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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $754 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $641 in Karbala, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,158 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $964 in Karbala, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,561 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $1,287 in Karbala, rent included.

Sulaymaniyah costs about 18% more than Karbala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sulaymaniyah and Karbala are more affordable than the global median – Sulaymaniyah 44% lower, Karbala 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.43 IQD 7,115

$4.87 IQD 6,378

11.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.66 IQD 34.9K

$15.32 IQD 20.1K

74.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.84 IQD 8,958

$5.33 IQD 6,980

28.33%

Cappuccino

$2.65 IQD 3,471

$1.62 IQD 2,115

63.58%

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

$0.39 IQD 512

$0.39 IQD 516

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 280

$0.30 IQD 394

-30.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 IQD 2,796

$1.88 IQD 2,458

13.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 IQD 3,395

$2.90 IQD 3,795

-10.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.48 IQD 1,940

$1.19 IQD 1,562

24.37%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 IQD 1,278

$0.73 IQD 960

34.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 IQD 2,166

$1.45 IQD 1,895

13.79%

Eggs

$1.72 IQD 2,254

$1.72 IQD 2,253

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.88 IQD 7,697

$5.11 IQD 6,695

15.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.59 IQD 4,702

$4.68 IQD 6,121

-23.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.14 IQD 18.5K

$9.59 IQD 12.6K

47.45%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,616

$0.99 IQD 1,297

24.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.24 IQD 1,625

$1.07 IQD 1,406

15.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.32 IQD 1,725

$0.90 IQD 1,178

46.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 929

$0.66 IQD 862

7.58%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 877

$0.68 IQD 885

-1.47%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 894

$0.51 IQD 668

33.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 IQD 716

$0.60 IQD 787

-8.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 IQD 633

$0.58 IQD 764

-17.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.86 IQD 2,441

$1.94 IQD 2,541

-4.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.59 IQD 15.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 IQD 1,976

$1.06 IQD 1,387

42.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 IQD 2,390

$2.17 IQD 2,840

-15.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 IQD 730

$0.37 IQD 481

51.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.92 IQD 30.0K

$31.31 IQD 41.0K

-26.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 IQD 3,086

$2.24 IQD 2,929

5.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.30 IQD 3,010

$1.48 IQD 1,931

55.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.47 IQD 7,163

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

-29.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 IQD 951

$0.49 IQD 639

48.98%

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

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

$11.3K IQD 14.8M

81.20%

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

$20.9K IQD 27.4M

$14.7K IQD 19.2M

42.43%

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

$76.7 IQD 100.4K

$71.4 IQD 93.5K

7.38%

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

$16.74 IQD 21.9K

$25.13 IQD 32.9K

-33.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.75 IQD 35.0K

$49.37 IQD 64.6K

-45.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.45 IQD 51.7K

$22.67 IQD 29.7K

74.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.09 IQD 22.4K

$17.07 IQD 22.3K

0.12%

Cinema Ticket

$7.48 IQD 9,791

$8.80 IQD 11.5K

-15.00%

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

$151 IQD 197.1K

$128 IQD 167.1K

17.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,494 IQD 4.6M

$778 IQD 1.0M

349.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.76 IQD 31.1K

$17.09 IQD 22.4K

39.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 IQD 33.3K

$14.30 IQD 18.7K

77.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.91 IQD 57.5K

$30.75 IQD 40.3K

42.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.90 IQD 47.0K

$32.28 IQD 42.3K

11.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$234 IQD 305.9K

$257 IQD 336.6K

-9.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$178 IQD 232.5K

$146 IQD 190.8K

21.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$573 IQD 750.2K

$351 IQD 459.2K

63.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$338 IQD 443.0K

$243 IQD 318.3K

39.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$803 IQD 1.1M

$958 IQD 1.3M

-16.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$582 IQD 762.3K

$333 IQD 435.6K

74.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$572 IQD 749.3K

$477 IQD 623.9K

20.10%

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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Karbala: April 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $234 in Sulaymaniyah versus $257 in Karbala. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 20% higher in Sulaymaniyah, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27 in Sulaymaniyah versus $15 in Karbala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $184 vs $140 – making Karbala the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Karbala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sulaymaniyah is pricier by about 18%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,131 per month in Sulaymaniyah and $962 in Karbala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Karbala, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $754 in Sulaymaniyah and $641 in Karbala. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 37% less in Karbala. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $754 in Sulaymaniyah and $641 in Karbala, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Karbala – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Karbala. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sulaymaniyah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.