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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,101 per month in Erbil vs $690 in Koysinjaq, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,630 per month in Erbil vs $1,093 in Koysinjaq, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,158 per month in Erbil vs $1,497 in Koysinjaq, rent included.

Erbil costs about 60% more than Koysinjaq, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Erbil and Koysinjaq are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 19% lower, Koysinjaq 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

$7.46 IQD 9,765

3.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.38 IQD 58.1K

$44.43 IQD 58.2K

-0.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.42 IQD 11.0K

$8.56 IQD 11.2K

-1.64%

Cappuccino

$3.84 IQD 5,027

$3.67 IQD 4,799

4.63%

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

$1.03 IQD 1,353

$1.02 IQD 1,336

0.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 IQD 580

$0.42 IQD 549

4.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 IQD 7,920

$6.26 IQD 8,202

-3.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.71 IQD 6,166

$4.53 IQD 5,931

3.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 IQD 1,657

$1.22 IQD 1,598

4.10%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,083

$0.78 IQD 1,019

6.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 IQD 2,197

$1.75 IQD 2,288

-4.00%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,345

$1.79 IQD 2,347

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.06 IQD 10.6K

$8.27 IQD 10.8K

-2.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.78 IQD 7,574

$5.57 IQD 7,291

3.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.84 IQD 19.4K

$14.83 IQD 19.4K

0.07%

Apples (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,483

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 IQD 1,443

$1.12 IQD 1,465

-1.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,612

$1.18 IQD 1,548

4.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.82 IQD 1,068

$0.81 IQD 1,054

1.23%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 911

$0.71 IQD 932

-1.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 905

$0.72 IQD 946

-4.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 IQD 969

$0.79 IQD 1,029

-6.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 723

$0.55 IQD 725

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.52 IQD 3,294

$2.51 IQD 3,282

0.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.54 IQD 16.4K

$12.30 IQD 16.1K

1.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 IQD 2,217

$1.62 IQD 2,121

4.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 IQD 2,735

$2.06 IQD 2,703

1.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 772

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.81 IQD 57.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 IQD 2,544

$1.95 IQD 2,551

-0.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 IQD 2,381

$1.73 IQD 2,270

5.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.56 IQD 8,588

$6.41 IQD 8,389

2.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 882

$0.62 IQD 814

8.06%

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

$18.3K IQD 24.0M

$18.1K IQD 23.7M

1.42%

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

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

$19.6K IQD 25.6M

2.71%

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

$128 IQD 167.0K

$128 IQD 167.8K

-0.49%

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

$13.95 IQD 18.3K

$13.79 IQD 18.1K

1.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.49 IQD 37.3K

$28.35 IQD 37.1K

0.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.0 IQD 86.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.62 IQD 19.1K

Cinema Ticket

$11.67 IQD 15.3K

$11.63 IQD 15.2K

0.34%

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

$309 IQD 405.1K

$308 IQD 402.9K

0.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,144 IQD 4.1M

$3,106 IQD 4.1M

1.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.32 IQD 41.0K

$30.76 IQD 40.3K

1.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.84 IQD 58.7K

$45.05 IQD 59.0K

-0.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.3 IQD 90.7K

$69.0 IQD 90.4K

0.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.4 IQD 88.3K

$69.2 IQD 90.6K

-2.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$460 IQD 602.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$297 IQD 389.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$740 IQD 969.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$432 IQD 566.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,092 IQD 1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$665 IQD 870.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$614 IQD 803.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.53

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

Last update for Erbil: September 14, 2026

Last update for Koysinjaq: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Erbil versus $44.00 in Koysinjaq. Groceries tell a different story – $204 in Erbil vs $203 in Koysinjaq – so Koysinjaq wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 60%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,652 per month in Erbil and $1,035 in Koysinjaq. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,101 in Erbil and $690 in Koysinjaq. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Erbil and $308 in Koysinjaq. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Koysinjaq, where all-in costs run around $690, than in Erbil at $1,101. 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.