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: $747 in Sulaymaniyah versus $766 in Al-Rumaitha.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,168 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,181 in Al-Rumaitha.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,589 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,596 in Al-Rumaitha.

Living in Sulaymaniyah costs roughly 3% less than in Al-Rumaitha, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sulaymaniyah 44% lower, Al-Rumaitha 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.32 IQD 6,969

$4.07 IQD 5,331

30.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.82 IQD 35.1K

$24.66 IQD 32.3K

8.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.08 IQD 9,272

$6.94 IQD 9,087

2.02%

Cappuccino

$2.65 IQD 3,471

$2.57 IQD 3,369

3.11%

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

$0.37 IQD 481

$0.39 IQD 516

-5.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 236

$0.16 IQD 216

12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.07 IQD 2,710

$2.86 IQD 3,743

-27.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 IQD 3,570

$2.95 IQD 3,870

-7.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 IQD 1,858

$1.33 IQD 1,736

6.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 IQD 1,345

$0.85 IQD 1,112

21.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 IQD 2,094

$1.57 IQD 2,060

1.91%

Eggs

$1.78 IQD 2,325

$1.78 IQD 2,329

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.76 IQD 7,540

$4.38 IQD 5,741

31.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.46 IQD 4,533

$4.73 IQD 6,192

-26.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.08 IQD 18.4K

$12.99 IQD 17.0K

8.39%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,532

$1.20 IQD 1,577

-2.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 IQD 1,691

$1.15 IQD 1,500

12.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 IQD 1,738

$1.06 IQD 1,383

25.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 923

$0.70 IQD 919

1.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 808

$0.70 IQD 920

-11.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 878

$0.63 IQD 830

6.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 IQD 764

$0.64 IQD 835

-9.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 IQD 601

$0.55 IQD 722

-16.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.89 IQD 2,481

$1.94 IQD 2,546

-2.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.23 IQD 14.7K

$13.18 IQD 17.3K

-14.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 IQD 1,971

$1.84 IQD 2,414

-18.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 IQD 2,287

$2.14 IQD 2,806

-18.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 721

$0.37 IQD 483

48.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.10 IQD 30.3K

$31.62 IQD 41.4K

-26.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 IQD 3,087

$2.34 IQD 3,070

0.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 IQD 3,050

$1.48 IQD 1,935

57.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.41 IQD 7,082

$6.14 IQD 8,044

-11.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 IQD 943

$0.54 IQD 703

33.33%

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

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

10.75%

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

$21.0K IQD 27.5M

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

5.07%

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

$76.0 IQD 99.5K

$76.9 IQD 100.7K

-1.14%

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

$16.72 IQD 21.9K

$17.44 IQD 22.8K

-4.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.19 IQD 34.3K

$34.89 IQD 45.7K

-24.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.72 IQD 50.7K

$36.96 IQD 48.4K

4.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.62 IQD 21.8K

$16.50 IQD 21.6K

0.73%

Cinema Ticket

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$7.64 IQD 10.0K

1.83%

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

$155 IQD 202.4K

$150 IQD 196.0K

3.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,464 IQD 4.5M

$3,219 IQD 4.2M

7.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.54 IQD 30.8K

$27.34 IQD 35.8K

-13.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.32 IQD 33.2K

$25.62 IQD 33.6K

-1.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.08 IQD 57.7K

$62.5 IQD 81.9K

-29.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.85 IQD 46.9K

$40.65 IQD 53.2K

-11.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$237 IQD 309.9K

$244 IQD 319.4K

-2.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.7K

$176 IQD 230.0K

-0.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$581 IQD 760.3K

$570 IQD 746.9K

1.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 IQD 453.6K

$343 IQD 449.5K

0.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$799 IQD 1.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$569 IQD 745.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$567 IQD 742.3K

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Al-Rumaitha: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $237 in Sulaymaniyah and $244 in Al-Rumaitha. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah vs $25.00 in Al-Rumaitha. Groceries flip the comparison at $182 vs $184, with Sulaymaniyah 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-Rumaitha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sulaymaniyah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,121 in Sulaymaniyah and $1,150 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: $237 in Sulaymaniyah versus $244 in Al-Rumaitha. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $747 per month in Sulaymaniyah versus $766 in Al-Rumaitha – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Sulaymaniyah runs roughly 37% less than in Al-Rumaitha. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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-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 Sulaymaniyah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Al-Rumaitha. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.