Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and Kalar Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and Kalar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $747 in Sulaymaniyah versus $519 in Kalar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,168 in Sulaymaniyah versus $776 in Kalar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,589 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,034 in Kalar.

Living in Sulaymaniyah is roughly 44% more expensive than Kalar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sulaymaniyah 44% lower, Kalar 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.32 IQD 6,969

$1.86 IQD 2,435

186.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.82 IQD 35.1K

$12.16 IQD 15.9K

120.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.08 IQD 9,272

$3.61 IQD 4,722

96.12%

Cappuccino

$2.65 IQD 3,471

$1.04 IQD 1,365

154.81%

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

$0.37 IQD 481

$0.49 IQD 637

-24.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 236

$0.15 IQD 200

20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.07 IQD 2,710

$1.93 IQD 2,528

7.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 IQD 3,570

$2.06 IQD 2,700

32.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 IQD 1,858

$1.05 IQD 1,374

35.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 IQD 1,345

$0.85 IQD 1,107

21.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 IQD 2,094

$1.56 IQD 2,042

2.56%

Eggs

$1.78 IQD 2,325

$1.32 IQD 1,730

34.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.76 IQD 7,540

$3.52 IQD 4,604

63.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.46 IQD 4,533

$2.35 IQD 3,079

47.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.08 IQD 18.4K

$12.29 IQD 16.1K

14.56%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,532

$0.92 IQD 1,204

27.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 IQD 1,691

$1.14 IQD 1,495

13.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 IQD 1,737

$1.00 IQD 1,309

33.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 923

$0.75 IQD 980

-5.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 808

$0.70 IQD 920

-11.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 878

$0.72 IQD 941

-6.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 IQD 764

$0.71 IQD 934

-18.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 IQD 601

$0.44 IQD 581

4.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.89 IQD 2,481

$2.65 IQD 3,468

-28.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.23 IQD 14.7K

$12.66 IQD 16.6K

-11.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 IQD 1,971

$1.43 IQD 1,877

4.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 IQD 2,287

$1.95 IQD 2,550

-10.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 721

$0.59 IQD 776

-6.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.10 IQD 30.3K

$31.03 IQD 40.6K

-25.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 IQD 3,087

$2.33 IQD 3,054

1.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 IQD 3,050

$1.88 IQD 2,456

23.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.41 IQD 7,082

$3.79 IQD 4,966

42.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 IQD 943

$0.64 IQD 840

12.50%

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

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

$16.9K IQD 22.2M

22.82%

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

$21.0K IQD 27.5M

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

11.65%

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

$76.0 IQD 99.5K

$54.5 IQD 71.3K

39.60%

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

$16.72 IQD 21.9K

$13.55 IQD 17.7K

23.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.19 IQD 34.3K

$23.89 IQD 31.3K

9.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.72 IQD 50.7K

$19.20 IQD 25.1K

101.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.62 IQD 21.8K

$17.14 IQD 22.4K

-3.03%

Cinema Ticket

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$7.55 IQD 9,881

3.05%

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

$155 IQD 202.4K

$52.0 IQD 68.1K

197.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,464 IQD 4.5M

$1,522 IQD 2.0M

127.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.54 IQD 30.8K

$12.83 IQD 16.8K

83.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.32 IQD 33.2K

$13.93 IQD 18.2K

81.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.08 IQD 57.7K

$26.51 IQD 34.7K

66.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.85 IQD 46.9K

$32.27 IQD 42.3K

11.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$237 IQD 309.9K

$174 IQD 228.0K

35.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.7K

$105 IQD 137.0K

67.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$581 IQD 760.3K

$282 IQD 368.6K

106.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 IQD 453.6K

$146 IQD 190.5K

138.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$799 IQD 1.0M

$3,312 IQD 4.3M

-75.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$569 IQD 745.3K

$456 IQD 597.7K

24.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$567 IQD 742.3K

$337 IQD 441.8K

68.02%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kalar: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $237 in Sulaymaniyah and $174 in Kalar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sulaymaniyah pays 68% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah vs $12.00 in Kalar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $182 vs $157 per month, with Kalar 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 Kalar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kalar is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 44% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Sulaymaniyah pays 68% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $237 in Sulaymaniyah versus $174 in Kalar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Kalar – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $747 per month in Sulaymaniyah versus $519 in Kalar – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Kalar 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 Kalar 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 Kalar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.