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: $750 in Sulaymaniyah versus $591 in Kirkuk.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,166 in Sulaymaniyah versus $947 in Kirkuk.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,581 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,303 in Kirkuk.

Living in Sulaymaniyah is roughly 27% more expensive than Kirkuk, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sulaymaniyah 44% lower, Kirkuk 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.26 IQD 6,893

$3.74 IQD 4,903

40.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.81 IQD 35.1K

$25.51 IQD 33.4K

5.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.01 IQD 9,180

$5.59 IQD 7,320

25.40%

Cappuccino

$2.64 IQD 3,461

$2.26 IQD 2,966

16.81%

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

$0.39 IQD 514

$0.36 IQD 478

8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 269

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.07 IQD 2,713

$3.38 IQD 4,430

-38.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 IQD 3,549

$2.89 IQD 3,779

-6.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 IQD 1,851

$1.15 IQD 1,506

22.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 IQD 1,332

$0.61 IQD 804

67.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 IQD 2,108

$1.58 IQD 2,065

1.90%

Eggs

$1.78 IQD 2,328

$1.45 IQD 1,895

22.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.10 IQD 7,996

$4.37 IQD 5,721

39.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.56 IQD 4,666

$2.84 IQD 3,714

25.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.01 IQD 18.4K

$11.15 IQD 14.6K

25.65%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,531

$0.92 IQD 1,205

27.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 IQD 1,693

$1.07 IQD 1,397

20.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.27 IQD 1,662

$1.03 IQD 1,347

23.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 957

$0.59 IQD 777

23.73%

Potato (1kg)

$0.61 IQD 798

$0.50 IQD 653

22.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 879

$0.50 IQD 661

34.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 IQD 777

$0.63 IQD 826

-6.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 590

$0.33 IQD 434

36.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 IQD 2,535

$1.86 IQD 2,438

4.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.61 IQD 15.2K

$13.35 IQD 17.5K

-13.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 IQD 1,974

$1.83 IQD 2,393

-17.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 IQD 2,367

$2.11 IQD 2,763

-14.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 715

$0.53 IQD 691

3.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.16 IQD 30.3K

$31.69 IQD 41.5K

-26.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 IQD 3,096

$2.92 IQD 3,821

-19.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 IQD 3,053

$1.15 IQD 1,508

102.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.46 IQD 7,149

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

-29.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 IQD 1,005

$0.54 IQD 706

42.59%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

-0.24%

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

$20.6K IQD 26.9M

$20.2K IQD 26.4M

2.01%

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

$76.6 IQD 100.3K

$53.3 IQD 69.8K

43.71%

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

$16.90 IQD 22.1K

$22.83 IQD 29.9K

-25.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.27 IQD 34.4K

$38.06 IQD 49.9K

-30.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.65 IQD 51.9K

$14.76 IQD 19.3K

168.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.92 IQD 22.2K

$16.50 IQD 21.6K

2.55%

Cinema Ticket

$7.47 IQD 9,786

$7.66 IQD 10.0K

-2.48%

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

$151 IQD 198.3K

$58.0 IQD 75.9K

161.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,491 IQD 4.6M

$788 IQD 1.0M

343.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.36 IQD 30.6K

$28.59 IQD 37.5K

-18.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.92 IQD 32.6K

$30.57 IQD 40.0K

-18.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.74 IQD 57.3K

$23.18 IQD 30.4K

88.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.40 IQD 47.7K

$15.28 IQD 20.0K

138.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$240 IQD 315.0K

$73.9 IQD 96.8K

225.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.3K

$108 IQD 141.7K

61.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$572 IQD 749.5K

$116 IQD 152.2K

392.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$341 IQD 446.3K

$249 IQD 325.5K

37.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$810 IQD 1.1M

$887 IQD 1.2M

-8.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$579 IQD 758.4K

$406 IQD 531.3K

42.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$580 IQD 759.5K

$636 IQD 832.8K

-8.80%

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 27, 2026

Last update for Kirkuk: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $240 in Sulaymaniyah and $73.9 in Kirkuk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kirkuk pays 10% 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 $158 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 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Kirkuk earns 10% 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: $240 in Sulaymaniyah versus $73.9 in Kirkuk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $151 in Sulaymaniyah versus $58.0 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 27% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.