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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Erbil vs $875 in Sinjar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,518 per month in Erbil vs $1,353 in Sinjar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,019 per month in Erbil vs $1,832 in Sinjar, rent included.

Erbil costs about 16% more than Sinjar, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Erbil and Sinjar are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 24% lower, Sinjar 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.59 IQD 9,926

$7.63 IQD 9,980

-0.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.90 IQD 29.9K

$23.24 IQD 30.4K

-1.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.65 IQD 11.3K

$8.59 IQD 11.2K

0.70%

Cappuccino

$3.25 IQD 4,255

$3.15 IQD 4,120

3.17%

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

$0.52 IQD 675

$0.52 IQD 680

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 261

$0.22 IQD 288

-9.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 IQD 2,552

$1.92 IQD 2,516

1.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 IQD 2,672

$2.14 IQD 2,798

-4.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,723

$1.31 IQD 1,719

0.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 IQD 1,061

$0.86 IQD 1,131

-5.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 IQD 2,355

$1.79 IQD 2,340

0.56%

Eggs

$1.91 IQD 2,503

$1.98 IQD 2,584

-3.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.50 IQD 9,805

$7.49 IQD 9,791

0.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.82 IQD 6,308

$4.67 IQD 6,103

3.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.10 IQD 18.4K

$14.33 IQD 18.7K

-1.61%

Apples (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,550

$1.18 IQD 1,545

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,499

$1.14 IQD 1,486

0.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,492

$1.14 IQD 1,490

Tomato (1kg)

$0.80 IQD 1,044

$0.77 IQD 1,005

3.90%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 862

$0.71 IQD 935

-7.04%

Onion (1kg)

$0.77 IQD 1,001

$0.70 IQD 915

10.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 IQD 1,007

$0.78 IQD 1,017

-1.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 720

$0.56 IQD 739

-1.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.74 IQD 3,590

$2.71 IQD 3,544

1.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.38 IQD 16.2K

$7.73 IQD 10.1K

60.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 IQD 1,792

$1.43 IQD 1,864

-4.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 IQD 2,616

$2.00 IQD 2,615

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 767

$0.40 IQD 519

47.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.99 IQD 45.8K

$31.34 IQD 41.0K

11.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,939

$2.37 IQD 3,098

-5.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.29 IQD 2,990

$2.21 IQD 2,896

3.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.85 IQD 8,956

$7.00 IQD 9,156

-2.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 IQD 838

$0.69 IQD 904

-7.25%

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

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

0.04%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

-0.35%

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

$101 IQD 132.0K

$103 IQD 134.1K

-1.57%

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

$17.35 IQD 22.7K

$17.89 IQD 23.4K

-3.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.25 IQD 39.6K

$30.28 IQD 39.6K

-0.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.1 IQD 94.3K

$37.34 IQD 48.8K

93.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.54 IQD 15.1K

$16.88 IQD 22.1K

-31.64%

Cinema Ticket

$11.28 IQD 14.8K

$11.29 IQD 14.8K

-0.09%

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

$271 IQD 354.1K

$269 IQD 351.3K

0.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,274 IQD 4.3M

$3,305 IQD 4.3M

-0.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.30 IQD 42.2K

$32.90 IQD 43.0K

-1.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.61 IQD 64.9K

$49.60 IQD 64.9K

0.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 IQD 106.0K

$82.3 IQD 107.7K

-1.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.2 IQD 100.9K

$76.8 IQD 100.5K

0.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$425 IQD 555.3K

$240 IQD 314.4K

76.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$279 IQD 364.9K

$178 IQD 232.8K

56.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$740 IQD 967.8K

$585 IQD 765.5K

26.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$491 IQD 642.6K

$339 IQD 442.8K

45.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,098 IQD 1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$646 IQD 844.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 IQD 772.4K

$229 IQD 299.0K

158.31%

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 6, 2026

Last update for Sinjar: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $425 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 158% 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 $23.00 in Erbil versus $23.00 in Sinjar. Groceries tell a different story – $195 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 16%, 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 $1,525 per month in Erbil and $1,312 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 5% 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 $875, than in Erbil at $1,017. 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.