Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $759 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $1,687 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,194 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $2,535 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,629 per month in Sulaymaniyah vs $3,383 in Medellin, rent included.

Sulaymaniyah is about 55% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Sulaymaniyah sits 45% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.61 IQD 6,031

$7.89 COP 24.2K

-41.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.56 IQD 29.5K

$44.53 COP 136.5K

-49.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.95 IQD 9,096

$9.29 COP 28.5K

-25.19%

Cappuccino

$2.36 IQD 3,091

$2.90 COP 8,874

-18.62%

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

$0.46 IQD 603

$1.81 COP 5,541

-74.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 IQD 302

$1.55 COP 4,741

-85.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.55 IQD 5,952

$3.25 COP 9,962

40.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 IQD 3,044

$5.88 COP 18.0K

-60.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 IQD 1,780

$1.38 COP 4,230

-1.45%

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 IQD 1,265

$2.45 COP 7,517

-60.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 IQD 2,507

$1.51 COP 4,617

26.49%

Eggs

$1.74 IQD 2,276

$2.78 COP 8,516

-37.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.04 IQD 6,595

$9.05 COP 27.7K

-44.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.44 IQD 4,504

$10.65 COP 32.6K

-67.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.51 IQD 20.3K

$14.63 COP 44.8K

6.02%

Apples (1kg)

$1.33 IQD 1,741

$3.97 COP 12.2K

-66.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.25 IQD 1,642

$1.38 COP 4,219

-9.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,512

$2.30 COP 7,056

-50.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 920

$2.02 COP 6,185

-65.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 IQD 763

$2.09 COP 6,390

-72.25%

Onion (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 966

$1.63 COP 4,996

-54.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 IQD 933

$1.08 COP 3,313

-34.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 697

$1.25 COP 3,843

-57.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.37 IQD 3,100

$4.03 COP 12.4K

-41.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.61 IQD 15.2K

$13.47 COP 41.3K

-13.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 IQD 2,519

$1.60 COP 4,904

20.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 IQD 2,284

$3.00 COP 9,189

-42.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 IQD 728

$1.18 COP 3,611

-52.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.76 IQD 29.8K

$79.9 COP 244.9K

-71.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.26 IQD 2,953

$1.61 COP 4,920

40.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.24 IQD 2,932

$2.13 COP 6,533

5.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.20 IQD 6,808

$8.52 COP 26.1K

-38.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 IQD 856

$1.35 COP 4,142

-51.85%

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

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

$28.3K COP 86.8M

-26.57%

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

$19.2K IQD 25.1M

$35.7K COP 109.4M

-46.27%

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

$102 IQD 133.2K

$151 COP 463.8K

-32.79%

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

$10.63 IQD 13.9K

$13.10 COP 40.1K

-18.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.41 IQD 37.2K

$32.30 COP 99.0K

-12.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.69 IQD 46.7K

$46.33 COP 141.9K

-22.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.99 IQD 26.2K

$17.26 COP 52.9K

15.82%

Cinema Ticket

$7.48 IQD 9,793

$6.43 COP 19.7K

16.33%

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

$176 IQD 230.6K

$835 COP 2.6M

-78.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,882 IQD 3.8M

$8,887 COP 27.2M

-67.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.84 IQD 24.7K

$89.3 COP 273.7K

-78.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.87 IQD 33.9K

$55.3 COP 169.5K

-53.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.64 IQD 57.1K

$137 COP 418.5K

-68.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.78 IQD 50.8K

$109 COP 335.1K

-64.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$228 IQD 298.0K

$952 COP 2.9M

-76.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 IQD 230.2K

$668 COP 2.0M

-73.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$514 IQD 672.5K

$2,020 COP 6.2M

-74.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$361 IQD 472.4K

$1,148 COP 3.5M

-68.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$827 IQD 1.1M

$3,696 COP 11.3M

-77.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$565 IQD 740.2K

$1,586 COP 4.9M

-64.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$571 IQD 747.4K

$625 COP 1.9M

-8.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.77

10.43

-44.68%

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

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: August 17, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $228 in Sulaymaniyah versus $952 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 10% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah versus $45.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $297 – making Sulaymaniyah the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 122%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,138 per month in Sulaymaniyah and $2,530 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sulaymaniyah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah and $45.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $759 in Sulaymaniyah and $1,687 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sulaymaniyah, where all-in costs run around $759, than in Medellin at $1,687. In Sulaymaniyah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sulaymaniyah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Sulaymaniyah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.