Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and Ar Ramadi Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and Ar Ramadi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $761 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $720 in Ar Ramadi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,176 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $1,096 in Ar Ramadi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,591 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $1,471 in Ar Ramadi, rent included.

Sulaymaniyah costs about 6% more than Ar Ramadi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sulaymaniyah and Ar Ramadi are more affordable than the global median – Sulaymaniyah 43% lower, Ar Ramadi 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.42 IQD 7,098

$4.16 IQD 5,453

30.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.66 IQD 34.9K

$25.12 IQD 32.9K

6.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.84 IQD 8,953

$6.80 IQD 8,910

0.59%

Cappuccino

$2.65 IQD 3,468

$2.65 IQD 3,466

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

$0.39 IQD 515

$0.37 IQD 484

5.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 256

$0.21 IQD 278

-4.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 IQD 2,681

$2.88 IQD 3,776

-28.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 IQD 3,529

$2.86 IQD 3,745

-5.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 IQD 1,913

$0.84 IQD 1,101

73.81%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 IQD 1,295

$0.83 IQD 1,081

19.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 IQD 2,105

$1.72 IQD 2,255

-6.40%

Eggs

$1.71 IQD 2,244

$1.88 IQD 2,466

-9.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.05 IQD 7,920

$3.80 IQD 4,971

59.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.53 IQD 4,617

$2.37 IQD 3,098

48.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.46 IQD 18.9K

$10.26 IQD 13.4K

40.94%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,527

$1.04 IQD 1,359

12.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,615

$1.09 IQD 1,424

12.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.28 IQD 1,671

$1.04 IQD 1,367

23.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 985

$0.61 IQD 793

22.95%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 871

$0.56 IQD 735

19.64%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 845

$0.42 IQD 549

54.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 IQD 715

$0.66 IQD 866

-16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 586

$0.46 IQD 604

-2.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 IQD 2,543

$1.90 IQD 2,485

2.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.56 IQD 15.1K

$3.93 IQD 5,151

194.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 IQD 1,976

$1.71 IQD 2,237

-11.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 IQD 2,269

$2.10 IQD 2,751

-17.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 724

$0.36 IQD 476

52.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.59 IQD 29.6K

$30.82 IQD 40.4K

-26.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.27 IQD 2,966

$2.25 IQD 2,941

0.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.28 IQD 2,986

$1.48 IQD 1,934

54.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.21 IQD 6,828

$5.86 IQD 7,680

-11.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 IQD 985

$0.57 IQD 748

31.58%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

9.41%

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

$21.1K IQD 27.7M

$19.5K IQD 25.6M

8.12%

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

$77.5 IQD 101.5K

$77.6 IQD 101.6K

-0.15%

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

$16.80 IQD 22.0K

$17.83 IQD 23.3K

-5.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.70 IQD 35.0K

$34.81 IQD 45.6K

-23.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.57 IQD 50.5K

$37.21 IQD 48.7K

3.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.67 IQD 21.8K

$16.64 IQD 21.8K

0.18%

Cinema Ticket

$7.48 IQD 9,799

$7.67 IQD 10.0K

-2.48%

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

$150 IQD 196.2K

$152 IQD 198.7K

-1.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,550 IQD 4.6M

$3,255 IQD 4.3M

9.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.44 IQD 30.7K

$26.82 IQD 35.1K

-12.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.93 IQD 32.6K

$24.78 IQD 32.4K

0.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.58 IQD 57.1K

$61.8 IQD 81.0K

-29.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.28 IQD 47.5K

$41.96 IQD 54.9K

-13.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$235 IQD 308.2K

$238 IQD 311.2K

-0.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 IQD 236.2K

$179 IQD 234.7K

0.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$568 IQD 744.4K

$578 IQD 757.5K

-1.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$340 IQD 445.3K

$340 IQD 444.7K

0.14%

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 Ar Ramadi: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $235 in Sulaymaniyah versus $238 in Ar Ramadi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah versus $25.00 in Ar Ramadi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $184 vs $135 – making Ar Ramadi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Ar Ramadi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sulaymaniyah costs about 6% more than Ar Ramadi, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,142 per month in Sulaymaniyah and $1,080 in Ar Ramadi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ar Ramadi, 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 $761 in Sulaymaniyah and $720 in Ar Ramadi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 36% less in Ar Ramadi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $761 in Sulaymaniyah and $720 in Ar Ramadi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Ar Ramadi – 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 Ar Ramadi. 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.