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: $747 in Tikrit versus $750 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,153 in Tikrit versus $1,166 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,558 in Tikrit versus $1,581 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs are close between Tikrit and Sulaymaniyah; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.11 IQD 5,379

$5.26 IQD 6,893

-21.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.00 IQD 32.7K

$26.81 IQD 35.1K

-6.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.82 IQD 8,935

$7.01 IQD 9,180

-2.71%

Cappuccino

$2.65 IQD 3,473

$2.64 IQD 3,461

0.38%

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

$0.36 IQD 478

$0.39 IQD 514

-7.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 237

$0.21 IQD 269

-14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.98 IQD 3,910

$2.07 IQD 2,713

43.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 IQD 3,674

$2.71 IQD 3,549

3.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,731

$1.41 IQD 1,851

-6.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 IQD 1,110

$1.02 IQD 1,332

-16.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 IQD 2,092

$1.61 IQD 2,108

-0.62%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,345

$1.78 IQD 2,328

0.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.58 IQD 6,000

$6.10 IQD 7,996

-24.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.62 IQD 6,058

$3.56 IQD 4,666

29.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.21 IQD 17.3K

$14.01 IQD 18.4K

-5.71%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,505

$1.17 IQD 1,531

-1.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.20 IQD 1,574

$1.29 IQD 1,693

-6.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,387

$1.27 IQD 1,662

-16.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 923

$0.73 IQD 957

-4.11%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 914

$0.61 IQD 798

14.75%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 828

$0.67 IQD 879

-5.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 IQD 871

$0.59 IQD 777

11.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 IQD 674

$0.45 IQD 590

13.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.96 IQD 2,566

$1.94 IQD 2,535

1.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.61 IQD 15.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 IQD 2,434

$1.51 IQD 1,974

23.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 IQD 2,715

$1.81 IQD 2,367

14.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 515

$0.55 IQD 715

-29.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.07 IQD 40.7K

$23.16 IQD 30.3K

34.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 IQD 3,078

$2.36 IQD 3,096

-0.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 IQD 2,000

$2.33 IQD 3,053

-34.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.97 IQD 7,817

$5.46 IQD 7,149

9.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 IQD 706

$0.77 IQD 1,005

-29.87%

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

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

-4.90%

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

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

$20.6K IQD 26.9M

-2.25%

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

$78.2 IQD 102.4K

$76.6 IQD 100.3K

2.05%

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

$17.96 IQD 23.5K

$16.90 IQD 22.1K

6.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.16 IQD 44.7K

$26.27 IQD 34.4K

30.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.04 IQD 48.5K

$39.65 IQD 51.9K

-6.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.99 IQD 22.3K

$16.92 IQD 22.2K

0.41%

Cinema Ticket

$7.52 IQD 9,856

$7.47 IQD 9,786

0.67%

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

$154 IQD 201.9K

$151 IQD 198.3K

1.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,253 IQD 4.3M

$3,491 IQD 4.6M

-6.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.75 IQD 35.0K

$23.36 IQD 30.6K

14.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.66 IQD 33.6K

$24.92 IQD 32.6K

2.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.4 IQD 81.7K

$43.74 IQD 57.3K

42.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.91 IQD 54.9K

$36.40 IQD 47.7K

15.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$247 IQD 323.5K

$240 IQD 315.0K

2.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.3K

-0.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$570 IQD 746.1K

$572 IQD 749.5K

-0.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$339 IQD 444.6K

$341 IQD 446.3K

-0.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$810 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$579 IQD 758.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$341 IQD 446.2K

$580 IQD 759.5K

-41.25%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $247 in Tikrit and $240 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sulaymaniyah pays 70% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $25.00 in Tikrit vs $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $158 vs $184 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

On paper, Sulaymaniyah earns 70% 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: $247 in Tikrit versus $240 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $154 in Tikrit versus $151 in Sulaymaniyah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

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

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, 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.

It comes down to priorities – Tikrit wins on affordability, Sulaymaniyah on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.