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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,043 per month in Erbil vs $725 in Koysinjaq, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,545 per month in Erbil vs $1,072 in Koysinjaq, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,046 per month in Erbil vs $1,420 in Koysinjaq, rent included.

Erbil costs about 44% more than Koysinjaq, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Erbil and Koysinjaq are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 22% lower, Koysinjaq 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

$2.34 IQD 3,062

235.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.11 IQD 30.3K

$12.41 IQD 16.3K

86.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.01 IQD 11.8K

$8.74 IQD 11.4K

3.09%

Cappuccino

$3.24 IQD 4,240

$1.55 IQD 2,028

109.03%

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

$0.49 IQD 640

$0.40 IQD 520

22.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 288

$0.19 IQD 247

15.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 IQD 2,562

$1.91 IQD 2,504

2.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 IQD 2,824

$2.13 IQD 2,783

1.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,718

$1.18 IQD 1,540

11.02%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,034

$0.78 IQD 1,025

1.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 IQD 2,450

$1.13 IQD 1,480

65.49%

Eggs

$1.95 IQD 2,557

$1.55 IQD 2,027

25.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.26 IQD 9,502

$7.21 IQD 9,441

0.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 IQD 6,144

$3.88 IQD 5,080

20.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.08 IQD 18.4K

$9.28 IQD 12.2K

51.72%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,502

$0.78 IQD 1,026

47.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,547

$1.13 IQD 1,473

4.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,480

$1.12 IQD 1,469

0.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 982

$0.56 IQD 732

33.93%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 IQD 948

$0.59 IQD 778

22.03%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 990

$0.59 IQD 769

28.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 IQD 1,001

$0.36 IQD 477

111.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 738

$0.36 IQD 473

55.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.66 IQD 3,486

$2.26 IQD 2,955

17.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.28 IQD 16.1K

$12.58 IQD 16.5K

-2.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 IQD 1,880

$1.42 IQD 1,862

1.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 IQD 2,538

$1.95 IQD 2,549

-0.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 767

$0.40 IQD 520

47.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.79 IQD 45.6K

$30.88 IQD 40.4K

12.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.27 IQD 2,971

$1.54 IQD 2,018

47.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.32 IQD 3,033

$0.75 IQD 980

209.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.05 IQD 9,233

$3.74 IQD 4,892

88.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 IQD 837

$0.66 IQD 860

-3.03%

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

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

$19.5K IQD 25.5M

-2.82%

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

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

$18.5K IQD 24.3M

11.14%

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

$101 IQD 132.5K

$102 IQD 133.0K

-0.37%

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

$17.79 IQD 23.3K

$17.42 IQD 22.8K

2.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.56 IQD 38.7K

$30.39 IQD 39.8K

-2.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.8 IQD 96.7K

$37.06 IQD 48.5K

99.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.76 IQD 15.4K

$17.04 IQD 22.3K

-30.99%

Cinema Ticket

$11.25 IQD 14.7K

$11.44 IQD 15.0K

-1.66%

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

$269 IQD 351.6K

$64.7 IQD 84.7K

314.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,330 IQD 4.4M

$1,154 IQD 1.5M

188.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.93 IQD 43.1K

$15.40 IQD 20.2K

113.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.13 IQD 64.3K

$18.99 IQD 24.9K

158.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 IQD 105.7K

$81.0 IQD 106.0K

-0.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 IQD 102.0K

$19.48 IQD 25.5K

299.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$436 IQD 571.5K

$243 IQD 318.5K

79.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$275 IQD 360.4K

$177 IQD 231.2K

55.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$739 IQD 968.0K

$585 IQD 766.6K

26.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$496 IQD 649.8K

$340 IQD 445.3K

45.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,089 IQD 1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$653 IQD 855.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$580 IQD 759.9K

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Koysinjaq: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $436 in Erbil versus $243 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: $194 vs $162 – 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 44%, 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 $1,565 per month in Erbil and $1,087 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 20% 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 $725, than in Erbil at $1,043. 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.