Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and An Najaf Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and An Najaf

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $765 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $645 in An Najaf, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,170 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $976 in An Najaf, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,575 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $1,306 in An Najaf, rent included.

Sulaymaniyah costs about 18% more than An Najaf, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Sulaymaniyah and An Najaf are more affordable than the global median – Sulaymaniyah 45% lower, An Najaf 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 IQD 5,959

$4.64 IQD 6,078

-1.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.34 IQD 30.6K

$22.62 IQD 29.6K

3.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.94 IQD 9,095

$4.85 IQD 6,350

43.09%

Cappuccino

$2.47 IQD 3,240

$2.48 IQD 3,251

-0.40%

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

$0.46 IQD 596

$0.37 IQD 482

24.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 IQD 302

$0.26 IQD 343

-11.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.48 IQD 5,865

$3.91 IQD 5,120

14.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 IQD 2,958

$1.97 IQD 2,586

14.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 IQD 1,803

$1.03 IQD 1,346

33.98%

White Bread (500g)

$0.90 IQD 1,183

$0.82 IQD 1,077

9.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 IQD 2,546

$1.57 IQD 2,052

23.57%

Eggs

$1.70 IQD 2,227

$1.65 IQD 2,160

3.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.03 IQD 6,585

$3.71 IQD 4,853

35.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.57 IQD 4,682

$4.73 IQD 6,201

-24.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.05 IQD 21.0K

$10.73 IQD 14.1K

49.58%

Apples (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,707

$1.18 IQD 1,546

10.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,696

$1.07 IQD 1,399

21.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,563

$1.01 IQD 1,324

17.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 891

$0.73 IQD 963

-6.85%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 IQD 760

$0.65 IQD 850

-10.77%

Onion (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 964

$0.64 IQD 835

15.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 IQD 933

$0.67 IQD 875

5.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 IQD 651

$0.53 IQD 696

-5.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.42 IQD 3,165

$1.69 IQD 2,219

43.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.35 IQD 14.9K

$13.64 IQD 17.9K

-16.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 IQD 2,429

$2.23 IQD 2,924

-17.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 IQD 2,185

$2.25 IQD 2,948

-25.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 IQD 782

$0.33 IQD 428

81.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.06 IQD 30.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,046

$1.54 IQD 2,018

51.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.35 IQD 3,083

$1.49 IQD 1,951

57.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.50 IQD 7,198

$5.31 IQD 6,958

3.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 877

$0.45 IQD 588

48.89%

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

$20.5K IQD 26.8M

$11.8K IQD 15.5M

73.14%

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

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

$18.0K IQD 23.6M

6.10%

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

$101 IQD 132.5K

$38.16 IQD 50.0K

165.20%

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

$11.03 IQD 14.4K

$16.66 IQD 21.8K

-33.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.65 IQD 37.5K

$37.30 IQD 48.8K

-23.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.86 IQD 47.0K

$28.91 IQD 37.9K

24.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.57 IQD 26.9K

Cinema Ticket

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

$9.36 IQD 12.3K

-16.13%

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

$175 IQD 229.1K

$168 IQD 219.9K

4.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,899 IQD 3.8M

$917 IQD 1.2M

216.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.45 IQD 25.5K

$16.14 IQD 21.1K

20.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.14 IQD 32.9K

$27.01 IQD 35.4K

-6.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$42.60 IQD 55.8K

$71.2 IQD 93.2K

-40.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.79 IQD 49.5K

$47.90 IQD 62.7K

-21.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$234 IQD 306.0K

$258 IQD 337.8K

-9.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.7K

$140 IQD 183.4K

25.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 IQD 672.3K

$335 IQD 438.1K

53.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$362 IQD 473.7K

$204 IQD 266.7K

77.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$800 IQD 1.0M

$1,263 IQD 1.7M

-36.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$574 IQD 751.4K

$488 IQD 638.5K

17.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$572 IQD 749.1K

$729 IQD 954.1K

-21.49%

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 An Najaf: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $234 in Sulaymaniyah versus $258 in An Najaf. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 27% higher in An Najaf, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah versus $23.00 in An Najaf. Groceries tell a different story – $188 in Sulaymaniyah vs $174 in An Najaf – so An Najaf wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 An Najaf: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sulaymaniyah costs about 18% more than An Najaf, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,147 per month in Sulaymaniyah and $968 in An Najaf. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in An Najaf, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $765 in Sulaymaniyah and $645 in An Najaf. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $175 per month in Sulaymaniyah and $168 in An Najaf. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $765 in Sulaymaniyah and $645 in An Najaf, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward An Najaf – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with An Najaf. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sulaymaniyah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.