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 $744 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $711 in Ar Ramadi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,167 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $1,104 in Ar Ramadi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,591 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $1,497 in Ar Ramadi, rent included.

Sulaymaniyah costs about 5% more than Ar Ramadi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sulaymaniyah and Ar Ramadi are more affordable than the global median – Sulaymaniyah 45% lower, Ar Ramadi 47% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sulaymaniyah
Ar Ramadi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.32 IQD 6,971
$4.09 IQD 5,359
30.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.03 IQD 35.4K
$25.30 IQD 33.1K
6.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.90 IQD 9,040
$6.82 IQD 8,925
1.17%
Cappuccino
$2.56 IQD 3,349
$2.59 IQD 3,392
-1.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 IQD 482
$0.39 IQD 511
-5.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21 IQD 277
$0.20 IQD 265
5.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.05 IQD 2,683
$2.92 IQD 3,829
-29.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 IQD 3,454
$2.80 IQD 3,670
-5.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sulaymaniyah
Ar Ramadi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.42 IQD 1,862
$0.92 IQD 1,198
54.35%
White Bread (500g)
$0.98 IQD 1,277
$0.78 IQD 1,027
25.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.66 IQD 2,172
$1.72 IQD 2,254
-3.49%
Eggs
$1.76 IQD 2,299
$1.89 IQD 2,471
-6.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.80 IQD 7,598
$3.83 IQD 5,012
51.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.44 IQD 4,501
$2.33 IQD 3,048
47.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.30 IQD 18.7K
$10.16 IQD 13.3K
40.75%
Apples (1kg)
$1.23 IQD 1,607
$1.06 IQD 1,388
16.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.25 IQD 1,634
$1.09 IQD 1,422
14.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.26 IQD 1,645
$1.09 IQD 1,422
15.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.70 IQD 921
$0.60 IQD 788
16.67%
Potato (1kg)
$0.63 IQD 821
$0.52 IQD 680
21.15%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 IQD 844
$0.46 IQD 603
39.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.54 IQD 711
$0.72 IQD 948
-25.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45 IQD 591
$0.47 IQD 615
-4.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.89 IQD 2,470
$1.94 IQD 2,535
-2.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.68 IQD 15.3K
$3.80 IQD 4,978
207.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 IQD 2,072
$1.74 IQD 2,275
-9.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 IQD 2,272
$2.08 IQD 2,722
-16.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Sulaymaniyah
Ar Ramadi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 IQD 724
$0.37 IQD 478
48.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.87 IQD 29.9K
$31.23 IQD 40.9K
-26.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.25 IQD 2,949
$2.33 IQD 3,051
-3.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.24 IQD 2,929
$1.55 IQD 2,023
44.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.37 IQD 7,033
$6.13 IQD 8,022
-12.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.75 IQD 985
$0.54 IQD 701
38.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K IQD 27.1M
$19.1K IQD 25.0M
8.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.6K IQD 27.0M
$19.6K IQD 25.7M
5.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sulaymaniyah
Ar Ramadi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$75.9 IQD 99.4K
$76.5 IQD 100.2K
-0.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.34 IQD 21.4K
$17.78 IQD 23.3K
-8.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.04 IQD 34.1K
$33.97 IQD 44.5K
-23.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sulaymaniyah
Ar Ramadi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.68 IQD 52.0K
$37.25 IQD 48.8K
6.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.91 IQD 22.1K
$16.95 IQD 22.2K
-0.24%
Cinema Ticket
$7.85 IQD 10.3K
$7.87 IQD 10.3K
-0.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sulaymaniyah
Ar Ramadi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$154 IQD 201.3K
$151 IQD 197.6K
1.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,539 IQD 4.6M
$3,215 IQD 4.2M
10.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sulaymaniyah
Ar Ramadi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.16 IQD 31.6K
$26.84 IQD 35.2K
-9.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.00 IQD 32.7K
$25.00 IQD 32.7K
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$43.01 IQD 56.3K
$60.9 IQD 79.7K
-29.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.77 IQD 46.8K
$41.08 IQD 53.8K
-12.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sulaymaniyah
Ar Ramadi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$237 IQD 310.3K
$243 IQD 317.7K
-2.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$181 IQD 236.9K
$180 IQD 235.1K
0.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$569 IQD 744.6K
$583 IQD 763.8K
-2.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$344 IQD 450.5K
$348 IQD 455.4K
-1.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$805 IQD 1.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$587 IQD 768.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sulaymaniyah
Ar Ramadi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$562 IQD 735.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9
5.67
58.73%

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

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: June 8, 2026

Last update for Ar Ramadi: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $237 in Sulaymaniyah versus $243 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: $183 vs $136 – 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
Which city is more expensive, Sulaymaniyah or Ar Ramadi?
Sulaymaniyah costs about 5% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Sulaymaniyah vs Ar Ramadi?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,116 per month in Sulaymaniyah and $1,066 in Ar Ramadi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Sulaymaniyah or Ar Ramadi?
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.
How much does it cost to live in Sulaymaniyah compared to Ar Ramadi?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $744 in Sulaymaniyah and $711 in Ar Ramadi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Sulaymaniyah vs Ar Ramadi?
Public transport costs about 37% less in Ar Ramadi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $800/month in Sulaymaniyah or Ar Ramadi?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $744 in Sulaymaniyah and $711 in Ar Ramadi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for families?
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.
How safe is Sulaymaniyah compared to Ar Ramadi?
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.
Should I move to Sulaymaniyah or Ar Ramadi?
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.

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