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: $750 in Sulaymaniyah versus $886 in As Samawah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,166 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,349 in As Samawah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,581 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,813 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 44% lower, As Samawah 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.26 IQD 6,895

$5.37 IQD 7,038

-2.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.81 IQD 35.1K

$35.74 IQD 46.8K

-24.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.01 IQD 9,182

$7.63 IQD 10.0K

-8.13%

Cappuccino

$2.64 IQD 3,461

$3.00 IQD 3,925

-12.00%

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

$0.39 IQD 514

$0.39 IQD 513

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 269

$0.17 IQD 216

23.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.07 IQD 2,714

$3.51 IQD 4,594

-41.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 IQD 3,550

$2.91 IQD 3,816

-6.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 IQD 1,851

$1.31 IQD 1,719

7.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 IQD 1,332

$0.82 IQD 1,080

24.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 IQD 2,109

$1.63 IQD 2,136

-1.23%

Eggs

$1.78 IQD 2,329

$1.61 IQD 2,110

10.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.10 IQD 7,998

$4.39 IQD 5,746

38.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.56 IQD 4,667

$5.06 IQD 6,625

-29.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.01 IQD 18.4K

$13.83 IQD 18.1K

1.30%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,532

$1.02 IQD 1,333

14.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 IQD 1,694

$0.99 IQD 1,294

30.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.27 IQD 1,662

$0.69 IQD 903

84.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 957

$0.49 IQD 639

48.98%

Potato (1kg)

$0.61 IQD 798

$0.66 IQD 862

-7.58%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 879

$0.63 IQD 822

6.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 IQD 777

$0.32 IQD 418

84.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 590

$0.67 IQD 878

-32.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 IQD 2,536

$2.11 IQD 2,765

-8.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.61 IQD 15.2K

$7.59 IQD 9,945

52.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 IQD 1,975

$1.84 IQD 2,413

-17.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 IQD 2,367

$2.18 IQD 2,858

-16.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 715

$0.40 IQD 521

37.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.16 IQD 30.3K

$31.26 IQD 40.9K

-25.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 IQD 3,096

$3.73 IQD 4,885

-36.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 IQD 3,053

$1.54 IQD 2,019

51.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.46 IQD 7,150

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

-29.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 IQD 1,006

$0.54 IQD 704

42.59%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

1.69%

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

$20.6K IQD 26.9M

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

2.51%

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

$76.6 IQD 100.4K

$176 IQD 230.0K

-56.37%

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

$16.90 IQD 22.1K

$25.49 IQD 33.4K

-33.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.27 IQD 34.4K

$40.86 IQD 53.5K

-35.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.65 IQD 51.9K

$37.44 IQD 49.0K

5.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.92 IQD 22.2K

$16.54 IQD 21.7K

2.30%

Cinema Ticket

$7.47 IQD 9,788

$7.82 IQD 10.2K

-4.48%

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

$151 IQD 198.4K

$166 IQD 217.7K

-8.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,491 IQD 4.6M

$3,567 IQD 4.7M

-2.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.36 IQD 30.6K

$28.20 IQD 36.9K

-17.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.92 IQD 32.6K

$31.03 IQD 40.6K

-19.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.74 IQD 57.3K

$65.3 IQD 85.5K

-33.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.40 IQD 47.7K

$43.89 IQD 57.5K

-17.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$240 IQD 315.0K

$243 IQD 318.0K

-0.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.4K

$176 IQD 230.2K

-0.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$572 IQD 749.7K

$576 IQD 755.1K

-0.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$341 IQD 446.4K

$347 IQD 455.0K

-1.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$810 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$579 IQD 758.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$580 IQD 759.7K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for As Samawah: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $240 in Sulaymaniyah and $243 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 $172, 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 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,126 in Sulaymaniyah and $1,329 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: $240 in Sulaymaniyah versus $243 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 35% less than in As Samawah. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $151 in Sulaymaniyah versus $166 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 18% less than in As Samawah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.