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: $761 in Sulaymaniyah versus $607 in Kirkuk.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,176 in Sulaymaniyah versus $958 in Kirkuk.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,591 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,309 in Kirkuk.

Living in Sulaymaniyah is roughly 25% more expensive than in Kirkuk, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sulaymaniyah 43% lower, Kirkuk 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.42 IQD 7,098

$3.79 IQD 4,960

43.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.66 IQD 34.9K

$26.08 IQD 34.1K

2.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.84 IQD 8,953

$5.83 IQD 7,629

17.32%

Cappuccino

$2.65 IQD 3,468

$2.34 IQD 3,067

13.25%

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

$0.39 IQD 515

$0.37 IQD 480

5.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 256

$0.19 IQD 246

5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 IQD 2,681

$3.41 IQD 4,470

-39.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 IQD 3,529

$2.85 IQD 3,726

-5.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 IQD 1,913

$1.18 IQD 1,549

23.73%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 IQD 1,295

$0.61 IQD 793

62.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 IQD 2,105

$1.65 IQD 2,156

-2.42%

Eggs

$1.71 IQD 2,244

$1.48 IQD 1,936

15.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.05 IQD 7,920

$4.48 IQD 5,871

35.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.53 IQD 4,617

$2.79 IQD 3,652

26.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.46 IQD 18.9K

$10.85 IQD 14.2K

33.27%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,527

$0.97 IQD 1,273

20.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,615

$1.01 IQD 1,323

21.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.28 IQD 1,671

$1.03 IQD 1,346

24.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 985

$0.61 IQD 794

22.95%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 871

$0.50 IQD 658

34.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 845

$0.54 IQD 707

20.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 IQD 715

$0.62 IQD 812

-11.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 586

$0.31 IQD 405

45.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 IQD 2,543

$1.88 IQD 2,464

3.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.56 IQD 15.1K

$13.56 IQD 17.8K

-14.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 IQD 1,976

$1.78 IQD 2,335

-15.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 IQD 2,269

$2.10 IQD 2,755

-17.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 724

$0.56 IQD 732

-1.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.59 IQD 29.6K

$30.90 IQD 40.5K

-26.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.27 IQD 2,966

$2.96 IQD 3,870

-23.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.28 IQD 2,986

$1.15 IQD 1,512

98.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.21 IQD 6,828

$7.44 IQD 9,744

-29.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 IQD 985

$0.50 IQD 660

50.00%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

3.66%

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

$21.1K IQD 27.7M

$19.6K IQD 25.6M

7.92%

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

$77.5 IQD 101.5K

$53.5 IQD 70.1K

44.80%

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

$16.80 IQD 22.0K

$22.95 IQD 30.0K

-26.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.70 IQD 35.0K

$38.62 IQD 50.6K

-30.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.57 IQD 50.5K

$14.45 IQD 18.9K

166.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.67 IQD 21.8K

$16.99 IQD 22.3K

-1.88%

Cinema Ticket

$7.48 IQD 9,799

$7.46 IQD 9,774

0.27%

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

$150 IQD 196.2K

$57.6 IQD 75.4K

160.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,550 IQD 4.6M

$778 IQD 1.0M

356.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.44 IQD 30.7K

$28.62 IQD 37.5K

-18.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.93 IQD 32.6K

$31.11 IQD 40.7K

-19.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.58 IQD 57.1K

$22.70 IQD 29.7K

91.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.28 IQD 47.5K

$15.14 IQD 19.8K

139.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$235 IQD 308.2K

$76.3 IQD 99.9K

208.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 IQD 236.2K

$109 IQD 143.3K

64.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$568 IQD 744.4K

$116 IQD 152.4K

388.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$340 IQD 445.3K

$254 IQD 332.4K

33.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$820 IQD 1.1M

$880 IQD 1.2M

-6.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$576 IQD 753.9K

$399 IQD 522.1K

44.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$570 IQD 746.9K

$635 IQD 831.5K

-10.17%

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 Kirkuk: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $235 in Sulaymaniyah and $76.3 in Kirkuk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kirkuk pays 11% 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 $184 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 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 11% lower in Kirkuk. 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: $235 in Sulaymaniyah versus $76.3 in Kirkuk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $150 in Sulaymaniyah versus $57.6 in Kirkuk. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 17% 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 25% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.