Cost of Living Comparison Between Koysinjaq and Sulaymaniyah Cost of Living Comparison Between Koysinjaq and Sulaymaniyah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $688 in Koysinjaq versus $765 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,098 in Koysinjaq versus $1,170 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,508 in Koysinjaq versus $1,575 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in Koysinjaq costs roughly 10% less than in Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Koysinjaq 50% lower, Sulaymaniyah 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.50 IQD 9,817

$4.55 IQD 5,959

64.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.90 IQD 57.5K

$23.34 IQD 30.6K

88.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.58 IQD 11.2K

$6.94 IQD 9,095

23.63%

Cappuccino

$3.68 IQD 4,823

$2.47 IQD 3,240

48.99%

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

$1.03 IQD 1,346

$0.46 IQD 596

123.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 IQD 549

$0.23 IQD 302

82.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.17 IQD 8,081

$4.48 IQD 5,865

37.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.48 IQD 5,869

$2.26 IQD 2,958

98.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 IQD 1,684

$1.38 IQD 1,803

-6.52%

White Bread (500g)

$0.77 IQD 1,012

$0.90 IQD 1,183

-14.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 IQD 2,192

$1.94 IQD 2,546

-13.92%

Eggs

$1.86 IQD 2,435

$1.70 IQD 2,227

9.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.04 IQD 10.5K

$5.03 IQD 6,585

59.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.68 IQD 7,443

$3.57 IQD 4,682

59.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.48 IQD 19.0K

$16.05 IQD 21.0K

-9.78%

Apples (1kg)

$1.10 IQD 1,436

$1.30 IQD 1,707

-15.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 IQD 1,450

$1.30 IQD 1,696

-14.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,540

$1.19 IQD 1,563

-0.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 996

$0.68 IQD 891

11.76%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 922

$0.58 IQD 760

20.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 960

$0.74 IQD 964

-1.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 IQD 964

$0.71 IQD 933

4.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 IQD 773

$0.50 IQD 651

18.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.54 IQD 3,323

$2.42 IQD 3,165

4.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.33 IQD 16.1K

$11.35 IQD 14.9K

8.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 IQD 2,159

$1.85 IQD 2,429

-10.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 IQD 2,725

$1.67 IQD 2,185

24.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 IQD 782

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.06 IQD 30.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.89 IQD 2,480

$2.33 IQD 3,046

-18.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.75 IQD 2,298

$2.35 IQD 3,083

-25.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.40 IQD 8,375

$5.50 IQD 7,198

16.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 873

$0.67 IQD 877

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

$17.9K IQD 23.5M

$20.5K IQD 26.8M

-12.44%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

4.76%

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

$130 IQD 170.7K

$101 IQD 132.5K

28.81%

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

$14.15 IQD 18.5K

$11.03 IQD 14.4K

28.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.54 IQD 37.4K

$28.65 IQD 37.5K

-0.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.86 IQD 47.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.57 IQD 26.9K

Cinema Ticket

$11.36 IQD 14.9K

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

44.71%

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

$316 IQD 413.3K

$175 IQD 229.1K

80.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,142 IQD 4.1M

$2,899 IQD 3.8M

8.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.40 IQD 41.1K

$19.45 IQD 25.5K

61.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.56 IQD 59.7K

$25.14 IQD 32.9K

81.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.6 IQD 89.8K

$42.60 IQD 55.8K

61.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.6 IQD 91.1K

$37.79 IQD 49.5K

84.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$234 IQD 306.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 IQD 672.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$362 IQD 473.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$800 IQD 1.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$574 IQD 751.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$572 IQD 749.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.53

5.77

-56.15%

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

Last update for Koysinjaq: September 8, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $44.00 in Koysinjaq vs $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $202 vs $188 per month, with Sulaymaniyah cheaper across the board.

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

Koysinjaq vs Sulaymaniyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Koysinjaq wins on cost – living expenses run 11% lower than in Sulaymaniyah. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Koysinjaq the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,032 in Koysinjaq and $1,147 in Sulaymaniyah to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Shoppers in Sulaymaniyah pay roughly 7% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $688 per month in Koysinjaq versus $765 in Sulaymaniyah – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Koysinjaq gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Koysinjaq and Sulaymaniyah are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Koysinjaq gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.