Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and Erbil Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and Erbil

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $774 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $1,095 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,198 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $1,654 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,623 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $2,213 in Erbil, rent included.

Sulaymaniyah is about 29% cheaper than Erbil, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sulaymaniyah and Erbil are more affordable than the global median – Sulaymaniyah 44% lower, Erbil 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.68 IQD 6,133

$7.67 IQD 10.0K

-38.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.61 IQD 29.6K

$44.94 IQD 58.8K

-49.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.95 IQD 9,102

$8.21 IQD 10.7K

-15.35%

Cappuccino

$2.37 IQD 3,097

$3.78 IQD 4,955

-37.30%

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

$0.42 IQD 553

$1.02 IQD 1,338

-58.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 274

$0.41 IQD 541

-48.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.67 IQD 6,119

$5.97 IQD 7,823

-21.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 IQD 3,029

$4.45 IQD 5,829

-48.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 IQD 1,768

$1.27 IQD 1,669

6.30%

White Bread (500g)

$0.91 IQD 1,191

$0.79 IQD 1,033

15.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.01 IQD 2,636

$1.70 IQD 2,227

18.24%

Eggs

$1.68 IQD 2,201

$1.76 IQD 2,307

-4.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.99 IQD 6,531

$8.29 IQD 10.9K

-39.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.56 IQD 4,658

$5.54 IQD 7,252

-35.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.68 IQD 20.5K

$14.68 IQD 19.2K

6.81%

Apples (1kg)

$1.32 IQD 1,728

$1.10 IQD 1,446

20.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 IQD 1,686

$1.15 IQD 1,503

12.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 IQD 1,568

$1.22 IQD 1,599

-1.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 919

$0.81 IQD 1,061

-13.58%

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 IQD 778

$0.74 IQD 974

-20.27%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 893

$0.69 IQD 901

-1.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 IQD 937

$0.79 IQD 1,034

-8.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 IQD 650

$0.58 IQD 761

-13.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.40 IQD 3,148

$2.51 IQD 3,293

-4.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.54 IQD 15.1K

$12.64 IQD 16.5K

-8.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 IQD 2,560

$1.68 IQD 2,196

16.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 IQD 2,193

$2.06 IQD 2,693

-18.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 722

$0.60 IQD 781

-8.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.03 IQD 30.2K

$43.88 IQD 57.5K

-47.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 IQD 3,087

$1.93 IQD 2,533

22.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.26 IQD 2,961

$1.74 IQD 2,279

29.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.33 IQD 6,982

$6.51 IQD 8,521

-18.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 879

$0.67 IQD 876

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

$20.4K IQD 26.6M

$17.9K IQD 23.5M

13.43%

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

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

-1.37%

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

$99.6 IQD 130.4K

$130 IQD 170.4K

-23.52%

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

$11.01 IQD 14.4K

$14.06 IQD 18.4K

-21.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.26 IQD 38.3K

$27.92 IQD 36.6K

4.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.07 IQD 47.2K

$64.5 IQD 84.5K

-44.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.49 IQD 26.8K

$14.50 IQD 19.0K

41.31%

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

$11.23 IQD 14.7K

-31.52%

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

$176 IQD 231.1K

$312 IQD 409.1K

-43.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,969 IQD 3.9M

$3,080 IQD 4.0M

-3.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.91 IQD 24.8K

$31.09 IQD 40.7K

-39.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.92 IQD 33.9K

$45.06 IQD 59.0K

-42.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$42.61 IQD 55.8K

$68.2 IQD 89.3K

-37.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.42 IQD 49.0K

$68.0 IQD 89.0K

-44.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$229 IQD 300.2K

$473 IQD 619.0K

-51.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 IQD 231.7K

$287 IQD 375.6K

-38.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$499 IQD 653.5K

$732 IQD 958.7K

-31.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$357 IQD 466.9K

$426 IQD 558.4K

-16.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$813 IQD 1.1M

$1,115 IQD 1.5M

-27.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$582 IQD 761.8K

$643 IQD 841.7K

-9.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$563 IQD 737.4K

$613 IQD 803.3K

-8.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.77

2.53

128.06%

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

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: August 31, 2026

Last update for Erbil: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $229 in Sulaymaniyah versus $473 in Erbil. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 9% higher in Erbil, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah versus $45.00 in Erbil. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $204 – making Sulaymaniyah the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Erbil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Erbil is pricier by about 42%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,161 per month in Sulaymaniyah and $1,643 in Erbil. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sulaymaniyah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 9% more in Erbil, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah and $45.00 in Erbil. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sulaymaniyah, where all-in costs run around $774, than in Erbil at $1,095. In Sulaymaniyah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Erbil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sulaymaniyah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Sulaymaniyah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Erbil makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.