

60.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.54 IQD 15.1K

$12.76 IQD 16.7K

-9.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 IQD 2,560

$1.55 IQD 2,027

25.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 IQD 2,193

$2.31 IQD 3,031

-27.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 722

$0.36 IQD 475

52.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.03 IQD 30.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 IQD 3,087

$2.32 IQD 3,040

1.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.26 IQD 2,961

$0.77 IQD 1,009

193.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.33 IQD 6,982

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 879

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

$20.4K IQD 26.6M

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

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

$9,188 IQD 12.0M

111.52%

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

$99.6 IQD 130.4K

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

$11.01 IQD 14.4K

$75.0 IQD 98.3K

-85.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.26 IQD 38.3K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.07 IQD 47.2K

$26.91 IQD 35.2K

34.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.49 IQD 26.8K

$3.87 IQD 5,073

429.46%

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

$11.47 IQD 15.0K

-32.96%

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

$176 IQD 231.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,969 IQD 3.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.91 IQD 24.8K

$11.28 IQD 14.8K

67.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.92 IQD 33.9K

$14.99 IQD 19.6K

72.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$42.61 IQD 55.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.42 IQD 49.0K

$22.81 IQD 29.9K

64.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$229 IQD 300.2K

$150 IQD 196.8K

52.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 IQD 231.7K

$114 IQD 149.6K

54.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$499 IQD 653.5K

$229 IQD 300.4K

117.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$357 IQD 466.9K

$1,537 IQD 2.0M

-76.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$813 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$582 IQD 761.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$563 IQD 737.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.77

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

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: August 31, 2026

Last update for Al-Rumaitha: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $229 in Sulaymaniyah and $150 in Al-Rumaitha. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

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-Rumaitha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al-Rumaitha is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 100% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,161 in Sulaymaniyah and $582 in Al-Rumaitha 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: $229 in Sulaymaniyah versus $150 in Al-Rumaitha. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 69% higher in Sulaymaniyah. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $774 per month in Sulaymaniyah versus $388 in Al-Rumaitha – a 100% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Al-Rumaitha 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-Rumaitha 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-Rumaitha gentler on the wallet – expenses run 100% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.