Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and As Samawah Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and As Samawah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $761 in Sulaymaniyah versus $892 in As Samawah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,176 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,353 in As Samawah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,591 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,814 in As Samawah.

Living in Sulaymaniyah costs roughly 15% less than in As Samawah, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sulaymaniyah 43% lower, As Samawah 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.42 IQD 7,098

$5.24 IQD 6,866

3.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.66 IQD 34.9K

$36.43 IQD 47.7K

-26.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.84 IQD 8,953

$7.73 IQD 10.1K

-11.51%

Cappuccino

$2.65 IQD 3,468

$3.04 IQD 3,987

-12.83%

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

$0.20 IQD 265

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 IQD 2,681

$3.48 IQD 4,553

-41.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 IQD 3,529

$2.93 IQD 3,837

-8.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 IQD 1,913

$1.37 IQD 1,799

6.57%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 IQD 1,295

$0.82 IQD 1,074

20.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 IQD 2,105

$1.60 IQD 2,089

0.63%

Eggs

$1.71 IQD 2,244

$1.64 IQD 2,146

4.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.05 IQD 7,920

$4.60 IQD 6,022

31.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.53 IQD 4,617

$4.83 IQD 6,329

-26.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.46 IQD 18.9K

$14.18 IQD 18.6K

1.97%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,527

$1.03 IQD 1,347

13.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,615

$1.02 IQD 1,339

20.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.28 IQD 1,671

$0.68 IQD 893

88.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 985

$0.51 IQD 673

47.06%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 871

$0.70 IQD 916

-4.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 845

$0.62 IQD 817

4.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 IQD 715

$0.31 IQD 411

77.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 586

$0.62 IQD 806

-27.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 IQD 2,543

$2.08 IQD 2,723

-6.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.56 IQD 15.1K

$7.73 IQD 10.1K

49.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 IQD 1,976

$1.80 IQD 2,352

-16.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 IQD 2,269

$2.07 IQD 2,716

-16.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 724

$0.39 IQD 516

41.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.59 IQD 29.6K

$30.89 IQD 40.5K

-26.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.27 IQD 2,966

$3.91 IQD 5,117

-41.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.28 IQD 2,986

$1.54 IQD 2,021

48.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.21 IQD 6,828

$7.62 IQD 9,979

-31.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 IQD 985

$0.56 IQD 734

33.93%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

5.03%

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

$21.1K IQD 27.7M

$19.8K IQD 26.0M

6.57%

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

$77.5 IQD 101.5K

$179 IQD 234.3K

-56.70%

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

$16.80 IQD 22.0K

$26.15 IQD 34.2K

-35.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.70 IQD 35.0K

$40.39 IQD 52.9K

-33.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.57 IQD 50.5K

$36.08 IQD 47.2K

6.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.67 IQD 21.8K

$16.91 IQD 22.1K

-1.42%

Cinema Ticket

$7.48 IQD 9,799

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

-2.98%

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

$150 IQD 196.2K

$169 IQD 220.9K

-11.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,550 IQD 4.6M

$3,635 IQD 4.8M

-2.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.44 IQD 30.7K

$28.02 IQD 36.7K

-16.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.93 IQD 32.6K

$30.35 IQD 39.7K

-17.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.58 IQD 57.1K

$63.5 IQD 83.1K

-31.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.28 IQD 47.5K

$43.10 IQD 56.4K

-15.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$235 IQD 308.2K

$239 IQD 312.9K

-1.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 IQD 236.2K

$182 IQD 238.1K

-0.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$568 IQD 744.4K

$579 IQD 758.4K

-1.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$340 IQD 445.3K

$349 IQD 457.2K

-2.61%

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 As Samawah: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $235 in Sulaymaniyah and $239 in As Samawah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah vs $36.00 in As Samawah. Groceries flip the comparison at $184 vs $173, with As Samawah cheaper for home cooking.

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 As Samawah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sulaymaniyah is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,142 in Sulaymaniyah and $1,338 in As Samawah 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: $235 in Sulaymaniyah versus $239 in As Samawah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Sulaymaniyah runs roughly 37% less than in As Samawah. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $150 in Sulaymaniyah versus $169 in As Samawah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

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 As Samawah 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 17% less than in As Samawah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.