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: $752 in Sulaymaniyah versus $777 in Al-Rumaitha.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,169 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,176 in Al-Rumaitha.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,586 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,574 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 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.40 IQD 7,068

$4.00 IQD 5,239

35.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.96 IQD 35.3K

$25.15 IQD 32.9K

7.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.98 IQD 9,142

$6.71 IQD 8,785

4.02%

Cappuccino

$2.68 IQD 3,507

$2.60 IQD 3,408

3.08%

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

$0.39 IQD 512

$0.39 IQD 515

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 274

$0.20 IQD 265

5.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.04 IQD 2,675

$2.86 IQD 3,745

-28.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 IQD 3,492

$2.91 IQD 3,809

-8.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 IQD 1,948

$1.33 IQD 1,738

12.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 IQD 1,346

$0.79 IQD 1,031

30.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 IQD 2,100

$1.66 IQD 2,168

-3.61%

Eggs

$1.69 IQD 2,219

$1.74 IQD 2,274

-2.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.79 IQD 7,586

$4.37 IQD 5,727

32.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 IQD 4,492

$4.61 IQD 6,039

-25.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.35 IQD 18.8K

$13.31 IQD 17.4K

7.81%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,529

$1.20 IQD 1,570

-2.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,703

$1.15 IQD 1,507

13.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 IQD 1,651

$1.02 IQD 1,330

23.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 925

$0.74 IQD 964

-4.05%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 875

$0.65 IQD 845

3.08%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 893

$0.67 IQD 872

1.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 IQD 772

$0.62 IQD 813

-4.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 589

$0.55 IQD 722

-18.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.93 IQD 2,532

$1.89 IQD 2,479

2.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.63 IQD 15.2K

$12.90 IQD 16.9K

-9.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 IQD 1,992

$1.85 IQD 2,421

-17.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 IQD 2,305

$2.08 IQD 2,727

-15.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 725

$0.36 IQD 478

52.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.33 IQD 30.5K

$31.29 IQD 41.0K

-25.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.28 IQD 2,983

$2.33 IQD 3,054

-2.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.29 IQD 2,993

$1.49 IQD 1,957

53.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.20 IQD 6,812

$5.92 IQD 7,756

-12.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.71 IQD 931

$0.57 IQD 751

24.56%

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

$21.0K IQD 27.4M

$19.2K IQD 25.2M

9.01%

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

$20.9K IQD 27.4M

$19.6K IQD 25.7M

6.80%

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

$76.1 IQD 99.6K

$78.1 IQD 102.3K

-2.65%

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

$16.47 IQD 21.6K

$17.49 IQD 22.9K

-5.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.94 IQD 35.3K

$34.43 IQD 45.1K

-21.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.52 IQD 50.4K

$36.84 IQD 48.2K

4.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.02 IQD 22.3K

$17.12 IQD 22.4K

-0.58%

Cinema Ticket

$7.47 IQD 9,776

$7.63 IQD 9,995

-2.10%

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

$154 IQD 201.3K

$153 IQD 200.1K

0.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,465 IQD 4.5M

$3,328 IQD 4.4M

4.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.94 IQD 31.4K

$26.81 IQD 35.1K

-10.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 IQD 33.3K

$25.05 IQD 32.8K

1.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.60 IQD 57.1K

$62.3 IQD 81.5K

-29.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.26 IQD 47.5K

$40.45 IQD 53.0K

-10.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$236 IQD 309.5K

$239 IQD 313.3K

-1.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 IQD 232.3K

$179 IQD 234.9K

-1.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$574 IQD 751.2K

$584 IQD 764.6K

-1.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$351 IQD 459.5K

$338 IQD 442.7K

3.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$828 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$571 IQD 748.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$575 IQD 753.3K

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Al-Rumaitha: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $236 in Sulaymaniyah and $239 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 for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $184 vs $183 per month, with Al-Rumaitha 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-Rumaitha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sulaymaniyah is cheaper overall, especially in 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 $1,128 in Sulaymaniyah and $1,165 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: $236 in Sulaymaniyah versus $239 in Al-Rumaitha. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $752 per month in Sulaymaniyah versus $777 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 34% 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.