Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Sinjar Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Sinjar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,027 per month in Erbil vs $858 in Sinjar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,517 per month in Erbil vs $1,324 in Sinjar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,008 per month in Erbil vs $1,790 in Sinjar, rent included.

Erbil costs about 20% more than Sinjar, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Erbil and Sinjar are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 24% lower, Sinjar 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.87 IQD 10.3K

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

0.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.86 IQD 29.9K

$22.58 IQD 29.6K

1.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.58 IQD 11.2K

$9.01 IQD 11.8K

-4.77%

Cappuccino

$3.26 IQD 4,266

$3.17 IQD 4,147

2.84%

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

$0.51 IQD 674

$0.52 IQD 683

-1.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 262

$0.22 IQD 288

-9.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 IQD 2,547

$2.03 IQD 2,656

-3.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 IQD 2,824

$2.15 IQD 2,819

0.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 IQD 1,745

$1.34 IQD 1,754

-0.75%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 IQD 1,044

$0.84 IQD 1,102

-4.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 IQD 2,359

$1.88 IQD 2,457

-4.26%

Eggs

$1.92 IQD 2,508

$1.96 IQD 2,568

-2.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.49 IQD 9,801

$7.50 IQD 9,817

-0.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 IQD 6,345

$4.76 IQD 6,237

1.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.32 IQD 18.8K

$14.16 IQD 18.5K

1.13%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,554

$1.15 IQD 1,509

3.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,564

$1.20 IQD 1,567

-0.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,563

$1.18 IQD 1,549

0.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,059

$0.76 IQD 991

6.58%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 880

$0.72 IQD 944

-6.94%

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 982

$0.71 IQD 934

5.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 IQD 968

$0.76 IQD 996

-2.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 IQD 742

$0.56 IQD 728

1.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.71 IQD 3,545

$2.71 IQD 3,554

Wine (Bottle)

$12.53 IQD 16.4K

$7.44 IQD 9,746

68.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 IQD 1,899

$1.43 IQD 1,868

1.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 IQD 2,654

$1.94 IQD 2,540

4.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 778

$0.36 IQD 476

63.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.17 IQD 46.0K

$30.77 IQD 40.3K

14.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 IQD 3,096

$2.26 IQD 2,963

4.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.31 IQD 3,019

$2.33 IQD 3,051

-0.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.79 IQD 8,893

$6.70 IQD 8,771

1.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 IQD 845

$0.69 IQD 910

-5.80%

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

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

-0.19%

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

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

-1.54%

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

$98.8 IQD 129.4K

$99.0 IQD 129.6K

-0.20%

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

$17.50 IQD 22.9K

$17.92 IQD 23.5K

-2.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.35 IQD 39.7K

$29.42 IQD 38.5K

3.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.9 IQD 96.7K

$36.11 IQD 47.3K

104.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.75 IQD 15.4K

$16.91 IQD 22.1K

-30.51%

Cinema Ticket

$11.31 IQD 14.8K

$11.43 IQD 15.0K

-1.05%

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

$262 IQD 343.0K

$272 IQD 356.0K

-3.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,323 IQD 4.4M

$3,300 IQD 4.3M

0.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.22 IQD 43.5K

$33.41 IQD 43.7K

-0.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.02 IQD 62.9K

$48.81 IQD 63.9K

-1.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.5 IQD 106.8K

$81.6 IQD 106.8K

-0.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.1 IQD 100.9K

$78.2 IQD 102.4K

-1.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 IQD 562.7K

$240 IQD 314.5K

78.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$276 IQD 361.4K

$176 IQD 231.1K

56.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$724 IQD 947.3K

$586 IQD 766.7K

23.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$496 IQD 649.5K

$348 IQD 456.0K

42.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,111 IQD 1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$653 IQD 854.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$566 IQD 740.9K

$233 IQD 305.4K

142.59%

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 11, 2026

Last update for Sinjar: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

Salaries run about 143% higher in Erbil, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23 in Erbil versus $23 in Sinjar. Groceries tell a different story – $197 in Erbil vs $187 in Sinjar – so Sinjar 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 Sinjar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Erbil is pricier by about 20%, 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 $1,541 per month in Erbil and $1,288 in Sinjar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 6% 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 $23.00 in Sinjar. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sinjar, where all-in costs run around $858, than in Erbil at $1,027. In Sinjar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Erbil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sinjar – 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 Sinjar. 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.