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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $747 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $1,034 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,168 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $1,548 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,589 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $2,061 in Erbil, rent included.

Sulaymaniyah is about 28% cheaper than Erbil, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Sulaymaniyah and Erbil are more affordable than the global median – Sulaymaniyah 44% lower, Erbil 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.32 IQD 6,969

$7.72 IQD 10.1K

-31.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.82 IQD 35.1K

$22.83 IQD 29.9K

17.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.08 IQD 9,272

$8.98 IQD 11.8K

-21.16%

Cappuccino

$2.65 IQD 3,471

$3.13 IQD 4,096

-15.34%

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

$0.37 IQD 481

$0.49 IQD 640

-24.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 236

$0.20 IQD 261

-10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.07 IQD 2,710

$2.00 IQD 2,624

3.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 IQD 3,570

$2.14 IQD 2,797

27.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 IQD 1,858

$1.32 IQD 1,730

7.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 IQD 1,345

$0.84 IQD 1,103

22.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 IQD 2,094

$1.80 IQD 2,355

-11.11%

Eggs

$1.78 IQD 2,325

$1.98 IQD 2,599

-10.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.76 IQD 7,540

$7.54 IQD 9,879

-23.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.46 IQD 4,533

$4.80 IQD 6,282

-27.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.08 IQD 18.4K

$14.29 IQD 18.7K

-1.47%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,532

$1.14 IQD 1,491

2.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 IQD 1,691

$1.20 IQD 1,567

7.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 IQD 1,737

$1.19 IQD 1,561

11.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 923

$0.76 IQD 994

-6.58%

Potato (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 808

$0.70 IQD 918

-11.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 878

$0.72 IQD 938

-6.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 IQD 764

$0.78 IQD 1,018

-25.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 IQD 601

$0.53 IQD 688

-13.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.89 IQD 2,481

$2.63 IQD 3,449

-28.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.23 IQD 14.7K

$12.55 IQD 16.4K

-10.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 IQD 1,971

$1.45 IQD 1,899

3.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 IQD 2,287

$2.01 IQD 2,633

-12.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 721

$0.54 IQD 709

1.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.10 IQD 30.3K

$34.09 IQD 44.6K

-32.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 IQD 3,087

$2.35 IQD 3,084

0.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 IQD 3,050

$2.20 IQD 2,885

5.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.41 IQD 7,082

$6.87 IQD 8,999

-21.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 IQD 943

$0.70 IQD 911

2.86%

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

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

8.77%

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

$21.0K IQD 27.5M

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

1.41%

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

$76.0 IQD 99.5K

$102 IQD 134.1K

-25.80%

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

$16.72 IQD 21.9K

$17.93 IQD 23.5K

-6.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.19 IQD 34.3K

$29.33 IQD 38.4K

-10.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.72 IQD 50.7K

$72.7 IQD 95.2K

-46.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.62 IQD 21.8K

$11.77 IQD 15.4K

41.21%

Cinema Ticket

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$11.62 IQD 15.2K

-33.05%

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

$155 IQD 202.4K

$269 IQD 352.1K

-42.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,464 IQD 4.5M

$3,278 IQD 4.3M

5.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.54 IQD 30.8K

$32.74 IQD 42.9K

-28.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.32 IQD 33.2K

$48.36 IQD 63.3K

-47.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.08 IQD 57.7K

$81.0 IQD 106.0K

-45.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.85 IQD 46.9K

$76.8 IQD 100.5K

-53.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$237 IQD 309.9K

$426 IQD 557.6K

-44.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.7K

$278 IQD 364.4K

-36.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$581 IQD 760.3K

$726 IQD 951.1K

-20.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 IQD 453.6K

$485 IQD 635.3K

-28.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$799 IQD 1.0M

$1,123 IQD 1.5M

-28.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$569 IQD 745.3K

$658 IQD 862.2K

-13.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$567 IQD 742.3K

$584 IQD 765.0K

-2.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.33

-37.19%

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

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: May 31, 2026

Last update for Erbil: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $237 in Sulaymaniyah versus $426 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 3% 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 $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah versus $23.00 in Erbil. Groceries tell a different story – $182 in Sulaymaniyah vs $197 in Erbil – so Sulaymaniyah wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 38%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,121 per month in Sulaymaniyah and $1,551 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 8% 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 $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah and $23.00 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 $747, than in Erbil at $1,034. 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.