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: $750 in Sulaymaniyah versus $839 in Mashhad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,166 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,267 in Mashhad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,581 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,695 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 44% lower, Mashhad 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.26 IQD 6,895

$5.42 IQD 7,106

-2.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.81 IQD 35.1K

$36.49 IQD 47.8K

-26.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.01 IQD 9,182

$7.47 IQD 9,782

-6.16%

Cappuccino

$2.64 IQD 3,461

$3.00 IQD 3,930

-12.00%

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

$0.39 IQD 514

$0.36 IQD 473

8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 269

$0.21 IQD 277

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.07 IQD 2,714

$3.52 IQD 4,610

-41.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 IQD 3,550

$2.92 IQD 3,830

-7.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 IQD 1,851

$1.38 IQD 1,803

2.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 IQD 1,332

$0.78 IQD 1,027

30.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 IQD 2,109

$1.64 IQD 2,149

-1.83%

Eggs

$1.78 IQD 2,329

$0.88 IQD 1,155

102.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.10 IQD 7,998

$4.49 IQD 5,876

35.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.56 IQD 4,667

$2.05 IQD 2,689

73.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.01 IQD 18.4K

$3.09 IQD 4,042

353.40%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,532

$0.98 IQD 1,280

19.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 IQD 1,694

$1.21 IQD 1,585

6.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.27 IQD 1,662

$1.01 IQD 1,329

25.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 957

$0.71 IQD 936

2.82%

Potato (1kg)

$0.61 IQD 798

$0.65 IQD 852

-6.15%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 879

$0.67 IQD 878

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 IQD 777

$0.29 IQD 376

103.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 590

$0.19 IQD 246

136.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 IQD 2,536

$0.78 IQD 1,028

148.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.61 IQD 15.2K

$13.47 IQD 17.7K

-13.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 IQD 1,975

$1.86 IQD 2,438

-18.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 IQD 2,367

$2.10 IQD 2,755

-13.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 715

$0.40 IQD 519

37.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.16 IQD 30.3K

$31.56 IQD 41.3K

-26.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 IQD 3,096

$3.73 IQD 4,893

-36.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 IQD 3,053

$1.47 IQD 1,931

58.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.46 IQD 7,150

$7.50 IQD 9,829

-27.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 IQD 1,006

$0.56 IQD 740

37.50%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

2.65%

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

$20.6K IQD 26.9M

$20.1K IQD 26.4M

2.20%

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

$76.6 IQD 100.4K

$177 IQD 232.0K

-56.75%

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

$16.90 IQD 22.1K

$26.01 IQD 34.1K

-35.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.27 IQD 34.4K

$40.80 IQD 53.5K

-35.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.65 IQD 51.9K

$36.02 IQD 47.2K

10.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.92 IQD 22.2K

$16.98 IQD 22.2K

-0.35%

Cinema Ticket

$7.47 IQD 9,788

$7.51 IQD 9,834

-0.53%

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

$151 IQD 198.4K

$166 IQD 217.9K

-8.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,491 IQD 4.6M

$3,534 IQD 4.6M

-1.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.36 IQD 30.6K

$28.46 IQD 37.3K

-17.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.92 IQD 32.6K

$30.31 IQD 39.7K

-17.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.74 IQD 57.3K

$64.9 IQD 85.1K

-32.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.40 IQD 47.7K

$43.00 IQD 56.3K

-15.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$240 IQD 315.0K

$239 IQD 313.3K

0.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.4K

$181 IQD 236.9K

-3.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$572 IQD 749.7K

$581 IQD 761.8K

-1.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$341 IQD 446.4K

$339 IQD 444.7K

0.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$810 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$579 IQD 758.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$580 IQD 759.7K

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 Mashhad: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $240 in Sulaymaniyah and $239 in Mashhad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah vs $36.00 in Mashhad. Groceries flip the comparison at $184 vs $132, 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 ($750 vs $839 including rent). Sulaymaniyah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,126 in Sulaymaniyah and $1,259 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: $240 in Sulaymaniyah versus $239 in Mashhad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $151 in Sulaymaniyah versus $166 in Mashhad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Shoppers in Mashhad pay roughly 40% 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.