Top expat cities

Iraq

Sulaymaniyah

#2 Top 5 cities

Sulaymaniyah is somewhat calmer and more cultural than Erbil, but it has a smaller expat ecosystem and a narrower service base.

Country overview

Population

878 146

Year-round temperatures

Day: 9°C aĆŸ 40°C

Night: 1°C aĆŸ 24°C

Climate

Hot dry summers and cooler winters than southern Iraq.

Distance to the sea

760 km

Social atmosphere

5/10

Costs

Housing cost 7/10
Food cost 7/10

Business friendliness

4/10

Safety

2/10

Sulaymaniyah is relatively calmer, but terrorism, kidnapping, unrest, border tension, and sudden airport or land-route closures still make independent civilian expat life high risk.

Natural disaster resilience

4/10

Sulaymaniyah faces earthquake risk, flash floods, drought, dust storms, extreme heat, and occasional freezing or snowy winter conditions.

Other scores

Other scores

Internet availability 6/10
Internet speed 6/10
Internet stability 4/10
Electricity stability 5/10

Community types

  • Teachers
  • Students
  • Creatives
  • Long-term expats

Largest nationality groups

  • đŸ‡žđŸ‡ŸSyrians
  • đŸ‡źđŸ‡·Iranians
  • đŸ‡čđŸ‡·Turkish

Pros / Cons

Pros

  • +Pleasant atmosphere
  • +Lower living costs
  • +Cafe culture

Cons

  • −Severe security risk
  • −Infrastructure instability
  • −Smaller expat scene
  • −Fewer corporate opportunities
  • −Less dynamic environment