Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and Buenos Aires

For one person, living is cheaper in Sulaymaniyah: $773 a month against $1,685 in Buenos Aires, rent and utilities included – about $10,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Sulaymaniyah
🇮🇶 Iraq
$773
/mo nomad
Buenos Aires
🇦🇷 Argentina
$1,685
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Sulaymaniyah and in Buenos Aires

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Sulaymaniyah and in Buenos Aires actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $773 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,685 in Buenos Aires.

  • Sulaymaniyah $773
  • Buenos Aires $1,685

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,194 in Sulaymaniyah versus $2,742 in Buenos Aires.

  • Sulaymaniyah $1,194
  • Buenos Aires $2,742

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,615 in Sulaymaniyah versus $3,799 in Buenos Aires.

  • Sulaymaniyah $1,615
  • Buenos Aires $3,799

Living in Sulaymaniyah costs roughly 54% less than in Buenos Aires, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

The two cities straddle the global median: Sulaymaniyah is 42% below, Buenos Aires is 26% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sulaymaniyah
Buenos Aires
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.07 IQD 7,660
$18.73 ARS 28.4K
-72.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.93 IQD 34.6K
$64.5 ARS 97.8K
-64.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.04 IQD 10.6K
$12.88 ARS 19.5K
-45.34%
Cappuccino
$2.88 IQD 4,344
$3.98 ARS 6,029
-27.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 IQD 759
$2.05 ARS 3,103
-75.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 IQD 378
$1.55 ARS 2,349
-83.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.93 IQD 5,943
$3.84 ARS 5,830
2.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 IQD 3,427
$4.60 ARS 6,970
-50.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sulaymaniyah
Buenos Aires
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.28 IQD 1,935
$1.44 ARS 2,181
-11.11%
White Bread (500g)
$1.01 IQD 1,519
$2.46 ARS 3,738
-58.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.86 IQD 2,812
$1.63 ARS 2,467
14.11%
Eggs
$1.77 IQD 2,672
$2.89 ARS 4,385
-38.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.96 IQD 7,490
$10.65 ARS 16.1K
-53.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.22 IQD 6,382
$10.00 ARS 15.2K
-57.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.30 IQD 23.1K
$13.74 ARS 20.8K
11.35%
Apples (1kg)
$1.28 IQD 1,935
$2.75 ARS 4,166
-53.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.28 IQD 1,937
$2.18 ARS 3,300
-41.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.15 IQD 1,737
$1.45 ARS 2,205
-20.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.68 IQD 1,025
$1.99 ARS 3,013
-65.83%
Potato (1kg)
$0.56 IQD 847
$1.24 ARS 1,885
-54.84%
Onion (1kg)
$0.73 IQD 1,096
$1.27 ARS 1,921
-42.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.73 IQD 1,101
$1.70 ARS 2,575
-57.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 IQD 752
$1.73 ARS 2,617
-71.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28 IQD 3,444
$4.18 ARS 6,337
-45.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.23 IQD 17.0K
$5.80 ARS 8,790
93.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 IQD 2,949
$2.09 ARS 3,163
-6.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 IQD 2,141
$2.77 ARS 4,198
-48.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Sulaymaniyah
Buenos Aires
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 IQD 902
$0.75 ARS 1,132
-20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.68 IQD 34.3K
$27.15 ARS 41.2K
-16.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.22 IQD 3,361
$1.62 ARS 2,451
37.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.34 IQD 3,531
$0.98 ARS 1,481
138.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.50 IQD 8,306
$7.72 ARS 11.7K
-28.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.69 IQD 1,045
$1.36 ARS 2,058
-49.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9K IQD 31.5M
$28.0K ARS 42.5M
-25.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.9K IQD 28.6M
$34.5K ARS 52.4M
-45.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sulaymaniyah
Buenos Aires
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$100 IQD 151.7K
$216 ARS 326.9K
-53.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.49 IQD 17.4K
$25.61 ARS 38.8K
-55.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.04 IQD 42.4K
$31.36 ARS 47.6K
-10.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sulaymaniyah
Buenos Aires
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.70 IQD 60.0K
$49.82 ARS 75.6K
-20.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.09 IQD 30.4K
$17.06 ARS 25.9K
17.76%
Cinema Ticket
$7.58 IQD 11.5K
$10.43 ARS 15.8K
-27.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sulaymaniyah
Buenos Aires
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$173 IQD 261.0K
$466 ARS 706.7K
-62.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,946 IQD 4.5M
$9,057 ARS 13.7M
-67.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sulaymaniyah
Buenos Aires
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.91 IQD 28.6K
$122 ARS 185.2K
-84.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.19 IQD 38.1K
$97.4 ARS 147.8K
-74.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$43.24 IQD 65.3K
$117 ARS 177.4K
-63.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.64 IQD 58.4K
$140 ARS 211.9K
-72.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sulaymaniyah
Buenos Aires
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$215 IQD 324.7K
$763 ARS 1.2M
-71.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$175 IQD 264.2K
$505 ARS 766.1K
-65.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$492 IQD 743.9K
$1,598 ARS 2.4M
-69.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$363 IQD 548.8K
$1,185 ARS 1.8M
-69.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$786 IQD 1.2M
$2,678 ARS 4.1M
-70.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$630 IQD 952.4K
$1,858 ARS 2.8M
-66.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sulaymaniyah
Buenos Aires
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$584 IQD 882.1K
$954 ARS 1.4M
-38.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.77
57.25
-89.92%

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

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: October 5, 2026

Last update for Buenos Aires: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Sulaymaniyah
$188
Buenos Aires
$284 50.8% $96
Accommodation & Living
Sulaymaniyah
$175
Buenos Aires
$505 189% $330
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sulaymaniyah
$140
Buenos Aires
$273 94.8% $133
Eating Out
Sulaymaniyah
$123
Buenos Aires
$279 126% $156
Clothing & Footwear
Sulaymaniyah
$57
Buenos Aires
$214 278% $158
Sport & Entertainment
Sulaymaniyah
$55
Buenos Aires
$71 28.8% $16
Getting Around
Sulaymaniyah
$39
Buenos Aires
$37 6% $2.3

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $215 in Sulaymaniyah and $763 in Buenos Aires. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Buenos Aires pays 63% 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 $64.0 in Buenos Aires for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $284 per month, with Sulaymaniyah cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇶 Sulaymaniyah
🇦🇷 Buenos Aires
🕒 Local time
06:38 6:38 AM
00:38 12:38 AM
6 h behind Sulaymaniyah
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
823,199
2,891,082 Capital
💱 Currency
Iraqi Dinar IQD ع.د
Exchange rates and currency converter

ARS, USD, EUR to IQD – Iraqi Dinar Converter

Iraqi Dinar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1,511 IQD (10,000 IQD = 6.62 USD). 1 EUR = 1,695 IQD (10,000 IQD = 5.9 EUR).

Argentine Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1,517 ARS (10,000 ARS = 6.59 USD). 1 EUR = 1,701 ARS (10,000 ARS = 5.88 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sulaymaniyah Buenos Aires 13,280 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Sulaymaniyah
  • Buenos Aires

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Buenos Aires: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Sulaymaniyah and in Buenos Aires?
Sulaymaniyah and Buenos Aires differ by about 118% in total monthly costs ($773 vs $1,685 including rent). Sulaymaniyah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 63% lower in Buenos Aires. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Sulaymaniyah and in Buenos Aires?
Rent for a central apartment: $215 in Sulaymaniyah versus $763 in Buenos Aires. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Sulaymaniyah and Buenos Aires?
Childcare runs $173 in Sulaymaniyah versus $466 in Buenos Aires. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 51% higher in Buenos Aires. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $773 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,685 in Buenos Aires, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sulaymaniyah but tight or insufficient in Buenos Aires. The gap between the two cities makes Sulaymaniyah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Sulaymaniyah and Buenos Aires?
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.
Is Sulaymaniyah or Buenos Aires safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Sulaymaniyah and Buenos Aires are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Sulaymaniyah or Buenos Aires?
Expats usually find Sulaymaniyah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 118% less than in Buenos Aires. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Sulaymaniyah vs other spots: cost of living compared

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