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: $752 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,066 in Baghdad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,169 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,598 in Baghdad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,586 in Sulaymaniyah versus $2,130 in Baghdad.

Living in Sulaymaniyah costs roughly 29% less than in Baghdad, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sulaymaniyah 44% lower, Baghdad 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.40 IQD 7,068

$5.30 IQD 6,947

1.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.96 IQD 35.3K

$36.81 IQD 48.2K

-26.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.98 IQD 9,142

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

-10.28%

Cappuccino

$2.68 IQD 3,507

$3.11 IQD 4,074

-13.83%

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

$0.39 IQD 512

$0.40 IQD 522

-2.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 274

$0.18 IQD 233

16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.04 IQD 2,675

$3.49 IQD 4,576

-41.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 IQD 3,492

$2.82 IQD 3,686

-5.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 IQD 1,948

$1.31 IQD 1,722

13.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 IQD 1,346

$0.84 IQD 1,100

22.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 IQD 2,100

$1.64 IQD 2,152

-2.44%

Eggs

$1.69 IQD 2,219

$1.81 IQD 2,364

-6.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.79 IQD 7,586

$4.52 IQD 5,923

28.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 IQD 4,492

$4.86 IQD 6,364

-29.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.35 IQD 18.8K

$14.16 IQD 18.5K

1.34%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,529

$1.23 IQD 1,615

-4.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,703

$1.16 IQD 1,519

12.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 IQD 1,651

$1.04 IQD 1,366

21.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 925

$0.75 IQD 984

-5.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 875

$0.64 IQD 843

4.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 893

$0.67 IQD 873

1.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 IQD 772

$0.63 IQD 828

-6.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 589

$0.66 IQD 858

-31.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.93 IQD 2,532

$2.07 IQD 2,707

-6.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.63 IQD 15.2K

$13.33 IQD 17.5K

-12.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 IQD 1,992

$1.80 IQD 2,354

-15.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 IQD 2,305

$2.11 IQD 2,762

-16.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 725

$0.74 IQD 965

-25.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.33 IQD 30.5K

$27.86 IQD 36.5K

-16.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.28 IQD 2,983

$3.72 IQD 4,870

-38.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.29 IQD 2,993

$1.55 IQD 2,026

47.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.20 IQD 6,812

$7.49 IQD 9,803

-30.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.71 IQD 931

$0.53 IQD 700

33.96%

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

$21.0K IQD 27.4M

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

4.67%

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

$20.9K IQD 27.4M

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

2.93%

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

$76.1 IQD 99.6K

$175 IQD 229.3K

-56.56%

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

$16.47 IQD 21.6K

$26.17 IQD 34.3K

-37.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.94 IQD 35.3K

$40.52 IQD 53.1K

-33.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.52 IQD 50.4K

$42.04 IQD 55.1K

-8.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.02 IQD 22.3K

$18.31 IQD 24.0K

-7.05%

Cinema Ticket

$7.47 IQD 9,776

$7.49 IQD 9,813

-0.27%

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

$154 IQD 201.3K

$166 IQD 217.8K

-7.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,465 IQD 4.5M

$3,526 IQD 4.6M

-1.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.94 IQD 31.4K

$28.00 IQD 36.7K

-14.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 IQD 33.3K

$30.12 IQD 39.4K

-15.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.60 IQD 57.1K

$63.9 IQD 83.7K

-31.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.26 IQD 47.5K

$43.06 IQD 56.4K

-15.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$236 IQD 309.5K

$548 IQD 717.9K

-56.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 IQD 232.3K

$323 IQD 422.7K

-45.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$574 IQD 751.2K

$834 IQD 1.1M

-31.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$351 IQD 459.5K

$597 IQD 781.1K

-41.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$828 IQD 1.1M

$4,734 IQD 6.2M

-82.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$571 IQD 748.3K

$1,570 IQD 2.1M

-63.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$575 IQD 753.3K

$629 IQD 823.2K

-8.50%

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 Baghdad: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $236 in Sulaymaniyah and $548 in Baghdad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 9% 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: $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah vs $37.00 in Baghdad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $184 vs $190 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 42% 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 9% 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: $236 in Sulaymaniyah versus $548 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 19% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $154 in Sulaymaniyah versus $166 in Baghdad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $752 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,066 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 42% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.