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: $780 in Sulaymaniyah versus $633 in Kirkuk.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,178 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,002 in Kirkuk.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,576 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,372 in Kirkuk.

Living in Sulaymaniyah is roughly 23% 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

$4.50 IQD 5,898

$4.18 IQD 5,473

7.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.28 IQD 30.5K

$26.43 IQD 34.6K

-11.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.07 IQD 9,261

$6.04 IQD 7,911

17.05%

Cappuccino

$2.43 IQD 3,183

$2.35 IQD 3,076

3.40%

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

$0.45 IQD 593

$0.39 IQD 516

15.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 274

$0.25 IQD 328

-16.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.70 IQD 6,160

$3.86 IQD 5,054

21.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 IQD 3,048

$3.91 IQD 5,121

-40.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 IQD 1,740

$1.09 IQD 1,425

22.02%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 IQD 1,283

$0.65 IQD 850

50.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 IQD 2,507

$1.55 IQD 2,031

23.23%

Eggs

$1.76 IQD 2,299

$1.53 IQD 2,002

15.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.95 IQD 6,477

$3.79 IQD 4,963

30.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.55 IQD 4,645

$3.68 IQD 4,821

-3.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.75 IQD 20.6K

$12.80 IQD 16.8K

23.05%

Apples (1kg)

$1.32 IQD 1,724

$0.81 IQD 1,061

62.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,701

$0.92 IQD 1,208

41.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,500

$0.90 IQD 1,176

27.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 911

$0.68 IQD 895

2.94%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 IQD 721

$0.53 IQD 701

3.77%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 901

$0.54 IQD 703

27.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 IQD 890

$0.61 IQD 804

11.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 689

$0.34 IQD 446

55.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.46 IQD 3,218

$1.79 IQD 2,343

37.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.60 IQD 15.2K

$13.44 IQD 17.6K

-13.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 IQD 2,450

$1.51 IQD 1,982

23.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 IQD 2,232

$1.89 IQD 2,469

-10.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 725

$0.40 IQD 522

37.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.88 IQD 30.0K

$23.41 IQD 30.7K

-2.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,045

$2.25 IQD 2,943

3.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.24 IQD 2,936

$1.48 IQD 1,944

51.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.47 IQD 7,168

$7.46 IQD 9,764

-26.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 IQD 944

$0.54 IQD 704

33.33%

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

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

$19.2K IQD 25.1M

7.39%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

-0.38%

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

$101 IQD 131.6K

$53.9 IQD 70.5K

86.67%

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

$10.98 IQD 14.4K

$21.46 IQD 28.1K

-48.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.50 IQD 37.3K

$42.64 IQD 55.8K

-33.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.99 IQD 47.1K

$11.25 IQD 14.7K

219.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.18 IQD 26.4K

Cinema Ticket

$7.54 IQD 9,871

$10.62 IQD 13.9K

-29.00%

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

$176 IQD 231.1K

$171 IQD 223.5K

3.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,879 IQD 3.8M

$3,434 IQD 4.5M

-16.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.43 IQD 25.4K

$30.15 IQD 39.5K

-35.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.44 IQD 33.3K

$19.18 IQD 25.1K

32.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$42.51 IQD 55.7K

$74.2 IQD 97.2K

-42.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.09 IQD 49.9K

$34.21 IQD 44.8K

11.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$226 IQD 296.1K

$190 IQD 248.7K

19.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 IQD 226.6K

$90.7 IQD 118.8K

90.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$506 IQD 662.1K

$233 IQD 305.5K

116.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$363 IQD 474.9K

$225 IQD 294.4K

61.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$831 IQD 1.1M

$574 IQD 752.2K

44.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$587 IQD 768.7K

$308 IQD 403.0K

90.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$580 IQD 759.1K

$442 IQD 579.2K

31.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.77

4.12

40.05%

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

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: September 14, 2026

Last update for Kirkuk: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $226 in Sulaymaniyah and $190 in Kirkuk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sulaymaniyah pays 31% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah vs $26.00 in Kirkuk. Groceries flip the comparison at $188 vs $162, with Kirkuk cheaper for home cooking.

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, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 31% higher in Sulaymaniyah, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $226 in Sulaymaniyah versus $190 in Kirkuk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $176 in Sulaymaniyah versus $171 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 23% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.