Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and Baghdad Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and Baghdad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $774 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,148 in Baghdad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,198 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,708 in Baghdad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,623 in Sulaymaniyah versus $2,269 in Baghdad.

Living in Sulaymaniyah costs roughly 33% less than in Baghdad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sulaymaniyah 44% lower, Baghdad 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.68 IQD 6,133

$4.81 IQD 6,302

-2.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.61 IQD 29.6K

$33.76 IQD 44.2K

-33.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.95 IQD 9,102

$7.68 IQD 10.1K

-9.51%

Cappuccino

$2.37 IQD 3,097

$3.07 IQD 4,018

-22.80%

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

$0.42 IQD 553

$0.40 IQD 520

5.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 274

$0.26 IQD 342

-19.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.67 IQD 6,119

$3.89 IQD 5,091

20.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 IQD 3,029

$3.75 IQD 4,906

-38.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 IQD 1,768

$1.09 IQD 1,424

23.85%

White Bread (500g)

$0.91 IQD 1,191

$0.83 IQD 1,091

9.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.01 IQD 2,636

$1.53 IQD 2,005

31.37%

Eggs

$1.68 IQD 2,201

$1.89 IQD 2,473

-11.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.99 IQD 6,531

$3.80 IQD 4,971

31.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.56 IQD 4,658

$4.58 IQD 5,992

-22.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.68 IQD 20.5K

$14.59 IQD 19.1K

7.47%

Apples (1kg)

$1.32 IQD 1,728

$1.14 IQD 1,492

15.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 IQD 1,686

$1.07 IQD 1,399

20.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 IQD 1,568

$1.06 IQD 1,391

13.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 919

$0.74 IQD 971

-5.41%

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 IQD 778

$0.66 IQD 860

-10.61%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 893

$0.64 IQD 843

6.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 IQD 937

$0.63 IQD 827

14.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 IQD 650

$0.70 IQD 920

-28.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.40 IQD 3,148

$1.83 IQD 2,400

31.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.54 IQD 15.1K

$13.65 IQD 17.9K

-15.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 IQD 2,560

$2.21 IQD 2,891

-11.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 IQD 2,193

$2.18 IQD 2,861

-23.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 722

$0.65 IQD 854

-15.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.03 IQD 30.2K

$22.62 IQD 29.6K

1.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 IQD 3,087

$2.32 IQD 3,037

1.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.26 IQD 2,961

$1.55 IQD 2,025

45.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.33 IQD 6,982

$7.79 IQD 10.2K

-31.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 879

$0.61 IQD 801

9.84%

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

$20.4K IQD 26.6M

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

6.86%

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

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

$19.2K IQD 25.1M

1.46%

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

$99.6 IQD 130.4K

$213 IQD 278.8K

-53.25%

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

$11.01 IQD 14.4K

$20.99 IQD 27.5K

-47.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.26 IQD 38.3K

$42.26 IQD 55.3K

-30.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.07 IQD 47.2K

$46.87 IQD 61.4K

-23.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.49 IQD 26.8K

$22.00 IQD 28.8K

-6.86%

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

$10.57 IQD 13.8K

-27.25%

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

$176 IQD 231.1K

$165 IQD 216.6K

6.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,969 IQD 3.9M

$3,462 IQD 4.5M

-14.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.91 IQD 24.8K

$30.18 IQD 39.5K

-37.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.92 IQD 33.9K

$38.06 IQD 49.8K

-31.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$42.61 IQD 55.8K

$72.9 IQD 95.5K

-41.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.42 IQD 49.0K

$47.63 IQD 62.4K

-21.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$229 IQD 300.2K

$575 IQD 753.1K

-60.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 IQD 231.7K

$350 IQD 457.9K

-49.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$499 IQD 653.5K

$959 IQD 1.3M

-47.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$357 IQD 466.9K

$687 IQD 899.8K

-48.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$813 IQD 1.1M

$4,743 IQD 6.2M

-82.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$582 IQD 761.8K

$1,576 IQD 2.1M

-63.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$563 IQD 737.4K

$604 IQD 791.2K

-6.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.77

4.12

40.05%

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

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: August 31, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $229 in Sulaymaniyah and $575 in Baghdad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 7% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah vs $34.00 in Baghdad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $188 per month, with Sulaymaniyah 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 Baghdad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sulaymaniyah wins on cost – living expenses run 48% lower than in Baghdad. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Sulaymaniyah the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 7% lower in Baghdad. 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: $229 in Sulaymaniyah versus $575 in Baghdad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Sulaymaniyah runs roughly 2% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $176 in Sulaymaniyah versus $165 in Baghdad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $774 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,148 in Baghdad, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sulaymaniyah but tight or insufficient in Baghdad. The gap between the two cities makes Sulaymaniyah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 Baghdad 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 Sulaymaniyah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.