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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $761 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $655 in Karbala, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,176 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $964 in Karbala, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,591 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $1,272 in Karbala, rent included.

Sulaymaniyah costs about 16% more than Karbala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sulaymaniyah and Karbala are more affordable than the global median – Sulaymaniyah 43% lower, Karbala 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.42 IQD 7,098

$5.05 IQD 6,611

7.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.66 IQD 34.9K

$15.25 IQD 20.0K

74.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.84 IQD 8,953

$5.34 IQD 6,993

28.09%

Cappuccino

$2.65 IQD 3,468

$1.65 IQD 2,157

60.61%

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

$0.39 IQD 515

$0.37 IQD 482

5.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 256

$0.30 IQD 394

-33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 IQD 2,681

$1.95 IQD 2,550

5.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 IQD 3,529

$2.93 IQD 3,833

-8.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 IQD 1,913

$1.18 IQD 1,548

23.73%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 IQD 1,295

$0.69 IQD 909

43.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 IQD 2,105

$1.50 IQD 1,961

7.33%

Eggs

$1.71 IQD 2,244

$1.72 IQD 2,251

-0.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.05 IQD 7,920

$5.10 IQD 6,674

18.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.53 IQD 4,617

$4.88 IQD 6,395

-27.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.46 IQD 18.9K

$9.71 IQD 12.7K

48.92%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,527

$0.92 IQD 1,209

27.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,615

$1.08 IQD 1,410

13.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.28 IQD 1,671

$0.98 IQD 1,287

30.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 985

$0.68 IQD 887

10.29%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 871

$0.67 IQD 879

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 845

$0.54 IQD 706

20.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 IQD 715

$0.57 IQD 742

-3.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 586

$0.63 IQD 828

-28.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 IQD 2,543

$1.94 IQD 2,538

Wine (Bottle)

$11.56 IQD 15.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 IQD 1,976

$1.03 IQD 1,343

46.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 IQD 2,269

$2.16 IQD 2,824

-19.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 724

$0.40 IQD 518

37.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.59 IQD 29.6K

$30.72 IQD 40.2K

-26.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.27 IQD 2,966

$2.33 IQD 3,048

-2.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.28 IQD 2,986

$1.54 IQD 2,017

48.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.21 IQD 6,828

$7.79 IQD 10.2K

-33.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 IQD 985

$0.48 IQD 631

56.25%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

$11.3K IQD 14.8M

82.95%

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

$21.1K IQD 27.7M

$14.3K IQD 18.7M

47.64%

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

$77.5 IQD 101.5K

$72.5 IQD 95.0K

6.80%

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

$16.80 IQD 22.0K

$24.85 IQD 32.5K

-32.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.70 IQD 35.0K

$49.76 IQD 65.2K

-46.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.57 IQD 50.5K

$22.79 IQD 29.8K

69.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.67 IQD 21.8K

$16.58 IQD 21.7K

0.54%

Cinema Ticket

$7.48 IQD 9,799

$9.05 IQD 11.8K

-17.35%

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

$150 IQD 196.2K

$128 IQD 168.2K

16.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,550 IQD 4.6M

$793 IQD 1.0M

347.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.44 IQD 30.7K

$16.95 IQD 22.2K

38.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.93 IQD 32.6K

$13.90 IQD 18.2K

79.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.58 IQD 57.1K

$31.10 IQD 40.7K

40.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.28 IQD 47.5K

$32.10 IQD 42.0K

13.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$235 IQD 308.2K

$255 IQD 333.5K

-7.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 IQD 236.2K

$145 IQD 190.2K

24.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$568 IQD 744.4K

$352 IQD 461.5K

61.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$340 IQD 445.3K

$245 IQD 321.3K

38.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$820 IQD 1.1M

$1,153 IQD 1.5M

-28.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$576 IQD 753.9K

$154 IQD 201.4K

274.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$570 IQD 746.9K

$394 IQD 516.3K

44.66%

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 27, 2026

Last update for Karbala: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $235 in Sulaymaniyah versus $255 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 45% 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 $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah versus $15.00 in Karbala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $184 vs $141 – 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 16%, 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 $1,142 per month in Sulaymaniyah and $983 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 $761 in Sulaymaniyah and $655 in Karbala. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 36% 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 $761 in Sulaymaniyah and $655 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.