Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and Halabjah Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and Halabjah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $750 in Sulaymaniyah versus $776 in Halabjah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,166 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,130 in Halabjah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,581 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,483 in Halabjah.

Living in Sulaymaniyah costs roughly 3% less than in Halabjah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sulaymaniyah 44% lower, Halabjah 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.26 IQD 6,895

$3.87 IQD 5,068

35.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.81 IQD 35.1K

$19.30 IQD 25.3K

38.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.01 IQD 9,182

$7.58 IQD 9,935

-7.52%

Cappuccino

$2.64 IQD 3,461

$1.92 IQD 2,521

37.50%

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

$0.39 IQD 514

$0.40 IQD 519

-2.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 269

$0.21 IQD 273

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.07 IQD 2,714

$2.73 IQD 3,572

-24.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 IQD 3,550

$2.95 IQD 3,868

-8.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 IQD 1,851

$0.62 IQD 817

127.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 IQD 1,332

$0.79 IQD 1,029

29.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 IQD 2,109

$1.60 IQD 2,090

0.63%

Eggs

$1.78 IQD 2,329

$1.57 IQD 2,060

13.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.10 IQD 7,998

$4.62 IQD 6,054

32.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.56 IQD 4,667

$1.94 IQD 2,538

83.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.01 IQD 18.4K

$9.69 IQD 12.7K

44.58%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,532

$0.76 IQD 993

53.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 IQD 1,694

$1.16 IQD 1,524

11.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.27 IQD 1,662

$0.75 IQD 977

69.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 957

$0.69 IQD 899

5.80%

Potato (1kg)

$0.61 IQD 798

$0.65 IQD 849

-6.15%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 879

$0.64 IQD 835

4.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 IQD 777

$0.64 IQD 836

-7.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 590

$0.66 IQD 863

-31.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 IQD 2,536

$2.16 IQD 2,824

-10.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.61 IQD 15.2K

$13.63 IQD 17.9K

-14.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 IQD 1,975

$1.80 IQD 2,355

-16.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 IQD 2,367

$1.00 IQD 1,315

81.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 715

$0.40 IQD 521

37.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.16 IQD 30.3K

$31.29 IQD 41.0K

-25.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 IQD 3,096

$1.49 IQD 1,950

58.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 IQD 3,053

$1.48 IQD 1,935

57.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.46 IQD 7,150

$2.32 IQD 3,040

135.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 IQD 1,006

$0.53 IQD 691

45.28%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

0.04%

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

$20.6K IQD 26.9M

$9,404 IQD 12.3M

118.68%

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

$76.6 IQD 100.4K

$153 IQD 200.5K

-49.95%

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

$16.90 IQD 22.1K

$11.56 IQD 15.2K

46.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.27 IQD 34.4K

$30.15 IQD 39.5K

-12.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.65 IQD 51.9K

$36.79 IQD 48.2K

7.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.92 IQD 22.2K

$16.49 IQD 21.6K

2.61%

Cinema Ticket

$7.47 IQD 9,788

$7.55 IQD 9,897

-1.06%

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

$151 IQD 198.4K

$165 IQD 215.9K

-8.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,491 IQD 4.6M

$3,515 IQD 4.6M

-0.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.36 IQD 30.6K

$7.43 IQD 9,736

214.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.92 IQD 32.6K

$30.36 IQD 39.8K

-17.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.74 IQD 57.3K

$65.0 IQD 85.1K

-32.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.40 IQD 47.7K

$43.98 IQD 57.6K

-17.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$240 IQD 315.0K

$241 IQD 315.5K

-0.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.4K

$178 IQD 233.0K

-1.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$572 IQD 749.7K

$585 IQD 765.8K

-2.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$341 IQD 446.4K

$341 IQD 447.1K

-0.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$810 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$579 IQD 758.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$580 IQD 759.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

58.73%

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

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: April 27, 2026

Last update for Halabjah: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $240 in Sulaymaniyah and $241 in Halabjah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah vs $19.00 in Halabjah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $184 vs $149 per month, with Halabjah 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 Halabjah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sulaymaniyah and Halabjah differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($750 vs $776 including rent). Sulaymaniyah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,126 in Sulaymaniyah and $1,164 in Halabjah to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $240 in Sulaymaniyah versus $241 in Halabjah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Halabjah pay roughly 24% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Sulaymaniyah – a meal for two runs $27.00 versus $19.00 in Halabjah. 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 Halabjah 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 3% less than in Halabjah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.