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 $765 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $116 in Ar Ramadi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,170 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $195 in Ar Ramadi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,575 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $274 in Ar Ramadi, rent included.

Sulaymaniyah costs about 561% more than Ar Ramadi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sulaymaniyah and Ar Ramadi are more affordable than the global median – Sulaymaniyah 45% lower, Ar Ramadi 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 IQD 5,959

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.34 IQD 30.6K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.94 IQD 9,095

Cappuccino

$2.47 IQD 3,240

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

$0.46 IQD 596

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 IQD 302

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.48 IQD 5,865

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 IQD 2,958

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 IQD 1,803

$0.73 IQD 961

89.04%

White Bread (500g)

$0.90 IQD 1,183

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 IQD 2,546

$1.49 IQD 1,952

30.20%

Eggs

$1.70 IQD 2,227

$1.86 IQD 2,434

-8.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.03 IQD 6,585

$1.55 IQD 2,025

224.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.57 IQD 4,682

$2.35 IQD 3,080

51.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.05 IQD 21.0K

$11.38 IQD 14.9K

41.04%

Apples (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,707

$1.13 IQD 1,483

15.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,696

$1.12 IQD 1,472

16.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,563

$1.12 IQD 1,463

6.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 891

$0.55 IQD 725

23.64%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 IQD 760

$0.59 IQD 768

-1.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 964

$0.37 IQD 478

100.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 IQD 933

$0.36 IQD 474

97.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 IQD 651

$0.22 IQD 284

127.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.42 IQD 3,165

$1.87 IQD 2,452

29.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.35 IQD 14.9K

$3.87 IQD 5,063

193.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 IQD 2,429

$1.52 IQD 1,988

21.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 IQD 2,185

$2.33 IQD 3,051

-28.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 IQD 782

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.06 IQD 30.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,046

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.35 IQD 3,083

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.50 IQD 7,198

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 877

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

$20.5K IQD 26.8M

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

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

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

$101 IQD 132.5K

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

$11.03 IQD 14.4K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.65 IQD 37.5K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.86 IQD 47.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.57 IQD 26.9K

Cinema Ticket

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

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

$175 IQD 229.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,899 IQD 3.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.45 IQD 25.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.14 IQD 32.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$42.60 IQD 55.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.79 IQD 49.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$234 IQD 306.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 IQD 672.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$362 IQD 473.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$800 IQD 1.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$574 IQD 751.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$572 IQD 749.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.77

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

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: September 6, 2026

Last update for Ar Ramadi: September 6, 2026

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 561% more than Ar Ramadi, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 $174 in Ar Ramadi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $765 in Sulaymaniyah and $116 in Ar Ramadi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 60% more in Sulaymaniyah, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $765 in Sulaymaniyah and $116 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.