Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and Mashhad Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and Mashhad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $761 in Sulaymaniyah versus $851 in Mashhad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,176 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,277 in Mashhad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,591 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,702 in Mashhad.

Living in Sulaymaniyah costs roughly 11% less than in Mashhad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sulaymaniyah 43% lower, Mashhad 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.42 IQD 7,098

$5.25 IQD 6,877

3.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.66 IQD 34.9K

$36.62 IQD 48.0K

-27.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.84 IQD 8,953

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

-11.28%

Cappuccino

$2.65 IQD 3,469

$3.05 IQD 3,998

-13.11%

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

$0.39 IQD 515

$0.37 IQD 482

5.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 256

$0.22 IQD 286

-9.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 IQD 2,681

$3.37 IQD 4,410

-39.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 IQD 3,529

$2.94 IQD 3,853

-8.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 IQD 1,913

$1.31 IQD 1,715

11.45%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 IQD 1,295

$0.84 IQD 1,094

17.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 IQD 2,105

$1.57 IQD 2,058

2.55%

Eggs

$1.71 IQD 2,244

$0.80 IQD 1,045

113.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.05 IQD 7,920

$4.59 IQD 6,007

31.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.53 IQD 4,617

$2.02 IQD 2,646

74.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.46 IQD 18.9K

$3.01 IQD 3,943

380.40%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,527

$0.99 IQD 1,291

18.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,615

$1.17 IQD 1,531

5.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.28 IQD 1,671

$0.97 IQD 1,275

31.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 985

$0.68 IQD 894

10.29%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 871

$0.69 IQD 908

-2.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 845

$0.63 IQD 831

3.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 IQD 715

$0.29 IQD 374

89.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 586

$0.20 IQD 262

125.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 IQD 2,543

$0.82 IQD 1,078

136.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.56 IQD 15.1K

$13.49 IQD 17.7K

-14.31%

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

$2.07 IQD 2,716

-16.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 724

$0.36 IQD 473

52.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.59 IQD 29.6K

$31.31 IQD 41.0K

-27.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.27 IQD 2,966

$3.81 IQD 4,988

-40.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.28 IQD 2,986

$1.50 IQD 1,960

52.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.21 IQD 6,828

$7.55 IQD 9,884

-30.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 IQD 985

$0.57 IQD 742

31.58%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

1.62%

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

$21.1K IQD 27.7M

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

5.93%

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

$77.5 IQD 101.5K

$177 IQD 231.6K

-56.19%

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

$16.80 IQD 22.0K

$26.28 IQD 34.4K

-36.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.70 IQD 35.0K

$40.96 IQD 53.6K

-34.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.57 IQD 50.5K

$36.46 IQD 47.7K

5.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.67 IQD 21.8K

$16.72 IQD 21.9K

-0.30%

Cinema Ticket

$7.48 IQD 9,800

$7.43 IQD 9,735

0.67%

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

$150 IQD 196.2K

$165 IQD 215.8K

-9.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,550 IQD 4.6M

$3,559 IQD 4.7M

-0.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.44 IQD 30.7K

$28.68 IQD 37.6K

-18.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.93 IQD 32.6K

$30.31 IQD 39.7K

-17.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.58 IQD 57.1K

$64.7 IQD 84.7K

-32.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.28 IQD 47.5K

$43.57 IQD 57.1K

-16.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$235 IQD 308.2K

$242 IQD 316.9K

-2.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 IQD 236.2K

$182 IQD 238.0K

-0.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$568 IQD 744.4K

$573 IQD 750.4K

-0.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$340 IQD 445.3K

$349 IQD 457.0K

-2.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$820 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$576 IQD 753.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$570 IQD 746.9K

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 Mashhad: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $235 in Sulaymaniyah and $242 in Mashhad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah vs $37.00 in Mashhad. Groceries flip the comparison at $184 vs $130, with Mashhad 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 Mashhad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sulaymaniyah and Mashhad differ by about 12% in total monthly costs ($761 vs $851 including rent). Sulaymaniyah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,142 in Sulaymaniyah and $1,277 in Mashhad to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $235 in Sulaymaniyah versus $242 in Mashhad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $150 in Sulaymaniyah versus $165 in Mashhad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Shoppers in Mashhad pay roughly 41% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Sulaymaniyah 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 Mashhad 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 Sulaymaniyah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Mashhad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.