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: $765 in Sulaymaniyah versus $579 in Ba'qubah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,170 in Sulaymaniyah versus $745 in Ba'qubah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,575 in Sulaymaniyah versus $910 in Ba'qubah.

Living in Sulaymaniyah is roughly 32% more expensive than in Ba'qubah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sulaymaniyah 45% lower, Ba'qubah 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 IQD 5,959

$4.86 IQD 6,358

-6.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.34 IQD 30.6K

$15.24 IQD 20.0K

53.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.94 IQD 9,095

$6.54 IQD 8,565

6.12%

Cappuccino

$2.47 IQD 3,240

$1.12 IQD 1,463

120.54%

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

$0.46 IQD 596

$0.56 IQD 728

-17.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 IQD 302

$0.19 IQD 248

21.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.48 IQD 5,865

$1.97 IQD 2,575

127.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 IQD 2,958

$4.47 IQD 5,858

-49.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 IQD 1,803

$1.14 IQD 1,486

21.05%

White Bread (500g)

$0.90 IQD 1,183

$0.55 IQD 718

63.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 IQD 2,546

$1.12 IQD 1,471

73.21%

Eggs

$1.70 IQD 2,227

$1.49 IQD 1,955

14.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.03 IQD 6,585

$2.26 IQD 2,956

122.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.57 IQD 4,682

$2.54 IQD 3,327

40.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.05 IQD 21.0K

$10.56 IQD 13.8K

51.99%

Apples (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,707

$0.99 IQD 1,301

31.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,696

$1.14 IQD 1,493

14.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,563

$0.93 IQD 1,224

27.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 891

$0.60 IQD 780

13.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 IQD 760

$0.59 IQD 777

-1.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 964

$0.65 IQD 851

13.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 IQD 933

$0.50 IQD 654

42.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 IQD 651

$0.19 IQD 248

163.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.42 IQD 3,165

$2.53 IQD 3,313

-4.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.35 IQD 14.9K

$12.47 IQD 16.3K

-8.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 IQD 2,429

$1.71 IQD 2,237

8.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 IQD 2,185

$2.14 IQD 2,800

-21.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 IQD 782

$0.78 IQD 1,021

-23.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.06 IQD 30.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,046

$1.94 IQD 2,543

20.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.35 IQD 3,083

$1.73 IQD 2,270

35.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.50 IQD 7,198

$5.31 IQD 6,959

3.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 877

$0.35 IQD 464

91.43%

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

$20.5K IQD 26.8M

$18.2K IQD 23.9M

12.46%

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

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

-6.04%

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

$101 IQD 132.5K

$59.4 IQD 77.7K

70.49%

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

$11.03 IQD 14.4K

$13.91 IQD 18.2K

-20.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.65 IQD 37.5K

$26.87 IQD 35.2K

6.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.86 IQD 47.0K

$19.12 IQD 25.0K

87.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.57 IQD 26.9K

Cinema Ticket

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

$3.89 IQD 5,094

101.80%

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

$175 IQD 229.1K

$26.53 IQD 34.7K

559.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,899 IQD 3.8M

$639 IQD 836.3K

354.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.45 IQD 25.5K

$19.30 IQD 25.3K

0.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.14 IQD 32.9K

$19.21 IQD 25.2K

30.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$42.60 IQD 55.8K

$68.2 IQD 89.3K

-37.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.79 IQD 49.5K

$27.02 IQD 35.4K

39.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$234 IQD 306.0K

$269 IQD 351.9K

-13.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.7K

$135 IQD 176.4K

30.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 IQD 672.3K

$499 IQD 653.3K

2.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$362 IQD 473.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$800 IQD 1.0M

$768 IQD 1.0M

4.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$574 IQD 751.4K

$189 IQD 247.5K

203.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$572 IQD 749.1K

$711 IQD 931.4K

-19.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.77

2.53

128.06%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: September 6, 2026

Last update for Ba'qubah: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $234 in Sulaymaniyah and $269 in Ba'qubah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ba'qubah pays 24% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah vs $15.00 in Ba'qubah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $142 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, Getting Around. The 32% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 24% 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: $234 in Sulaymaniyah versus $269 in Ba'qubah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $175 in Sulaymaniyah versus $26.53 in Ba'qubah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Ba'qubah – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $23.00 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 32% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.