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: $765 in Sulaymaniyah versus $568 in Halabjah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,170 in Sulaymaniyah versus $840 in Halabjah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,575 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,111 in Halabjah.

Living in Sulaymaniyah is roughly 35% more expensive than in Halabjah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sulaymaniyah 45% lower, Halabjah 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 IQD 5,959

$3.91 IQD 5,119

16.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.34 IQD 30.6K

$19.06 IQD 25.0K

22.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.94 IQD 9,095

$7.46 IQD 9,770

-6.97%

Cappuccino

$2.47 IQD 3,240

$1.87 IQD 2,450

32.09%

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

$0.46 IQD 596

$0.40 IQD 518

15.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 IQD 302

$0.26 IQD 344

-11.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.48 IQD 5,865

$2.68 IQD 3,513

67.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 IQD 2,958

$3.91 IQD 5,123

-42.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 IQD 1,803

$0.59 IQD 776

133.90%

White Bread (500g)

$0.90 IQD 1,183

$0.77 IQD 1,010

16.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 IQD 2,546

$1.59 IQD 2,086

22.01%

Eggs

$1.70 IQD 2,227

$1.55 IQD 2,025

9.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.03 IQD 6,585

$3.90 IQD 5,102

28.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.57 IQD 4,682

$1.88 IQD 2,456

89.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.05 IQD 21.0K

$9.74 IQD 12.7K

64.78%

Apples (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,707

$0.75 IQD 978

73.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,696

$1.08 IQD 1,413

20.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,563

$0.78 IQD 1,020

52.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 891

$0.77 IQD 1,013

-11.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 IQD 760

$0.70 IQD 923

-17.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 964

$0.69 IQD 900

7.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 IQD 933

$0.68 IQD 892

4.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 IQD 651

$0.66 IQD 863

-24.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.42 IQD 3,165

$1.82 IQD 2,390

32.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.35 IQD 14.9K

$13.41 IQD 17.6K

-15.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 IQD 2,429

$1.89 IQD 2,479

-2.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 IQD 2,185

$0.99 IQD 1,295

68.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 IQD 782

$0.37 IQD 479

62.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.06 IQD 30.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,046

$1.57 IQD 2,051

48.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.35 IQD 3,083

$1.51 IQD 1,972

55.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.50 IQD 7,198

$2.26 IQD 2,955

143.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 877

$0.61 IQD 802

9.84%

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

$20.5K IQD 26.8M

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

5.81%

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

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

$9,559 IQD 12.5M

99.92%

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

$101 IQD 132.5K

$151 IQD 198.2K

-33.14%

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

$11.03 IQD 14.4K

$11.50 IQD 15.1K

-4.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.65 IQD 37.5K

$30.26 IQD 39.6K

-5.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.86 IQD 47.0K

$22.68 IQD 29.7K

58.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.57 IQD 26.9K

Cinema Ticket

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

$10.58 IQD 13.9K

-25.80%

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

$175 IQD 229.1K

$165 IQD 215.8K

6.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,899 IQD 3.8M

$3,524 IQD 4.6M

-17.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.45 IQD 25.5K

$7.48 IQD 9,801

160.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.14 IQD 32.9K

$37.69 IQD 49.4K

-33.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$42.60 IQD 55.8K

$74.7 IQD 97.8K

-42.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.79 IQD 49.5K

$46.82 IQD 61.3K

-19.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$234 IQD 306.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 IQD 672.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$362 IQD 473.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$800 IQD 1.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$574 IQD 751.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$572 IQD 749.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.77

4.12

40.05%

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

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: September 6, 2026

Last update for Halabjah: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah vs $19.00 in Halabjah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $146 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 35% in total monthly costs ($765 vs $568 including rent). Halabjah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,147 in Sulaymaniyah and $852 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.

Childcare runs $175 in Sulaymaniyah versus $165 in Halabjah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Halabjah – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Halabjah 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 Halabjah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.