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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $752 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $1,034 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,169 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $1,522 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,586 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $2,010 in Erbil, rent included.

Sulaymaniyah is about 27% 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

$5.40 IQD 7,068

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

-29.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.96 IQD 35.3K

$22.64 IQD 29.6K

19.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.98 IQD 9,142

$8.88 IQD 11.6K

-21.40%

Cappuccino

$2.68 IQD 3,507

$3.20 IQD 4,189

-16.25%

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

$0.39 IQD 512

$0.48 IQD 630

-18.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 274

$0.20 IQD 262

5.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.04 IQD 2,675

$1.93 IQD 2,523

5.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 IQD 3,492

$2.14 IQD 2,803

24.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 IQD 1,948

$1.31 IQD 1,719

13.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 IQD 1,346

$0.85 IQD 1,108

21.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 IQD 2,100

$1.86 IQD 2,439

-13.98%

Eggs

$1.69 IQD 2,219

$1.98 IQD 2,590

-14.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.79 IQD 7,586

$7.23 IQD 9,474

-19.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 IQD 4,492

$4.72 IQD 6,184

-27.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.35 IQD 18.8K

$14.24 IQD 18.7K

0.77%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,529

$1.19 IQD 1,563

-1.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,703

$1.15 IQD 1,505

13.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 IQD 1,651

$1.15 IQD 1,502

9.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 925

$0.81 IQD 1,057

-12.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 875

$0.68 IQD 888

-1.47%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 893

$0.75 IQD 980

-9.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 IQD 772

$0.73 IQD 952

-19.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 589

$0.57 IQD 742

-21.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.93 IQD 2,532

$2.62 IQD 3,428

-26.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.63 IQD 15.2K

$12.19 IQD 16.0K

-4.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 IQD 1,992

$1.39 IQD 1,824

9.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 IQD 2,305

$1.97 IQD 2,579

-10.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 725

$0.59 IQD 776

-6.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.33 IQD 30.5K

$35.14 IQD 46.0K

-33.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.28 IQD 2,983

$2.25 IQD 2,942

1.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.29 IQD 2,993

$2.33 IQD 3,052

-1.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.20 IQD 6,812

$6.75 IQD 8,845

-22.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.71 IQD 931

$0.65 IQD 849

9.23%

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

$21.0K IQD 27.4M

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

8.04%

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

$20.9K IQD 27.4M

$20.8K IQD 27.3M

0.44%

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

$76.1 IQD 99.6K

$102 IQD 133.2K

-25.21%

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

$16.47 IQD 21.6K

$17.42 IQD 22.8K

-5.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.94 IQD 35.3K

$29.58 IQD 38.7K

-8.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.52 IQD 50.4K

$73.8 IQD 96.6K

-47.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.02 IQD 22.3K

$11.55 IQD 15.1K

47.36%

Cinema Ticket

$7.47 IQD 9,776

$11.41 IQD 14.9K

-34.53%

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

$154 IQD 201.3K

$263 IQD 343.7K

-41.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,465 IQD 4.5M

$3,250 IQD 4.3M

6.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.94 IQD 31.4K

$33.46 IQD 43.8K

-28.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 IQD 33.3K

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

-48.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.60 IQD 57.1K

$81.1 IQD 106.2K

-46.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.26 IQD 47.5K

$76.5 IQD 100.2K

-52.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$236 IQD 309.5K

$429 IQD 562.2K

-44.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 IQD 232.3K

$275 IQD 360.3K

-35.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$574 IQD 751.2K

$732 IQD 958.5K

-21.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$351 IQD 459.5K

$495 IQD 647.8K

-29.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$828 IQD 1.1M

$1,130 IQD 1.5M

-26.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$571 IQD 748.3K

$660 IQD 864.4K

-13.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$575 IQD 753.3K

$581 IQD 760.9K

-1.00%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Erbil: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $236 in Sulaymaniyah versus $429 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 1% 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 – $184 in Sulaymaniyah vs $195 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 37%, 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 $1,128 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 6% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $752 in Sulaymaniyah and $1,034 in Erbil, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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.