Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Koysinjaq Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Koysinjaq

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,019 per month in Erbil vs $728 in Koysinjaq, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,524 per month in Erbil vs $1,075 in Koysinjaq, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,029 per month in Erbil vs $1,422 in Koysinjaq, rent included.

Erbil costs about 40% more than Koysinjaq, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Erbil and Koysinjaq are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 24% lower, Koysinjaq 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$2.23 IQD 2,924

248.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.99 IQD 30.1K

$12.07 IQD 15.8K

90.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.97 IQD 11.7K

$8.94 IQD 11.7K

0.34%

Cappuccino

$3.25 IQD 4,251

$1.48 IQD 1,945

119.59%

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

$0.48 IQD 630

$0.40 IQD 520

20.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 289

$0.20 IQD 263

10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 IQD 2,632

$2.02 IQD 2,652

-0.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 IQD 2,671

$2.16 IQD 2,829

-5.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,726

$1.18 IQD 1,551

11.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 IQD 1,115

$0.76 IQD 993

11.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.81 IQD 2,368

$1.12 IQD 1,472

61.61%

Eggs

$1.98 IQD 2,589

$1.49 IQD 1,954

32.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.44 IQD 9,743

$7.53 IQD 9,860

-1.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.75 IQD 6,228

$3.86 IQD 5,059

23.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.99 IQD 18.3K

$9.10 IQD 11.9K

53.74%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,509

$0.75 IQD 981

53.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,513

$1.17 IQD 1,533

-0.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,482

$1.13 IQD 1,476

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,061

$0.55 IQD 720

47.27%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 935

$0.55 IQD 718

29.09%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 996

$0.55 IQD 716

38.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 IQD 1,001

$0.36 IQD 478

111.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 690

$0.37 IQD 481

43.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.76 IQD 3,609

$2.35 IQD 3,078

17.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.29 IQD 16.1K

$12.18 IQD 16.0K

0.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 IQD 1,862

$1.43 IQD 1,877

-0.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 IQD 2,626

$1.92 IQD 2,516

4.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 IQD 727

$0.37 IQD 482

51.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.51 IQD 45.2K

$31.44 IQD 41.2K

9.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.28 IQD 2,991

$1.56 IQD 2,050

46.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.29 IQD 2,996

$0.79 IQD 1,041

189.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.92 IQD 9,058

$3.85 IQD 5,039

79.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 IQD 910

$0.70 IQD 918

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

$19.5K IQD 25.5M

-2.31%

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

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

$18.3K IQD 24.0M

13.38%

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

$100 IQD 131.3K

$99.2 IQD 130.0K

0.99%

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

$17.57 IQD 23.0K

$17.85 IQD 23.4K

-1.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.61 IQD 38.8K

$29.90 IQD 39.2K

-0.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.2 IQD 97.2K

$36.01 IQD 47.2K

106.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.82 IQD 15.5K

$16.61 IQD 21.8K

-28.84%

Cinema Ticket

$11.57 IQD 15.2K

$11.64 IQD 15.3K

-0.60%

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

$264 IQD 345.6K

$64.4 IQD 84.3K

309.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,284 IQD 4.3M

$1,128 IQD 1.5M

191.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.96 IQD 43.2K

$15.12 IQD 19.8K

117.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.58 IQD 64.9K

$19.48 IQD 25.5K

154.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.8 IQD 109.7K

$83.2 IQD 108.9K

0.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 IQD 100.5K

$19.18 IQD 25.1K

300.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 IQD 562.7K

$240 IQD 314.6K

78.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$281 IQD 367.6K

$177 IQD 231.7K

58.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$716 IQD 938.3K

$584 IQD 765.3K

22.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$486 IQD 637.1K

$344 IQD 450.1K

41.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,111 IQD 1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$652 IQD 853.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$576 IQD 754.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.33

5.67

152.73%

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

Last update for Erbil: April 26, 2026

Last update for Koysinjaq: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Erbil versus $240 in Koysinjaq. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Erbil versus $12.00 in Koysinjaq. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $195 vs $161 – making Koysinjaq the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Erbil vs Koysinjaq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Erbil is pricier by about 40%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,528 per month in Erbil and $1,093 in Koysinjaq. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Koysinjaq, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 21% more in Erbil, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Erbil and $12.00 in Koysinjaq. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Koysinjaq, where all-in costs run around $728, than in Erbil at $1,019. In Koysinjaq it covers expenses comfortably, while in Erbil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Koysinjaq – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Koysinjaq. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Erbil makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.