Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and Kirkuk Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and Kirkuk

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $744 in Sulaymaniyah versus $609 in Kirkuk.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,167 in Sulaymaniyah versus $960 in Kirkuk.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,591 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,311 in Kirkuk.

Living in Sulaymaniyah is roughly 22% more expensive than Kirkuk, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sulaymaniyah 45% lower, Kirkuk 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.32 IQD 6,971

$3.80 IQD 4,974

40.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.03 IQD 35.4K

$25.74 IQD 33.7K

5.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.90 IQD 9,040

$5.76 IQD 7,540

19.79%

Cappuccino

$2.56 IQD 3,349

$2.34 IQD 3,064

9.40%

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

$0.37 IQD 482

$0.39 IQD 512

-5.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 277

$0.18 IQD 235

16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 IQD 2,683

$3.41 IQD 4,468

-39.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 IQD 3,454

$2.89 IQD 3,782

-8.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 IQD 1,862

$1.14 IQD 1,498

24.56%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 IQD 1,277

$0.61 IQD 796

60.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 IQD 2,172

$1.67 IQD 2,182

-0.60%

Eggs

$1.76 IQD 2,299

$1.48 IQD 1,941

18.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.80 IQD 7,598

$4.58 IQD 5,997

26.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.44 IQD 4,501

$2.85 IQD 3,727

20.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 IQD 18.7K

$10.79 IQD 14.1K

32.53%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,607

$0.90 IQD 1,180

36.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.25 IQD 1,634

$1.02 IQD 1,334

22.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 IQD 1,645

$0.99 IQD 1,296

27.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 921

$0.64 IQD 843

9.37%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 821

$0.49 IQD 643

28.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 844

$0.50 IQD 651

28.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 IQD 711

$0.63 IQD 830

-14.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 591

$0.31 IQD 401

45.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.89 IQD 2,470

$1.86 IQD 2,440

1.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.68 IQD 15.3K

$13.54 IQD 17.7K

-13.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 IQD 2,072

$1.76 IQD 2,311

-10.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 IQD 2,272

$2.11 IQD 2,760

-17.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 724

$0.56 IQD 727

-1.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.87 IQD 29.9K

$31.66 IQD 41.5K

-27.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,949

$2.93 IQD 3,832

-23.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.24 IQD 2,929

$1.11 IQD 1,451

101.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.37 IQD 7,033

$7.64 IQD 10.0K

-29.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 IQD 985

$0.53 IQD 697

41.51%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

1.63%

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

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

1.76%

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

$75.9 IQD 99.4K

$52.7 IQD 69.0K

44.13%

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

$16.34 IQD 21.4K

$23.40 IQD 30.6K

-30.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.04 IQD 34.1K

$38.76 IQD 50.8K

-32.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.68 IQD 52.0K

$14.67 IQD 19.2K

170.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.91 IQD 22.1K

$17.09 IQD 22.4K

-1.05%

Cinema Ticket

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

$7.50 IQD 9,819

4.67%

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

$154 IQD 201.3K

$58.8 IQD 77.0K

161.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,539 IQD 4.6M

$780 IQD 1.0M

353.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.16 IQD 31.6K

$28.28 IQD 37.0K

-14.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.00 IQD 32.7K

$30.17 IQD 39.5K

-17.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.01 IQD 56.3K

$23.14 IQD 30.3K

85.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.77 IQD 46.8K

$14.72 IQD 19.3K

143.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$237 IQD 310.3K

$73.8 IQD 96.7K

221.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 IQD 236.9K

$109 IQD 142.1K

66.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$569 IQD 744.6K

$113 IQD 147.8K

403.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$344 IQD 450.5K

$252 IQD 329.5K

36.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$805 IQD 1.1M

$866 IQD 1.1M

-7.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$587 IQD 768.2K

$398 IQD 520.7K

47.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$562 IQD 735.6K

$631 IQD 826.1K

-10.96%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Kirkuk: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $237 in Sulaymaniyah and $73.8 in Kirkuk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kirkuk pays 12% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah vs $26.00 in Kirkuk for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $183 vs $157 per month, with Kirkuk 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 Kirkuk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kirkuk is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Kirkuk earns 12% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $237 in Sulaymaniyah versus $73.8 in Kirkuk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $154 in Sulaymaniyah versus $58.8 in Kirkuk. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Sulaymaniyah. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Kirkuk 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 Kirkuk 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 Kirkuk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.