Bologna vs. As Sulaymaniyah: Detailed 2026 Cost of Living & Quality Comparison

Bologna significantly outperforms As Sulaymaniyah across all quality metrics. Bologna boasts a high safety index (89), reflecting its status as a well-established European city. Healthcare is notably better in Bologna (81), indicating access to higher standards of medical facilities and services. Environmental quality (84) and public services are also rated much higher. Conversely, As Sulaymaniyah scores considerably lower on safety (75), healthcare (53), environment (45), and public services (66), reflecting the challenges often associated with cities in developing nations. The overall quality of life score for Bologna is 73, vastly exceeding As Sulaymaniyah's 28.

As Sulaymaniyah presents a drastically different cost of living profile compared to Bologna. While the city's population is larger (878,146 vs. ~400,000), its cost of living is significantly lower according to the index (28 vs. 73). This is particularly evident in the purchasing power index (65 vs. 88), indicating that the average income in As Sulaymaniyah can buy more goods and services relative to its cost. The property price to income ratio (5.99 vs. 1.19) also suggests more affordable housing pressure in As Sulaymaniyah, although absolute prices are extremely high. Commuting is much faster in As Sulaymaniyah (20 minutes vs. 25 minutes), but the overall lower cost index reflects cheaper goods, services, and potentially housing (though nominal prices are very high).

The economic landscape differs dramatically. Bologna, located in Italy, is part of a highly developed nation with a strong economy. Its GDP per capita is significantly higher ($50,000 vs. $12,700). Italy's lower mortgage interest rate (1.3% vs. 5.77%) also makes housing finance cheaper in theory, although this is offset by the overall higher cost of living. As Sulaymaniyah, in Iraq, faces a much less developed economic context with a lower GDP per capita and a slightly higher population growth rate (1.99% vs. 0.01%). The economy appears more constrained compared to Bologna's.

The disparity in daily expenses is stark. Food costs, particularly for mid-range restaurants, show enormous differences. A meal for two at a mid-range restaurant in Bologna costs around €40-50 ($44-55 USD), while the same meal in As Sulaymaniyah costs over $15,000. Even basic groceries and essentials like bread, water, and local cheese are vastly more expensive in As Sulaymaniyah (e.g., bread ~$3.50 vs. ~$18,000; water ~$0.01 vs. ~$66). Transportation costs also reflect this, with gasoline being significantly more expensive in As Sulaymaniyah ($9/ liter vs. $3.5-4 USD). Entertainment and leisure activities are also astronomically more expensive in As Sulaymaniyah.

Housing costs, while nominal prices are high in As Sulaymaniyah ($230,000-$660,000/month for 1-3 bed apartments), the salaries are so much higher ($760,000/month) that the *relative* affordability might be better in As Sulaymaniyah for housing compared to Bologna, where the average rent is significantly lower ($850-$1,300/month for similar apartments). However, the absolute cost of living in As Sulaymaniyah remains extremely high across all categories, making it a very expensive place to live overall, despite potentially more affordable housing *relative* to salary than in Bologna.