Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and Ba'qubah Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and Ba'qubah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $752 in Sulaymaniyah versus $642 in Ba'qubah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,169 in Sulaymaniyah versus $990 in Ba'qubah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,586 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,338 in Ba'qubah.

Living in Sulaymaniyah is roughly 17% more expensive than in Ba'qubah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sulaymaniyah 44% lower, Ba'qubah 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.40 IQD 7,068

$5.07 IQD 6,639

6.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.96 IQD 35.3K

$15.26 IQD 20.0K

76.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.98 IQD 9,142

$6.65 IQD 8,711

4.96%

Cappuccino

$2.68 IQD 3,507

$1.17 IQD 1,531

129.06%

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

$0.39 IQD 512

$0.48 IQD 628

-18.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 274

$0.20 IQD 258

5.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.04 IQD 2,675

$1.95 IQD 2,552

4.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 IQD 3,492

$2.11 IQD 2,764

26.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 IQD 1,948

$1.12 IQD 1,465

33.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 IQD 1,346

$0.60 IQD 782

71.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 IQD 2,100

$1.16 IQD 1,523

37.93%

Eggs

$1.69 IQD 2,219

$1.46 IQD 1,918

15.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.79 IQD 7,586

$2.28 IQD 2,984

153.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 IQD 4,492

$2.47 IQD 3,241

38.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.35 IQD 18.8K

$10.57 IQD 13.8K

35.76%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,529

$0.99 IQD 1,300

18.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,703

$1.17 IQD 1,527

11.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 IQD 1,651

$0.93 IQD 1,211

35.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 925

$0.58 IQD 764

22.41%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 875

$0.59 IQD 771

13.56%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 893

$0.66 IQD 861

3.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 IQD 772

$0.50 IQD 659

18.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 589

$0.18 IQD 232

150.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.93 IQD 2,532

$2.65 IQD 3,464

-27.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.63 IQD 15.2K

$12.26 IQD 16.1K

-5.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 IQD 1,992

$1.38 IQD 1,802

10.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 IQD 2,305

$1.93 IQD 2,532

-8.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 725

$0.37 IQD 484

48.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.33 IQD 30.5K

$30.51 IQD 39.9K

-23.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.28 IQD 2,983

$2.25 IQD 2,952

1.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.29 IQD 2,993

$2.14 IQD 2,801

7.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.20 IQD 6,812

$5.31 IQD 6,951

-2.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.71 IQD 931

$0.33 IQD 426

115.15%

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

$21.0K IQD 27.4M

$19.5K IQD 25.5M

7.63%

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

$20.9K IQD 27.4M

$20.2K IQD 26.5M

3.51%

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

$76.1 IQD 99.6K

$58.2 IQD 76.2K

30.65%

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

$16.47 IQD 21.6K

$17.75 IQD 23.2K

-7.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.94 IQD 35.3K

$27.19 IQD 35.6K

-0.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.52 IQD 50.4K

$18.92 IQD 24.8K

103.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.02 IQD 22.3K

$16.74 IQD 21.9K

1.67%

Cinema Ticket

$7.47 IQD 9,776

$3.87 IQD 5,073

93.02%

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

$154 IQD 201.3K

$27.04 IQD 35.4K

468.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,465 IQD 4.5M

$636 IQD 832.7K

444.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.94 IQD 31.4K

$19.50 IQD 25.5K

22.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 IQD 33.3K

$19.22 IQD 25.2K

32.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.60 IQD 57.1K

$81.3 IQD 106.4K

-46.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.26 IQD 47.5K

$26.50 IQD 34.7K

36.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$236 IQD 309.5K

$246 IQD 321.7K

-3.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 IQD 232.3K

$182 IQD 238.4K

-2.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$574 IQD 751.2K

$575 IQD 752.4K

-0.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$351 IQD 459.5K

$350 IQD 457.7K

0.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$828 IQD 1.1M

$759 IQD 993.8K

9.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$571 IQD 748.3K

$190 IQD 249.3K

200.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$575 IQD 753.3K

$726 IQD 950.9K

-20.79%

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 Ba'qubah: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $236 in Sulaymaniyah and $246 in Ba'qubah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ba'qubah pays 26% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah vs $15.00 in Ba'qubah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $184 vs $140 per month, with Ba'qubah 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 Ba'qubah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ba'qubah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 26% lower in Ba'qubah. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $236 in Sulaymaniyah versus $246 in Ba'qubah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 32% higher in Sulaymaniyah. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Ba'qubah – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Ba'qubah 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 Ba'qubah 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 Ba'qubah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.