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: $728 in Koysinjaq versus $750 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,075 in Koysinjaq versus $1,166 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,422 in Koysinjaq versus $1,581 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in Koysinjaq costs roughly 3% less than in Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Koysinjaq 46% lower, Sulaymaniyah 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.23 IQD 2,924

$5.26 IQD 6,893

-57.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.07 IQD 15.8K

$26.81 IQD 35.1K

-54.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.94 IQD 11.7K

$7.01 IQD 9,180

27.53%

Cappuccino

$1.48 IQD 1,945

$2.64 IQD 3,461

-43.94%

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

$0.40 IQD 520

$0.39 IQD 514

2.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 263

$0.21 IQD 269

-4.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 IQD 2,652

$2.07 IQD 2,713

-2.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 IQD 2,829

$2.71 IQD 3,549

-20.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 IQD 1,551

$1.41 IQD 1,851

-16.31%

White Bread (500g)

$0.76 IQD 993

$1.02 IQD 1,332

-25.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 IQD 1,472

$1.61 IQD 2,108

-30.43%

Eggs

$1.49 IQD 1,954

$1.78 IQD 2,328

-16.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.53 IQD 9,860

$6.10 IQD 7,996

23.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.86 IQD 5,059

$3.56 IQD 4,666

8.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.10 IQD 11.9K

$14.01 IQD 18.4K

-35.05%

Apples (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 981

$1.17 IQD 1,531

-35.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,533

$1.29 IQD 1,693

-9.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,476

$1.27 IQD 1,662

-11.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.55 IQD 720

$0.73 IQD 957

-24.66%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 IQD 718

$0.61 IQD 798

-9.84%

Onion (1kg)

$0.55 IQD 716

$0.67 IQD 879

-17.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 IQD 478

$0.59 IQD 777

-38.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 IQD 481

$0.45 IQD 590

-17.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.35 IQD 3,078

$1.94 IQD 2,535

21.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.18 IQD 16.0K

$11.61 IQD 15.2K

4.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 IQD 1,877

$1.51 IQD 1,974

-5.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 IQD 2,516

$1.81 IQD 2,367

6.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 482

$0.55 IQD 715

-32.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.44 IQD 41.2K

$23.16 IQD 30.3K

35.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.56 IQD 2,050

$2.36 IQD 3,096

-33.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.79 IQD 1,041

$2.33 IQD 3,053

-66.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.85 IQD 5,039

$5.46 IQD 7,149

-29.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 IQD 918

$0.77 IQD 1,005

-9.09%

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

$19.5K IQD 25.5M

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

-4.05%

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

$18.3K IQD 24.0M

$20.6K IQD 26.9M

-11.00%

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

$99.2 IQD 130.0K

$76.6 IQD 100.3K

29.56%

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

$17.85 IQD 23.4K

$16.90 IQD 22.1K

5.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.90 IQD 39.2K

$26.27 IQD 34.4K

13.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.01 IQD 47.2K

$39.65 IQD 51.9K

-9.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.61 IQD 21.8K

$16.92 IQD 22.2K

-1.83%

Cinema Ticket

$11.64 IQD 15.3K

$7.47 IQD 9,786

55.82%

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

$64.4 IQD 84.3K

$151 IQD 198.3K

-57.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,128 IQD 1.5M

$3,491 IQD 4.6M

-67.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.12 IQD 19.8K

$23.36 IQD 30.6K

-35.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.48 IQD 25.5K

$24.92 IQD 32.6K

-21.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.2 IQD 108.9K

$43.74 IQD 57.3K

90.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$19.18 IQD 25.1K

$36.40 IQD 47.7K

-47.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$240 IQD 314.6K

$240 IQD 315.0K

-0.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 IQD 231.7K

$175 IQD 229.3K

1.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 IQD 765.3K

$572 IQD 749.5K

2.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$344 IQD 450.1K

$341 IQD 446.3K

0.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$810 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$579 IQD 758.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$580 IQD 759.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

-37.00%

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

Last update for Koysinjaq: April 28, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $240 in Koysinjaq and $240 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $12.00 in Koysinjaq vs $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $161 vs $184 per month, with Koysinjaq 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 3% 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 $1,093 in Koysinjaq and $1,126 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $240 in Koysinjaq versus $240 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $728 per month in Koysinjaq versus $750 in Sulaymaniyah – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Koysinjaq runs roughly 36% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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 3% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.