Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and Tikrit Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and Tikrit

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $761 in Sulaymaniyah versus $751 in Tikrit.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,176 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,152 in Tikrit.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,591 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,553 in Tikrit.

Living in Sulaymaniyah is roughly 1% more expensive than in Tikrit, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sulaymaniyah 43% lower, Tikrit 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.42 IQD 7,098

$3.99 IQD 5,219

35.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.66 IQD 34.9K

$24.41 IQD 32.0K

9.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.84 IQD 8,953

$6.81 IQD 8,924

0.44%

Cappuccino

$2.65 IQD 3,468

$2.57 IQD 3,362

3.11%

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

$0.39 IQD 515

$0.36 IQD 476

8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 256

$0.18 IQD 229

11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 IQD 2,681

$2.97 IQD 3,890

-30.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 IQD 3,529

$2.95 IQD 3,868

-8.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 IQD 1,913

$1.31 IQD 1,709

11.45%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 IQD 1,295

$0.78 IQD 1,027

26.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 IQD 2,105

$1.60 IQD 2,098

0.63%

Eggs

$1.71 IQD 2,244

$1.71 IQD 2,240

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.05 IQD 7,920

$4.40 IQD 5,763

37.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.53 IQD 4,617

$4.61 IQD 6,040

-23.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.46 IQD 18.9K

$13.41 IQD 17.6K

7.83%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,527

$1.15 IQD 1,510

1.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,615

$1.17 IQD 1,532

5.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.28 IQD 1,671

$1.05 IQD 1,371

21.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 985

$0.74 IQD 965

1.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 871

$0.64 IQD 843

4.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 845

$0.66 IQD 868

-1.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 IQD 715

$0.68 IQD 892

-19.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 586

$0.56 IQD 728

-19.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 IQD 2,543

$1.96 IQD 2,565

-1.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.56 IQD 15.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 IQD 1,976

$1.79 IQD 2,349

-15.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 IQD 2,269

$2.17 IQD 2,836

-20.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 724

$0.40 IQD 519

37.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.59 IQD 29.6K

$30.53 IQD 40.0K

-26.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.27 IQD 2,966

$2.33 IQD 3,051

-2.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.28 IQD 2,986

$1.48 IQD 1,942

54.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.21 IQD 6,828

$5.91 IQD 7,738

-11.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 IQD 985

$0.56 IQD 739

33.93%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

9.48%

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

$21.1K IQD 27.7M

$20.3K IQD 26.5M

4.32%

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

$77.5 IQD 101.5K

$76.4 IQD 100.1K

1.37%

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

$16.80 IQD 22.0K

$17.79 IQD 23.3K

-5.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.70 IQD 35.0K

$33.93 IQD 44.4K

-21.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.57 IQD 50.5K

$36.77 IQD 48.2K

4.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.67 IQD 21.8K

$16.55 IQD 21.7K

0.73%

Cinema Ticket

$7.48 IQD 9,799

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

-4.23%

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

$150 IQD 196.2K

$151 IQD 197.9K

-0.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,550 IQD 4.6M

$3,306 IQD 4.3M

7.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.44 IQD 30.7K

$27.51 IQD 36.0K

-14.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.93 IQD 32.6K

$25.02 IQD 32.8K

-0.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.58 IQD 57.1K

$61.8 IQD 80.9K

-29.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.28 IQD 47.5K

$41.18 IQD 53.9K

-11.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$235 IQD 308.2K

$238 IQD 312.2K

-1.29%

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

$571 IQD 747.1K

-0.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$340 IQD 445.3K

$339 IQD 444.1K

0.27%

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

$319 IQD 418.2K

78.59%

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 Tikrit: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $235 in Sulaymaniyah and $238 in Tikrit. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sulaymaniyah pays 79% 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: $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah vs $24.00 in Tikrit for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $184 vs $157 per month, with Tikrit 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 Tikrit: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tikrit is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 79% 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: $235 in Sulaymaniyah versus $238 in Tikrit. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Tikrit – a meal for two runs $24.00 versus $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $761 per month in Sulaymaniyah versus $751 in Tikrit – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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