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: $765 in Sulaymaniyah versus $545 in Kalar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,170 in Sulaymaniyah versus $826 in Kalar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,575 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,106 in Kalar.

Living in Sulaymaniyah is roughly 40% more expensive than in Kalar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sulaymaniyah 45% lower, Kalar 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 IQD 5,959

$1.86 IQD 2,434

144.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.34 IQD 30.6K

$12.41 IQD 16.3K

88.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.94 IQD 9,095

$3.64 IQD 4,770

90.66%

Cappuccino

$2.47 IQD 3,240

$0.99 IQD 1,299

149.49%

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

$0.46 IQD 596

$0.52 IQD 683

-11.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 IQD 302

$0.14 IQD 184

64.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.48 IQD 5,865

$6.03 IQD 7,902

-25.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 IQD 2,958

$4.48 IQD 5,873

-49.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 IQD 1,803

$1.10 IQD 1,441

25.45%

White Bread (500g)

$0.90 IQD 1,183

$0.76 IQD 996

18.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 IQD 2,546

$1.54 IQD 2,021

25.97%

Eggs

$1.70 IQD 2,227

$1.32 IQD 1,728

28.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.03 IQD 6,585

$3.48 IQD 4,558

44.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.57 IQD 4,682

$2.24 IQD 2,930

59.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.05 IQD 21.0K

$12.24 IQD 16.0K

31.13%

Apples (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,707

$0.94 IQD 1,228

38.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,696

$1.15 IQD 1,504

13.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,563

$0.94 IQD 1,226

26.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 891

$0.81 IQD 1,059

-16.05%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 IQD 760

$0.71 IQD 928

-18.31%

Onion (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 964

$0.70 IQD 916

5.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 IQD 933

$0.78 IQD 1,025

-8.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 IQD 651

$0.40 IQD 528

25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.42 IQD 3,165

$2.52 IQD 3,296

-3.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.35 IQD 14.9K

$12.62 IQD 16.5K

-10.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 IQD 2,429

$1.67 IQD 2,191

10.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 IQD 2,185

$2.15 IQD 2,818

-22.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 IQD 782

$0.55 IQD 716

9.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.06 IQD 30.2K

$30.21 IQD 39.6K

-23.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,046

$1.86 IQD 2,440

25.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.35 IQD 3,083

$1.80 IQD 2,355

30.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.50 IQD 7,198

$3.78 IQD 4,947

45.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 877

$0.67 IQD 875

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

$20.5K IQD 26.8M

$16.7K IQD 21.8M

22.90%

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

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

$18.7K IQD 24.5M

2.15%

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

$101 IQD 132.5K

$52.8 IQD 69.2K

91.52%

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

$11.03 IQD 14.4K

$13.44 IQD 17.6K

-17.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.65 IQD 37.5K

$23.92 IQD 31.3K

19.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.86 IQD 47.0K

$19.01 IQD 24.9K

88.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.57 IQD 26.9K

$38.34 IQD 50.2K

-46.35%

Cinema Ticket

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

$7.79 IQD 10.2K

0.77%

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

$175 IQD 229.1K

$50.8 IQD 66.5K

244.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,899 IQD 3.8M

$1,532 IQD 2.0M

89.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.45 IQD 25.5K

$12.97 IQD 17.0K

49.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.14 IQD 32.9K

$14.14 IQD 18.5K

77.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$42.60 IQD 55.8K

$26.37 IQD 34.5K

61.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.79 IQD 49.5K

$32.17 IQD 42.1K

17.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$234 IQD 306.0K

$171 IQD 224.5K

36.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.7K

$106 IQD 138.8K

65.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 IQD 672.3K

$281 IQD 367.7K

82.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$362 IQD 473.7K

$148 IQD 193.9K

144.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$800 IQD 1.0M

$3,286 IQD 4.3M

-75.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$574 IQD 751.4K

$451 IQD 591.1K

27.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$572 IQD 749.1K

$343 IQD 448.8K

66.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.77

2.53

128.06%

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

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: September 6, 2026

Last update for Kalar: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $234 in Sulaymaniyah and $171 in Kalar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sulaymaniyah pays 67% 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: $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah vs $12.00 in Kalar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 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 40% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 67% higher in Sulaymaniyah, 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: $234 in Sulaymaniyah versus $171 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 $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $765 per month in Sulaymaniyah versus $545 in Kalar – a 40% 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 40% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.