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: $752 in Sulaymaniyah versus $523 in Kalar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,169 in Sulaymaniyah versus $785 in Kalar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,586 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,047 in Kalar.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.40 IQD 7,068

$1.96 IQD 2,562

175.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.96 IQD 35.3K

$12.32 IQD 16.1K

118.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.98 IQD 9,142

$3.73 IQD 4,890

87.13%

Cappuccino

$2.68 IQD 3,507

$1.00 IQD 1,311

168.00%

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

$0.39 IQD 512

$0.48 IQD 634

-18.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 274

$0.16 IQD 212

31.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.04 IQD 2,675

$1.99 IQD 2,607

2.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 IQD 3,492

$2.15 IQD 2,813

24.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 IQD 1,948

$1.05 IQD 1,376

41.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 IQD 1,346

$0.79 IQD 1,041

30.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 IQD 2,101

$1.51 IQD 1,977

5.96%

Eggs

$1.69 IQD 2,219

$1.31 IQD 1,710

29.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.79 IQD 7,586

$3.42 IQD 4,481

69.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 IQD 4,492

$2.25 IQD 2,944

52.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.35 IQD 18.8K

$12.60 IQD 16.5K

13.89%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,529

$0.95 IQD 1,243

23.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,703

$1.19 IQD 1,554

9.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 IQD 1,651

$0.94 IQD 1,233

34.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 925

$0.77 IQD 1,003

-7.79%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 875

$0.69 IQD 906

-2.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 893

$0.70 IQD 917

-2.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 IQD 772

$0.73 IQD 958

-19.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 589

$0.45 IQD 588

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.93 IQD 2,532

$2.72 IQD 3,565

-29.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.63 IQD 15.2K

$12.58 IQD 16.5K

-7.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 IQD 1,992

$1.38 IQD 1,811

10.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 IQD 2,305

$1.93 IQD 2,529

-8.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 725

$0.59 IQD 773

-6.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.33 IQD 30.5K

$30.84 IQD 40.4K

-24.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.28 IQD 2,983

$2.29 IQD 2,998

-0.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.29 IQD 2,993

$1.90 IQD 2,488

20.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.20 IQD 6,812

$3.79 IQD 4,957

37.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.71 IQD 931

$0.68 IQD 892

4.41%

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

$21.0K IQD 27.5M

$17.0K IQD 22.3M

23.37%

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

$20.9K IQD 27.4M

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

10.20%

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

$76.1 IQD 99.6K

$53.7 IQD 70.3K

41.65%

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

$16.47 IQD 21.6K

$13.49 IQD 17.7K

22.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.94 IQD 35.3K

$24.54 IQD 32.1K

9.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.52 IQD 50.4K

$19.45 IQD 25.5K

98.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.02 IQD 22.3K

$16.62 IQD 21.8K

2.41%

Cinema Ticket

$7.47 IQD 9,776

$7.60 IQD 9,949

-1.71%

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

$154 IQD 201.3K

$50.1 IQD 65.6K

207.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,465 IQD 4.5M

$1,558 IQD 2.0M

122.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.94 IQD 31.4K

$12.57 IQD 16.5K

90.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 IQD 33.3K

$14.16 IQD 18.5K

79.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.60 IQD 57.1K

$27.05 IQD 35.4K

61.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.26 IQD 47.5K

$32.87 IQD 43.0K

10.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$236 IQD 309.5K

$170 IQD 222.8K

38.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 IQD 232.3K

$105 IQD 137.4K

69.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$574 IQD 751.2K

$290 IQD 379.7K

97.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$351 IQD 459.5K

$149 IQD 195.4K

135.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$828 IQD 1.1M

$3,310 IQD 4.3M

-74.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$571 IQD 748.3K

$459 IQD 601.3K

24.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$575 IQD 753.3K

$337 IQD 441.5K

70.62%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Kalar: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $236 in Sulaymaniyah and $170 in Kalar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sulaymaniyah pays 71% 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 $184 vs $156 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.

Average pay runs 71% 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: $236 in Sulaymaniyah versus $170 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 $752 per month in Sulaymaniyah versus $523 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.