Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and Basra Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and Basra

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $774 in Sulaymaniyah versus $962 in Basra.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,198 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,458 in Basra.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,623 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,955 in Basra.

Living in Sulaymaniyah costs roughly 20% less than in Basra, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sulaymaniyah 44% lower, Basra 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.68 IQD 6,133

$4.60 IQD 6,028

1.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.61 IQD 29.6K

$30.03 IQD 39.3K

-24.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.95 IQD 9,102

$7.50 IQD 9,827

-7.33%

Cappuccino

$2.37 IQD 3,097

$2.56 IQD 3,351

-7.42%

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

$0.42 IQD 553

$0.46 IQD 604

-8.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 274

$0.35 IQD 454

-40.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.67 IQD 6,119

$3.85 IQD 5,048

21.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 IQD 3,029

$4.31 IQD 5,640

-46.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 IQD 1,768

$1.11 IQD 1,460

21.62%

White Bread (500g)

$0.91 IQD 1,191

$0.64 IQD 844

42.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.01 IQD 2,636

$1.40 IQD 1,836

43.57%

Eggs

$1.68 IQD 2,201

$1.87 IQD 2,452

-10.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.99 IQD 6,531

$7.57 IQD 9,914

-34.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.56 IQD 4,658

$6.38 IQD 8,353

-44.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.68 IQD 20.5K

$14.01 IQD 18.3K

11.92%

Apples (1kg)

$1.32 IQD 1,728

$1.03 IQD 1,343

28.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 IQD 1,686

$1.38 IQD 1,802

-6.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 IQD 1,568

$0.99 IQD 1,292

21.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 919

$0.69 IQD 904

1.45%

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 IQD 778

$0.79 IQD 1,033

-25.32%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 893

$0.63 IQD 824

7.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 IQD 937

$0.87 IQD 1,146

-17.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 IQD 650

$0.41 IQD 539

21.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.40 IQD 3,148

$2.12 IQD 2,779

13.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.54 IQD 15.1K

$6.75 IQD 8,839

70.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 IQD 2,560

$3.10 IQD 4,058

-37.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 IQD 2,193

$3.83 IQD 5,020

-56.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 722

$0.55 IQD 716

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.03 IQD 30.2K

$19.45 IQD 25.5K

18.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 IQD 3,087

$2.22 IQD 2,910

6.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.26 IQD 2,961

$2.34 IQD 3,059

-3.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.33 IQD 6,982

$7.44 IQD 9,746

-28.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 879

$0.55 IQD 722

21.82%

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

$20.4K IQD 26.6M

$13.2K IQD 17.3M

54.35%

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

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

$23.0K IQD 30.2M

-15.66%

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

$99.6 IQD 130.4K

$49.68 IQD 65.1K

100.38%

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

$11.01 IQD 14.4K

$25.37 IQD 33.2K

-56.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.26 IQD 38.3K

$39.02 IQD 51.1K

-25.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.07 IQD 47.2K

$36.29 IQD 47.5K

-0.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.49 IQD 26.8K

$13.74 IQD 18.0K

49.13%

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

$7.70 IQD 10.1K

-0.13%

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

$176 IQD 231.1K

$127 IQD 165.9K

39.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,969 IQD 3.9M

$3,845 IQD 5.0M

-22.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.91 IQD 24.8K

$49.73 IQD 65.1K

-61.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.92 IQD 33.9K

$20.19 IQD 26.4K

28.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$42.61 IQD 55.8K

$79.4 IQD 104.0K

-46.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.42 IQD 49.0K

$41.95 IQD 54.9K

-10.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$229 IQD 300.2K

$469 IQD 614.4K

-51.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 IQD 231.7K

$339 IQD 443.5K

-47.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$499 IQD 653.5K

$860 IQD 1.1M

-41.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$357 IQD 466.9K

$628 IQD 822.0K

-43.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$813 IQD 1.1M

$1,564 IQD 2.0M

-48.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$582 IQD 761.8K

$800 IQD 1.0M

-27.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$563 IQD 737.4K

$769 IQD 1.0M

-26.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.77

5.67

1.76%

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

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: August 31, 2026

Last update for Basra: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $229 in Sulaymaniyah and $469 in Basra. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Basra pays 37% 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 $30.00 in Basra for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $197 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 Basra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sulaymaniyah and Basra differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($774 vs $962 including rent). Sulaymaniyah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 37% lower in Basra. 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 $469 in Basra. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Basra. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Sulaymaniyah – a meal for two runs $23.00 versus $30.00 in Basra. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Sulaymaniyah 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 Basra 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 24% less than in Basra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.