Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and Karbala Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and Karbala

😐 Solo nomad: Sulaymaniyah is 5.2% more expensive than Karbala without rent, and 15.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Sulaymaniyah is 9% more expensive than Karbala without rent, and 25.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sulaymaniyah
Karbala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.31 IQD 6,950
$4.89 IQD 6,407
8.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.22 IQD 35.7K
$15.02 IQD 19.7K
81.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.03 IQD 9,206
$5.48 IQD 7,177
28.28%
Cappuccino
$2.66 IQD 3,491
$1.66 IQD 2,169
60.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 IQD 475
$0.37 IQD 482
-2.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18 IQD 230
$0.28 IQD 365
-35.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.16 IQD 2,828
$1.90 IQD 2,486
13.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 IQD 3,557
$2.93 IQD 3,838
-7.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sulaymaniyah
Karbala
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.42 IQD 1,859
$1.18 IQD 1,549
20.34%
White Bread (500g)
$1.03 IQD 1,347
$0.68 IQD 897
51.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 IQD 2,062
$1.43 IQD 1,869
9.79%
Eggs
$1.72 IQD 2,256
$1.72 IQD 2,259
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.89 IQD 7,712
$5.23 IQD 6,844
12.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.52 IQD 4,608
$4.64 IQD 6,078
-24.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.28 IQD 18.7K
$9.52 IQD 12.5K
50.00%
Apples (1kg)
$1.22 IQD 1,593
$0.92 IQD 1,204
32.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.31 IQD 1,713
$1.08 IQD 1,411
21.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.31 IQD 1,721
$0.91 IQD 1,197
43.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.75 IQD 985
$0.67 IQD 883
11.94%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 IQD 856
$0.64 IQD 837
1.56%
Onion (1kg)
$0.68 IQD 893
$0.51 IQD 666
33.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.59 IQD 768
$0.55 IQD 723
7.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 IQD 640
$0.62 IQD 817
-20.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.94 IQD 2,546
$1.86 IQD 2,441
4.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.51 IQD 15.1K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.51 IQD 1,977
$1.06 IQD 1,382
42.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 IQD 2,284
$2.15 IQD 2,818
-19.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Sulaymaniyah
Karbala
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 IQD 712
$0.36 IQD 478
50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.42 IQD 30.7K
$30.74 IQD 40.3K
-23.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.29 IQD 2,999
$2.27 IQD 2,970
0.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.25 IQD 2,953
$1.49 IQD 1,949
51.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.51 IQD 7,224
$7.60 IQD 9,956
-27.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.71 IQD 933
$0.49 IQD 638
44.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K IQD 27.1M
$11.3K IQD 14.9M
82.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1K IQD 27.7M
$14.3K IQD 18.7M
48.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sulaymaniyah
Karbala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$76.2 IQD 99.8K
$71.0 IQD 93.0K
7.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.71 IQD 21.9K
$24.77 IQD 32.4K
-32.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.61 IQD 34.9K
$49.02 IQD 64.2K
-45.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sulaymaniyah
Karbala
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.94 IQD 52.3K
$23.23 IQD 30.4K
71.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.92 IQD 22.2K
$16.89 IQD 22.1K
0.18%
Cinema Ticket
$7.73 IQD 10.1K
$8.78 IQD 11.5K
-11.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sulaymaniyah
Karbala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$153 IQD 200.9K
$127 IQD 166.9K
20.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,442 IQD 4.5M
$769 IQD 1.0M
347.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sulaymaniyah
Karbala
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.10 IQD 31.6K
$17.07 IQD 22.4K
41.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.81 IQD 32.5K
$14.05 IQD 18.4K
76.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$44.23 IQD 57.9K
$30.35 IQD 39.8K
45.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.75 IQD 48.1K
$32.45 IQD 42.5K
13.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sulaymaniyah
Karbala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$239 IQD 312.9K
$249 IQD 326.2K
-4.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$177 IQD 231.8K
$148 IQD 193.8K
19.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$582 IQD 762.7K
$343 IQD 449.5K
69.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$340 IQD 445.8K
$248 IQD 325.1K
37.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$811 IQD 1.1M
$977 IQD 1.3M
-17.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$565 IQD 740.0K
$325 IQD 425.7K
73.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sulaymaniyah
Karbala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$572 IQD 749.3K
$477 IQD 625.3K
19.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9
5.67
58.73%

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

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: March 2, 2026

Last update for Karbala: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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