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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,005 per month in Erbil vs $716 in Koysinjaq, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,530 per month in Erbil vs $1,072 in Koysinjaq, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,056 per month in Erbil vs $1,427 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 25% lower, Koysinjaq 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.79 IQD 10.2K

$2.32 IQD 3,036

235.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.39 IQD 30.6K

$12.37 IQD 16.2K

89.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.88 IQD 11.6K

$8.79 IQD 11.5K

1.02%

Cappuccino

$3.27 IQD 4,279

$1.49 IQD 1,955

119.46%

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

$0.48 IQD 632

$0.36 IQD 474

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 261

$0.18 IQD 237

11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 IQD 2,595

$2.01 IQD 2,626

-1.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,809

$2.05 IQD 2,683

4.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 IQD 1,796

$1.13 IQD 1,481

21.24%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 IQD 1,065

$0.80 IQD 1,048

1.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.81 IQD 2,366

$1.14 IQD 1,490

58.77%

Eggs

$1.92 IQD 2,520

$1.57 IQD 2,051

22.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.42 IQD 9,716

$7.56 IQD 9,893

-1.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.66 IQD 6,102

$3.80 IQD 4,974

22.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.13 IQD 18.5K

$9.33 IQD 12.2K

51.45%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,506

$0.74 IQD 973

55.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,550

$1.14 IQD 1,488

3.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,543

$1.18 IQD 1,551

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,054

$0.55 IQD 720

47.27%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 929

$0.54 IQD 714

31.48%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 991

$0.59 IQD 779

28.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,020

$0.36 IQD 475

116.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 722

$0.40 IQD 519

37.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.62 IQD 3,432

$2.28 IQD 2,985

14.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.53 IQD 16.4K

$12.26 IQD 16.1K

2.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 IQD 1,826

$1.44 IQD 1,884

-3.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 IQD 2,549

$1.93 IQD 2,524

1.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 777

$0.36 IQD 475

63.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.05 IQD 44.6K

$31.64 IQD 41.4K

7.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 IQD 2,937

$1.57 IQD 2,052

42.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.30 IQD 3,016

$0.74 IQD 969

210.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.87 IQD 8,990

$3.77 IQD 4,943

82.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.66 IQD 862

$0.65 IQD 858

1.54%

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

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

$18.9K IQD 24.7M

0.23%

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

$20.5K IQD 26.8M

$18.3K IQD 24.0M

11.53%

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

$99.4 IQD 130.2K

$99.5 IQD 130.3K

-0.10%

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

$17.70 IQD 23.2K

$17.78 IQD 23.3K

-0.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.62 IQD 38.8K

$30.34 IQD 39.7K

-2.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.3 IQD 94.7K

$36.07 IQD 47.2K

100.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.55 IQD 15.1K

$17.05 IQD 22.3K

-32.26%

Cinema Ticket

$11.26 IQD 14.7K

$11.47 IQD 15.0K

-1.83%

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

$269 IQD 352.0K

$62.9 IQD 82.3K

327.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,227 IQD 4.2M

$1,155 IQD 1.5M

179.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.68 IQD 42.8K

$15.50 IQD 20.3K

110.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.30 IQD 63.2K

$19.21 IQD 25.2K

151.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.9 IQD 105.9K

$83.9 IQD 109.9K

-3.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.6 IQD 103.0K

$19.24 IQD 25.2K

308.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$439 IQD 575.5K

$239 IQD 313.5K

83.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 IQD 373.2K

$178 IQD 233.6K

59.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$733 IQD 959.5K

$572 IQD 749.1K

28.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$491 IQD 643.4K

$341 IQD 447.2K

43.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,095 IQD 1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$657 IQD 860.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$577 IQD 755.6K

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Koysinjaq: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $439 in Erbil versus $239 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: $196 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 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 $1,507 per month in Erbil and $1,074 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 $716, than in Erbil at $1,005. 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.