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: $747 in Sulaymaniyah versus $662 in Ba'qubah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,168 in Sulaymaniyah versus $993 in Ba'qubah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,589 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,324 in Ba'qubah.

Living in Sulaymaniyah is roughly 13% more expensive than Ba'qubah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sulaymaniyah 44% lower, Ba'qubah 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.32 IQD 6,969

$5.03 IQD 6,585

5.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.82 IQD 35.1K

$15.28 IQD 20.0K

75.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.08 IQD 9,272

$6.47 IQD 8,468

9.43%

Cappuccino

$2.65 IQD 3,471

$1.14 IQD 1,491

132.46%

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

$0.37 IQD 481

$0.48 IQD 631

-22.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 236

$0.20 IQD 258

-10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.07 IQD 2,710

$1.97 IQD 2,575

5.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 IQD 3,570

$2.16 IQD 2,824

26.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 IQD 1,858

$1.17 IQD 1,529

21.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 IQD 1,345

$0.55 IQD 720

87.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 IQD 2,094

$1.14 IQD 1,492

40.35%

Eggs

$1.78 IQD 2,325

$1.48 IQD 1,939

20.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.76 IQD 7,540

$2.37 IQD 3,102

143.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.46 IQD 4,533

$2.52 IQD 3,294

37.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.08 IQD 18.4K

$10.91 IQD 14.3K

29.06%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,532

$0.94 IQD 1,230

24.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 IQD 1,691

$1.18 IQD 1,548

9.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 IQD 1,737

$1.00 IQD 1,309

33.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 923

$0.59 IQD 775

20.34%

Potato (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 808

$0.58 IQD 765

6.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 878

$0.65 IQD 856

3.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 IQD 764

$0.46 IQD 602

26.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 IQD 601

$0.19 IQD 253

142.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.89 IQD 2,481

$2.62 IQD 3,433

-27.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.23 IQD 14.7K

$12.52 IQD 16.4K

-10.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 IQD 1,971

$1.44 IQD 1,886

4.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 IQD 2,287

$1.97 IQD 2,575

-11.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 721

$0.37 IQD 481

48.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.10 IQD 30.3K

$31.35 IQD 41.1K

-26.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 IQD 3,087

$2.26 IQD 2,957

4.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 IQD 3,050

$2.03 IQD 2,660

14.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.41 IQD 7,082

$5.26 IQD 6,890

2.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 IQD 943

$0.33 IQD 427

118.18%

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

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

8.75%

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

$21.0K IQD 27.5M

$20.9K IQD 27.4M

0.43%

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

$76.0 IQD 99.5K

$58.6 IQD 76.7K

29.73%

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

$16.72 IQD 21.9K

$17.68 IQD 23.2K

-5.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.19 IQD 34.3K

$27.17 IQD 35.6K

-3.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.72 IQD 50.7K

$19.46 IQD 25.5K

98.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.62 IQD 21.8K

$16.72 IQD 21.9K

-0.60%

Cinema Ticket

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$3.89 IQD 5,092

100.00%

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

$155 IQD 202.4K

$27.20 IQD 35.6K

468.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,464 IQD 4.5M

$650 IQD 851.7K

432.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.54 IQD 30.8K

$19.27 IQD 25.2K

22.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.32 IQD 33.2K

$18.91 IQD 24.8K

33.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.08 IQD 57.7K

$82.1 IQD 107.5K

-46.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.85 IQD 46.9K

$27.01 IQD 35.4K

32.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$237 IQD 309.9K

$241 IQD 315.5K

-1.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.7K

$179 IQD 234.5K

-2.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$581 IQD 760.3K

$579 IQD 757.6K

0.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 IQD 453.6K

$341 IQD 446.8K

1.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$799 IQD 1.0M

$766 IQD 1.0M

4.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$569 IQD 745.3K

$192 IQD 251.2K

196.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$567 IQD 742.3K

$711 IQD 930.6K

-20.23%

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 Ba'qubah: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $237 in Sulaymaniyah and $241 in Ba'qubah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ba'qubah pays 25% 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 $182 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. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Ba'qubah earns 25% less. 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: $237 in Sulaymaniyah versus $241 in Ba'qubah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 28% 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 13% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.