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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,032 per month in Erbil vs $862 in Sinjar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,545 per month in Erbil vs $1,355 in Sinjar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,059 per month in Erbil vs $1,848 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 23% lower, Sinjar 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.55 IQD 9,869

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

-3.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.28 IQD 30.5K

$22.81 IQD 29.8K

2.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.70 IQD 11.4K

$8.97 IQD 11.7K

-3.01%

Cappuccino

$3.09 IQD 4,038

$3.13 IQD 4,089

-1.28%

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

$0.48 IQD 627

$0.52 IQD 682

-7.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 261

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 IQD 2,520

$1.91 IQD 2,502

1.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 IQD 2,721

$2.12 IQD 2,768

-1.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 IQD 1,805

$1.32 IQD 1,728

4.55%

White Bread (500g)

$0.87 IQD 1,133

$0.84 IQD 1,099

3.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.79 IQD 2,342

$1.90 IQD 2,479

-5.79%

Eggs

$1.96 IQD 2,560

$1.91 IQD 2,496

2.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.57 IQD 9,902

$7.20 IQD 9,413

5.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.64 IQD 6,074

$4.80 IQD 6,280

-3.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.26 IQD 18.7K

$14.11 IQD 18.5K

1.06%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,562

$1.19 IQD 1,563

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,487

$1.16 IQD 1,517

-1.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,560

$1.19 IQD 1,553

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 983

$0.81 IQD 1,060

-7.41%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 882

$0.67 IQD 872

Onion (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 970

$0.69 IQD 908

7.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 IQD 1,029

$0.78 IQD 1,024

1.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 IQD 678

$0.56 IQD 732

-7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.64 IQD 3,456

$2.66 IQD 3,481

-0.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.45 IQD 16.3K

$7.84 IQD 10.2K

58.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 IQD 1,806

$1.39 IQD 1,820

-0.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 IQD 2,608

$2.00 IQD 2,619

-0.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 718

$0.36 IQD 474

52.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.25 IQD 44.8K

$31.07 IQD 40.6K

10.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.28 IQD 2,985

$2.37 IQD 3,097

-3.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.30 IQD 3,005

$2.33 IQD 3,042

-1.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.75 IQD 8,833

$6.69 IQD 8,756

0.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 IQD 850

$0.65 IQD 851

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

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

$19.2K IQD 25.1M

0.76%

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

$20.2K IQD 26.5M

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

-1.05%

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

$99.5 IQD 130.2K

$98.9 IQD 129.4K

0.60%

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

$17.78 IQD 23.3K

$17.70 IQD 23.1K

0.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.25 IQD 39.6K

$30.29 IQD 39.6K

-0.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.8 IQD 96.5K

$36.78 IQD 48.1K

100.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.46 IQD 15.0K

$16.76 IQD 21.9K

-31.62%

Cinema Ticket

$11.63 IQD 15.2K

$11.45 IQD 15.0K

1.57%

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

$268 IQD 350.6K

$268 IQD 350.7K

-0.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,286 IQD 4.3M

$3,315 IQD 4.3M

-0.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.35 IQD 43.6K

$33.21 IQD 43.4K

0.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.04 IQD 64.1K

$48.40 IQD 63.3K

1.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 IQD 105.5K

$81.2 IQD 106.2K

-0.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.3 IQD 101.1K

$76.1 IQD 99.5K

1.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 IQD 559.2K

$240 IQD 313.8K

78.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$276 IQD 360.9K

$181 IQD 237.3K

52.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$730 IQD 954.7K

$590 IQD 771.7K

23.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$493 IQD 645.3K

$341 IQD 445.6K

44.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,121 IQD 1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$644 IQD 842.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$582 IQD 761.7K

$226 IQD 295.1K

158.11%

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 21, 2026

Last update for Sinjar: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 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 – $196 in Erbil vs $186 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 $1,548 per month in Erbil and $1,292 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 $862, than in Erbil at $1,032. 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.