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: $752 in Sulaymaniyah versus $746 in Az Zubayr.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,169 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,165 in Az Zubayr.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,586 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,584 in Az Zubayr.

Living in Sulaymaniyah is roughly 1% more expensive than in Az Zubayr, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.40 IQD 7,068

$4.00 IQD 5,233

35.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.96 IQD 35.3K

$25.20 IQD 33.0K

6.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.98 IQD 9,142

$6.87 IQD 9,002

1.60%

Cappuccino

$2.68 IQD 3,507

$2.66 IQD 3,484

0.75%

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

$0.39 IQD 512

$0.36 IQD 476

8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 274

$0.21 IQD 279

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.04 IQD 2,675

$2.89 IQD 3,782

-29.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 IQD 3,492

$2.90 IQD 3,798

-7.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 IQD 1,948

$1.37 IQD 1,798

8.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 IQD 1,346

$0.85 IQD 1,109

21.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 IQD 2,100

$1.66 IQD 2,169

-3.61%

Eggs

$1.69 IQD 2,219

$1.72 IQD 2,257

-1.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.79 IQD 7,586

$4.63 IQD 6,064

25.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 IQD 4,492

$4.78 IQD 6,266

-28.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.35 IQD 18.8K

$13.39 IQD 17.5K

7.17%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,529

$1.19 IQD 1,561

-1.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,703

$1.15 IQD 1,505

13.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 IQD 1,651

$1.00 IQD 1,315

26.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 925

$0.75 IQD 976

-5.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 875

$0.68 IQD 897

-1.47%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 893

$0.64 IQD 832

6.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 IQD 772

$0.63 IQD 827

-6.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 589

$0.56 IQD 735

-19.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.93 IQD 2,532

$1.85 IQD 2,429

4.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.63 IQD 15.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 IQD 1,992

$1.85 IQD 2,423

-17.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 IQD 2,305

$2.09 IQD 2,734

-15.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 725

$0.39 IQD 515

41.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.33 IQD 30.5K

$31.63 IQD 41.4K

-26.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.28 IQD 2,983

$2.32 IQD 3,036

-1.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.29 IQD 2,993

$1.53 IQD 2,009

49.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.20 IQD 6,812

$6.17 IQD 8,076

-15.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.71 IQD 931

$0.57 IQD 748

24.56%

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

$21.0K IQD 27.4M

$19.2K IQD 25.2M

8.90%

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

$20.9K IQD 27.4M

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

6.27%

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

$76.1 IQD 99.6K

$78.4 IQD 102.6K

-2.99%

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

$16.47 IQD 21.6K

$17.77 IQD 23.3K

-7.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.94 IQD 35.3K

$34.27 IQD 44.9K

-21.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.52 IQD 50.4K

$37.29 IQD 48.8K

3.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.02 IQD 22.3K

$16.76 IQD 21.9K

1.55%

Cinema Ticket

$7.47 IQD 9,776

$7.87 IQD 10.3K

-5.08%

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

$154 IQD 201.3K

$152 IQD 198.5K

1.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,465 IQD 4.5M

$3,290 IQD 4.3M

5.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.94 IQD 31.4K

$27.00 IQD 35.4K

-11.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 IQD 33.3K

$25.31 IQD 33.1K

0.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.60 IQD 57.1K

$61.1 IQD 80.0K

-28.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.26 IQD 47.5K

$40.71 IQD 53.3K

-10.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$236 IQD 309.5K

$242 IQD 317.0K

-2.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 IQD 232.3K

$175 IQD 229.6K

1.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$574 IQD 751.2K

$585 IQD 766.2K

-1.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$351 IQD 459.5K

$346 IQD 453.0K

1.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$828 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$571 IQD 748.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$575 IQD 753.3K

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Az Zubayr: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $236 in Sulaymaniyah and $242 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 $184 vs $160 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 1% in total monthly costs ($752 vs $746 including rent). Az Zubayr is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,128 in Sulaymaniyah and $1,119 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: $236 in Sulaymaniyah versus $242 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 1% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.