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: $744 in Sulaymaniyah versus $751 in Tikrit.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,167 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,150 in Tikrit.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,591 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,549 in Tikrit.

Living in Sulaymaniyah costs roughly 1% less than in Tikrit, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sulaymaniyah 45% lower, Tikrit 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.32 IQD 6,971

$4.08 IQD 5,339

30.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.03 IQD 35.4K

$24.79 IQD 32.5K

9.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.90 IQD 9,040

$6.93 IQD 9,081

-0.43%

Cappuccino

$2.56 IQD 3,349

$2.58 IQD 3,384

-0.78%

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

$0.37 IQD 482

$0.39 IQD 513

-5.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 277

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 IQD 2,683

$2.95 IQD 3,865

-30.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 IQD 3,454

$2.86 IQD 3,744

-7.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 IQD 1,862

$1.37 IQD 1,796

3.65%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 IQD 1,277

$0.84 IQD 1,094

16.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 IQD 2,172

$1.65 IQD 2,157

0.61%

Eggs

$1.76 IQD 2,299

$1.79 IQD 2,344

-1.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.80 IQD 7,598

$4.62 IQD 6,044

25.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.44 IQD 4,501

$4.63 IQD 6,067

-25.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 IQD 18.7K

$13.08 IQD 17.1K

9.33%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,607

$1.15 IQD 1,505

6.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.25 IQD 1,634

$1.16 IQD 1,522

7.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 IQD 1,645

$1.05 IQD 1,374

20.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 921

$0.75 IQD 981

-6.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 821

$0.65 IQD 848

-3.08%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 844

$0.68 IQD 888

-5.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 IQD 711

$0.66 IQD 865

-18.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 591

$0.56 IQD 732

-19.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.89 IQD 2,470

$1.94 IQD 2,538

-2.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.68 IQD 15.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 IQD 2,072

$1.82 IQD 2,385

-13.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 IQD 2,272

$2.14 IQD 2,805

-18.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 724

$0.40 IQD 518

37.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.87 IQD 29.9K

$30.84 IQD 40.4K

-25.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,949

$2.23 IQD 2,922

0.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.24 IQD 2,929

$1.49 IQD 1,948

50.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.37 IQD 7,033

$6.14 IQD 8,041

-12.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 IQD 985

$0.56 IQD 735

33.93%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

7.12%

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

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

2.64%

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

$75.9 IQD 99.4K

$76.6 IQD 100.3K

-0.82%

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

$16.34 IQD 21.4K

$17.48 IQD 22.9K

-6.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.04 IQD 34.1K

$35.05 IQD 45.9K

-25.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.68 IQD 52.0K

$37.03 IQD 48.5K

7.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.91 IQD 22.1K

$16.76 IQD 22.0K

0.89%

Cinema Ticket

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

$7.75 IQD 10.1K

1.29%

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

$154 IQD 201.3K

$153 IQD 199.9K

0.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,539 IQD 4.6M

$3,246 IQD 4.2M

9.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.16 IQD 31.6K

$26.95 IQD 35.3K

-10.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.00 IQD 32.7K

$25.06 IQD 32.8K

-0.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.01 IQD 56.3K

$60.1 IQD 78.7K

-28.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.77 IQD 46.8K

$41.46 IQD 54.3K

-13.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$237 IQD 310.3K

$246 IQD 321.8K

-3.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 IQD 236.9K

$175 IQD 229.5K

3.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$569 IQD 744.6K

$581 IQD 760.8K

-2.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$344 IQD 450.5K

$341 IQD 447.1K

0.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$805 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$587 IQD 768.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$562 IQD 735.6K

$332 IQD 435.1K

69.04%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Tikrit: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $237 in Sulaymaniyah and $246 in Tikrit. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sulaymaniyah pays 69% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah vs $25.00 in Tikrit for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $183 vs $159 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

Sulaymaniyah is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Sulaymaniyah pays 69% more on average, 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: $237 in Sulaymaniyah versus $246 in Tikrit. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Sulaymaniyah – a meal for two runs $27.00 versus $25.00 in Tikrit. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $744 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 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 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 Sulaymaniyah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Tikrit. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.