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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $765 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $571 in Karbala, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,170 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $806 in Karbala, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,575 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $1,041 in Karbala, rent included.

Sulaymaniyah costs about 34% more than Karbala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sulaymaniyah and Karbala are more affordable than the global median – Sulaymaniyah 45% lower, Karbala 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 IQD 5,959

$5.05 IQD 6,619

-9.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.34 IQD 30.6K

$18.89 IQD 24.7K

23.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.94 IQD 9,095

$5.36 IQD 7,023

29.48%

Cappuccino

$2.47 IQD 3,240

$1.74 IQD 2,272

41.95%

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

$0.46 IQD 596

$0.39 IQD 511

17.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 IQD 302

$0.28 IQD 364

-17.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.48 IQD 5,865

$1.51 IQD 1,976

196.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 IQD 2,958

$2.04 IQD 2,673

10.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 IQD 1,803

$1.17 IQD 1,538

17.95%

White Bread (500g)

$0.90 IQD 1,183

$0.87 IQD 1,138

3.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 IQD 2,546

$1.34 IQD 1,754

44.78%

Eggs

$1.70 IQD 2,227

$1.57 IQD 2,058

8.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.03 IQD 6,585

$6.45 IQD 8,441

-22.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.57 IQD 4,682

$3.98 IQD 5,210

-10.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.05 IQD 21.0K

$10.58 IQD 13.9K

51.70%

Apples (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,707

$0.95 IQD 1,243

36.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,696

$1.10 IQD 1,435

18.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,563

$0.96 IQD 1,261

23.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 891

$0.51 IQD 663

33.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 IQD 760

$0.64 IQD 844

-9.38%

Onion (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 964

$0.49 IQD 644

51.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 IQD 933

$0.81 IQD 1,056

-12.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 IQD 651

$0.46 IQD 600

8.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.42 IQD 3,165

$1.93 IQD 2,531

25.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.35 IQD 14.9K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 IQD 2,429

$1.54 IQD 2,020

20.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 IQD 2,185

$2.24 IQD 2,934

-25.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 IQD 782

$0.36 IQD 475

66.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.06 IQD 30.2K

$11.50 IQD 15.1K

100.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,046

$1.50 IQD 1,961

55.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.35 IQD 3,083

$1.57 IQD 2,053

49.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.50 IQD 7,198

$7.86 IQD 10.3K

-30.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 877

$0.49 IQD 641

36.73%

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

$20.5K IQD 26.8M

$8,990 IQD 11.8M

127.91%

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

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

$16.9K IQD 22.1M

13.04%

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

$101 IQD 132.5K

$69.6 IQD 91.1K

45.51%

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

$11.03 IQD 14.4K

$24.50 IQD 32.1K

-54.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.65 IQD 37.5K

$39.26 IQD 51.4K

-27.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.86 IQD 47.0K

$23.09 IQD 30.2K

55.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.57 IQD 26.9K

$7.83 IQD 10.3K

162.71%

Cinema Ticket

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

$7.59 IQD 9,943

3.43%

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

$175 IQD 229.1K

$145 IQD 189.3K

21.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,899 IQD 3.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.45 IQD 25.5K

$18.16 IQD 23.8K

7.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.14 IQD 32.9K

$14.24 IQD 18.6K

76.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$42.60 IQD 55.8K

$30.45 IQD 39.9K

39.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.79 IQD 49.5K

$62.7 IQD 82.1K

-39.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$234 IQD 306.0K

$153 IQD 200.7K

52.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.7K

$77.3 IQD 101.2K

127.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 IQD 672.3K

$300 IQD 392.8K

71.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$362 IQD 473.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$800 IQD 1.0M

$1,161 IQD 1.5M

-31.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$574 IQD 751.4K

$154 IQD 201.8K

272.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$572 IQD 749.1K

$395 IQD 516.8K

44.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.77

-42.30%

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

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: September 6, 2026

Last update for Karbala: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $234 in Sulaymaniyah versus $153 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 $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah versus $19.00 in Karbala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $145 – 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 34%, 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 $1,147 per month in Sulaymaniyah and $856 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 $765 in Sulaymaniyah and $571 in Karbala. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 101% 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 $765 in Sulaymaniyah and $571 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.