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 $761 in Sulaymaniyah.

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

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

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.99 IQD 5,219

$5.42 IQD 7,098

-26.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.41 IQD 32.0K

$26.66 IQD 34.9K

-8.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.81 IQD 8,924

$6.84 IQD 8,953

-0.44%

Cappuccino

$2.57 IQD 3,362

$2.65 IQD 3,468

-3.02%

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

$0.36 IQD 476

$0.39 IQD 515

-7.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 229

$0.20 IQD 256

-10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.97 IQD 3,890

$2.05 IQD 2,681

44.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 IQD 3,868

$2.69 IQD 3,529

9.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,709

$1.46 IQD 1,913

-10.27%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,027

$0.99 IQD 1,295

-21.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 IQD 2,098

$1.61 IQD 2,105

-0.62%

Eggs

$1.71 IQD 2,240

$1.71 IQD 2,244

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 IQD 5,763

$6.05 IQD 7,920

-27.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.61 IQD 6,040

$3.53 IQD 4,617

30.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.41 IQD 17.6K

$14.46 IQD 18.9K

-7.26%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,510

$1.17 IQD 1,527

-1.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,532

$1.23 IQD 1,615

-4.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 IQD 1,371

$1.28 IQD 1,671

-17.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 965

$0.75 IQD 985

-1.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 843

$0.67 IQD 871

-4.48%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 868

$0.65 IQD 845

1.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 IQD 892

$0.55 IQD 715

23.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 728

$0.45 IQD 586

24.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.96 IQD 2,565

$1.94 IQD 2,543

1.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.56 IQD 15.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,349

$1.51 IQD 1,976

18.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 IQD 2,836

$1.73 IQD 2,269

25.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 519

$0.55 IQD 724

-27.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.53 IQD 40.0K

$22.59 IQD 29.6K

35.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,051

$2.27 IQD 2,966

2.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 IQD 1,942

$2.28 IQD 2,986

-35.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.91 IQD 7,738

$5.21 IQD 6,828

13.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 739

$0.75 IQD 985

-25.33%

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

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

-8.66%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.5M

$21.1K IQD 27.7M

-4.14%

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

$76.4 IQD 100.1K

$77.5 IQD 101.5K

-1.36%

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

$17.79 IQD 23.3K

$16.80 IQD 22.0K

5.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.93 IQD 44.4K

$26.70 IQD 35.0K

27.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.77 IQD 48.2K

$38.57 IQD 50.5K

-4.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.55 IQD 21.7K

$16.67 IQD 21.8K

-0.72%

Cinema Ticket

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

$7.48 IQD 9,799

4.41%

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

$151 IQD 197.9K

$150 IQD 196.2K

0.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,306 IQD 4.3M

$3,550 IQD 4.6M

-6.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.51 IQD 36.0K

$23.44 IQD 30.7K

17.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.02 IQD 32.8K

$24.93 IQD 32.6K

0.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.8 IQD 80.9K

$43.58 IQD 57.1K

41.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.18 IQD 53.9K

$36.28 IQD 47.5K

13.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$238 IQD 312.2K

$235 IQD 308.2K

1.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 IQD 238.0K

$180 IQD 236.2K

0.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$571 IQD 747.1K

$568 IQD 744.4K

0.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$339 IQD 444.1K

$340 IQD 445.3K

-0.26%

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)

$319 IQD 418.2K

$570 IQD 746.9K

-44.01%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $238 in Tikrit and $235 in Sulaymaniyah. 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: $24.00 in Tikrit vs $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $157 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

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.

On paper, salaries run 79% lower in Sulaymaniyah. 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: $238 in Tikrit versus $235 in Sulaymaniyah. 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 $751 per month in Tikrit versus $761 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 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.

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.