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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $751 in Tikrit versus $744 in Sulaymaniyah.

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

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

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.08 IQD 5,339

$5.32 IQD 6,971

-23.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.79 IQD 32.5K

$27.03 IQD 35.4K

-8.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.93 IQD 9,081

$6.90 IQD 9,040

0.43%

Cappuccino

$2.58 IQD 3,384

$2.56 IQD 3,349

0.78%

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

$0.39 IQD 513

$0.37 IQD 482

5.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 277

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 IQD 3,865

$2.05 IQD 2,683

43.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 IQD 3,744

$2.64 IQD 3,454

8.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 IQD 1,796

$1.42 IQD 1,862

-3.52%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 IQD 1,094

$0.98 IQD 1,277

-14.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 IQD 2,157

$1.66 IQD 2,172

-0.60%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,344

$1.76 IQD 2,299

1.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.62 IQD 6,044

$5.80 IQD 7,598

-20.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.63 IQD 6,067

$3.44 IQD 4,501

34.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.08 IQD 17.1K

$14.30 IQD 18.7K

-8.53%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,505

$1.23 IQD 1,607

-6.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,522

$1.25 IQD 1,634

-7.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 IQD 1,374

$1.26 IQD 1,645

-16.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 981

$0.70 IQD 921

7.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 848

$0.63 IQD 821

3.17%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 888

$0.64 IQD 844

6.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 IQD 865

$0.54 IQD 711

22.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 732

$0.45 IQD 591

24.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 IQD 2,538

$1.89 IQD 2,470

2.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.68 IQD 15.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 IQD 2,385

$1.58 IQD 2,072

15.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,805

$1.74 IQD 2,272

22.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 518

$0.55 IQD 724

-27.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.84 IQD 40.4K

$22.87 IQD 29.9K

34.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.23 IQD 2,922

$2.25 IQD 2,949

-0.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 IQD 1,948

$2.24 IQD 2,929

-33.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.14 IQD 8,041

$5.37 IQD 7,033

14.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 735

$0.75 IQD 985

-25.33%

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

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

-6.64%

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

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

-2.57%

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

$76.6 IQD 100.3K

$75.9 IQD 99.4K

0.83%

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

$17.48 IQD 22.9K

$16.34 IQD 21.4K

6.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.05 IQD 45.9K

$26.04 IQD 34.1K

34.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.03 IQD 48.5K

$39.68 IQD 52.0K

-6.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.76 IQD 22.0K

$16.91 IQD 22.1K

-0.89%

Cinema Ticket

$7.75 IQD 10.1K

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

-1.27%

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

$153 IQD 199.9K

$154 IQD 201.3K

-0.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,246 IQD 4.2M

$3,539 IQD 4.6M

-8.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.95 IQD 35.3K

$24.16 IQD 31.6K

11.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.06 IQD 32.8K

$25.00 IQD 32.7K

0.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.1 IQD 78.7K

$43.01 IQD 56.3K

39.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.46 IQD 54.3K

$35.77 IQD 46.8K

15.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$246 IQD 321.8K

$237 IQD 310.3K

3.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.5K

$181 IQD 236.9K

-3.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$581 IQD 760.8K

$569 IQD 744.6K

2.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$341 IQD 447.1K

$344 IQD 450.5K

-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)

$332 IQD 435.1K

$562 IQD 735.6K

-40.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

-37.00%

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

Last update for Tikrit: June 7, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $246 in Tikrit and $237 in Sulaymaniyah. 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: $25.00 in Tikrit vs $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $159 vs $183 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

Tikrit vs Sulaymaniyah: 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.

On paper, Sulaymaniyah earns 69% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $246 in Tikrit versus $237 in Sulaymaniyah. 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 $751 per month in Tikrit versus $744 in Sulaymaniyah – 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, Tikrit and Sulaymaniyah 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.