Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and Sinjar Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and Sinjar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $765 in Sulaymaniyah versus $459 in Sinjar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,170 in Sulaymaniyah versus $673 in Sinjar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,575 in Sulaymaniyah versus $888 in Sinjar.

Living in Sulaymaniyah is roughly 67% more expensive than in Sinjar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sulaymaniyah 45% lower, Sinjar 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 IQD 5,959

$2.34 IQD 3,071

94.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.34 IQD 30.6K

$9.41 IQD 12.3K

148.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.94 IQD 9,095

$8.53 IQD 11.2K

-18.64%

Cappuccino

$2.47 IQD 3,240

$0.73 IQD 954

238.36%

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

$0.46 IQD 596

$0.37 IQD 479

24.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 IQD 302

$0.21 IQD 279

9.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.48 IQD 5,865

$1.12 IQD 1,473

300.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 IQD 2,958

$1.88 IQD 2,457

20.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 IQD 1,803

$0.78 IQD 1,026

76.92%

White Bread (500g)

$0.90 IQD 1,183

$0.72 IQD 947

25.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 IQD 2,546

$0.78 IQD 1,026

148.72%

Eggs

$1.70 IQD 2,227

$1.78 IQD 2,336

-4.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.03 IQD 6,585

$2.26 IQD 2,964

122.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.57 IQD 4,682

$4.47 IQD 5,859

-20.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.05 IQD 21.0K

$12.40 IQD 16.2K

29.44%

Apples (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,707

$0.73 IQD 957

78.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,696

$0.75 IQD 979

73.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,563

$0.73 IQD 958

63.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 891

$0.74 IQD 968

-8.11%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 IQD 760

$0.71 IQD 933

-18.31%

Onion (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 964

$0.68 IQD 896

8.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 IQD 933

$0.77 IQD 1,014

-7.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 IQD 651

$0.36 IQD 478

38.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.42 IQD 3,165

$1.92 IQD 2,518

26.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.35 IQD 14.9K

$7.68 IQD 10.1K

47.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 IQD 2,429

$1.12 IQD 1,466

65.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 IQD 2,185

$1.95 IQD 2,551

-14.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 IQD 782

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.06 IQD 30.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,046

$1.89 IQD 2,473

23.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.35 IQD 3,083

$1.82 IQD 2,382

29.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.50 IQD 7,198

$6.39 IQD 8,373

-13.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 877

$0.35 IQD 462

91.43%

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

$20.5K IQD 26.8M

$18.1K IQD 23.7M

13.23%

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

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

$20.2K IQD 26.4M

-5.24%

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

$101 IQD 132.5K

$46.18 IQD 60.5K

119.14%

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

$11.03 IQD 14.4K

$14.11 IQD 18.5K

-21.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.65 IQD 37.5K

$27.50 IQD 36.0K

4.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.86 IQD 47.0K

$11.61 IQD 15.2K

208.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.57 IQD 26.9K

$38.74 IQD 50.7K

-46.90%

Cinema Ticket

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

$11.25 IQD 14.7K

-30.22%

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

$175 IQD 229.1K

$318 IQD 415.8K

-44.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,899 IQD 3.8M

$3,073 IQD 4.0M

-5.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.45 IQD 25.5K

$11.59 IQD 15.2K

67.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.14 IQD 32.9K

$11.22 IQD 14.7K

124.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$42.60 IQD 55.8K

$70.6 IQD 92.4K

-39.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.79 IQD 49.5K

$67.0 IQD 87.7K

-43.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$234 IQD 306.0K

$54.4 IQD 71.2K

329.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.7K

$38.49 IQD 50.4K

355.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 IQD 672.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$362 IQD 473.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$800 IQD 1.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$574 IQD 751.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$572 IQD 749.1K

$228 IQD 298.3K

151.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.77

2.53

128.06%

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

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: September 6, 2026

Last update for Sinjar: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $234 in Sulaymaniyah and $54.4 in Sinjar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sulaymaniyah pays 151% 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 $9.00 in Sinjar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $142 per month, with Sinjar cheaper across the board.

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 Sinjar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sulaymaniyah and Sinjar differ by about 67% in total monthly costs ($765 vs $459 including rent). Sinjar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 151% 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: $234 in Sulaymaniyah versus $54.4 in Sinjar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 32% higher in Sulaymaniyah. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $765 per month in Sulaymaniyah versus $459 in Sinjar – a 67% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Sinjar 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 Sinjar 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 Sinjar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 67% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.