Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and Az Zubayr Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and Az Zubayr

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $747 in Sulaymaniyah versus $728 in Az Zubayr.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,168 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,155 in Az Zubayr.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,589 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,582 in Az Zubayr.

Living in Sulaymaniyah is roughly 3% more expensive than Az Zubayr, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sulaymaniyah 44% lower, Az Zubayr 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.32 IQD 6,969

$3.99 IQD 5,222

33.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.82 IQD 35.1K

$25.15 IQD 32.9K

6.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.08 IQD 9,272

$6.69 IQD 8,761

5.83%

Cappuccino

$2.65 IQD 3,471

$2.67 IQD 3,493

-0.75%

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

$0.37 IQD 481

$0.37 IQD 484

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 236

$0.17 IQD 217

5.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.07 IQD 2,710

$2.92 IQD 3,829

-29.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 IQD 3,570

$2.81 IQD 3,679

-2.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 IQD 1,858

$1.30 IQD 1,709

9.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 IQD 1,345

$0.85 IQD 1,113

21.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 IQD 2,094

$1.61 IQD 2,104

-0.62%

Eggs

$1.78 IQD 2,325

$1.81 IQD 2,365

-1.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.76 IQD 7,540

$4.58 IQD 6,002

25.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.46 IQD 4,533

$4.76 IQD 6,237

-27.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.08 IQD 18.4K

$12.90 IQD 16.9K

9.15%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,532

$1.15 IQD 1,508

1.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 IQD 1,691

$1.17 IQD 1,530

10.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 IQD 1,737

$1.02 IQD 1,333

30.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 923

$0.70 IQD 918

1.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 808

$0.69 IQD 904

-10.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 878

$0.66 IQD 869

1.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 IQD 764

$0.66 IQD 867

-12.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 IQD 601

$0.57 IQD 742

-19.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.89 IQD 2,481

$1.97 IQD 2,575

-4.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.23 IQD 14.7K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 IQD 1,971

$1.79 IQD 2,348

-16.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 IQD 2,287

$2.15 IQD 2,813

-18.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 721

$0.36 IQD 477

52.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.10 IQD 30.3K

$31.38 IQD 41.1K

-26.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 IQD 3,087

$2.36 IQD 3,085

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 IQD 3,050

$1.55 IQD 2,023

50.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.41 IQD 7,082

$6.02 IQD 7,878

-10.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 IQD 943

$0.53 IQD 696

35.85%

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

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

7.73%

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

$21.0K IQD 27.5M

$20.2K IQD 26.5M

3.72%

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

$76.0 IQD 99.5K

$78.0 IQD 102.1K

-2.51%

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

$16.72 IQD 21.9K

$17.86 IQD 23.4K

-6.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.19 IQD 34.3K

$35.04 IQD 45.9K

-25.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.72 IQD 50.7K

$36.70 IQD 48.1K

5.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.62 IQD 21.8K

$16.76 IQD 21.9K

-0.84%

Cinema Ticket

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

-0.38%

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

$155 IQD 202.4K

$151 IQD 198.1K

2.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,464 IQD 4.5M

$3,250 IQD 4.3M

6.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.54 IQD 30.8K

$27.46 IQD 36.0K

-14.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.32 IQD 33.2K

$25.63 IQD 33.6K

-1.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.08 IQD 57.7K

$62.3 IQD 81.6K

-29.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.85 IQD 46.9K

$41.70 IQD 54.6K

-14.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$237 IQD 309.9K

$239 IQD 313.5K

-1.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.7K

$180 IQD 236.4K

-2.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$581 IQD 760.3K

$591 IQD 773.6K

-1.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 IQD 453.6K

$338 IQD 443.1K

2.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$799 IQD 1.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$569 IQD 745.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$567 IQD 742.3K

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Az Zubayr: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $237 in Sulaymaniyah and $239 in Az Zubayr. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah vs $25.00 in Az Zubayr for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $182 vs $158 per month, with Az Zubayr cheaper across the board.

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 Az Zubayr: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sulaymaniyah and Az Zubayr differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($747 vs $728 including rent). Az Zubayr is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,121 in Sulaymaniyah and $1,091 in Az Zubayr 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: $237 in Sulaymaniyah versus $239 in Az Zubayr. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Sulaymaniyah. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Az Zubayr – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Az Zubayr 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 Az Zubayr 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 Az Zubayr gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.