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: $780 in Sulaymaniyah versus $640 in Mashhad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,178 in Sulaymaniyah versus $931 in Mashhad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,576 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,223 in Mashhad.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Sulaymaniyah 43% lower, Mashhad 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.50 IQD 5,898

$4.67 IQD 6,120

-3.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.28 IQD 30.5K

$34.11 IQD 44.7K

-31.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.07 IQD 9,261

$7.65 IQD 10.0K

-7.58%

Cappuccino

$2.43 IQD 3,183

$3.08 IQD 4,035

-21.10%

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

$0.45 IQD 593

$0.40 IQD 519

12.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 274

$0.24 IQD 312

-12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.70 IQD 6,159

$3.88 IQD 5,082

21.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 IQD 3,048

$3.89 IQD 5,088

-40.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 IQD 1,740

$1.05 IQD 1,371

26.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 IQD 1,283

$0.82 IQD 1,076

19.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 IQD 2,507

$1.58 IQD 2,067

20.89%

Eggs

$1.76 IQD 2,299

$0.81 IQD 1,063

117.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.95 IQD 6,477

$3.80 IQD 4,980

30.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.55 IQD 4,645

$2.04 IQD 2,676

74.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.75 IQD 20.6K

$2.92 IQD 3,820

439.38%

Apples (1kg)

$1.32 IQD 1,723

$1.01 IQD 1,325

30.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,701

$1.12 IQD 1,467

16.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,500

$0.98 IQD 1,281

17.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 911

$0.68 IQD 889

2.94%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 IQD 721

$0.67 IQD 873

-17.91%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 901

$0.64 IQD 837

7.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 IQD 890

$0.31 IQD 407

119.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 689

$0.21 IQD 274

152.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.46 IQD 3,218

$0.76 IQD 996

223.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.60 IQD 15.2K

$13.55 IQD 17.7K

-14.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 IQD 2,450

$2.14 IQD 2,799

-12.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 IQD 2,232

$2.26 IQD 2,953

-24.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 725

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.88 IQD 30.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,045

$2.25 IQD 2,947

3.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.24 IQD 2,936

$1.51 IQD 1,979

48.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.47 IQD 7,168

$7.52 IQD 9,851

-27.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 IQD 944

$0.65 IQD 857

10.77%

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

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

8.77%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

0.62%

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

$101 IQD 131.6K

$215 IQD 281.7K

-53.28%

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

$10.98 IQD 14.4K

$21.21 IQD 27.8K

-48.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.50 IQD 37.3K

$42.34 IQD 55.4K

-32.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.99 IQD 47.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.18 IQD 26.4K

Cinema Ticket

$7.54 IQD 9,871

$10.60 IQD 13.9K

-28.87%

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

$176 IQD 231.0K

$165 IQD 216.6K

6.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,879 IQD 3.8M

$3,514 IQD 4.6M

-18.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.43 IQD 25.4K

$29.67 IQD 38.8K

-34.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.44 IQD 33.3K

$38.11 IQD 49.9K

-33.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$42.51 IQD 55.7K

$74.5 IQD 97.6K

-42.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.09 IQD 49.9K

$46.47 IQD 60.8K

-18.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$226 IQD 296.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 IQD 226.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$506 IQD 662.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$363 IQD 474.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$831 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$587 IQD 768.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$580 IQD 759.1K

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 Mashhad: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah vs $34.00 in Mashhad. Groceries flip the comparison at $188 vs $127, 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 22% in total monthly costs ($780 vs $640 including rent). Mashhad is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,171 in Sulaymaniyah and $960 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.

Childcare runs $176 in Sulaymaniyah versus $165 in Mashhad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Mashhad – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Mashhad 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 Mashhad 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.