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: $731 in Koysinjaq versus $744 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,076 in Koysinjaq versus $1,167 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,422 in Koysinjaq versus $1,591 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in Koysinjaq costs roughly 2% less than in Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Koysinjaq 46% lower, Sulaymaniyah 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.23 IQD 2,924

$5.32 IQD 6,971

-58.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.27 IQD 16.1K

$27.03 IQD 35.4K

-54.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.79 IQD 11.5K

$6.90 IQD 9,040

27.39%

Cappuccino

$1.57 IQD 2,054

$2.56 IQD 3,349

-38.67%

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

$0.39 IQD 514

$0.37 IQD 482

5.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 228

$0.21 IQD 277

-19.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 IQD 2,524

$2.05 IQD 2,683

-5.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 IQD 2,720

$2.64 IQD 3,454

-21.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 IQD 1,470

$1.42 IQD 1,862

-21.13%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 IQD 1,046

$0.98 IQD 1,277

-18.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,524

$1.66 IQD 2,172

-30.12%

Eggs

$1.56 IQD 2,046

$1.76 IQD 2,299

-11.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.54 IQD 9,868

$5.80 IQD 7,598

30.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.88 IQD 5,076

$3.44 IQD 4,501

12.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.08 IQD 11.9K

$14.30 IQD 18.7K

-36.50%

Apples (1kg)

$0.78 IQD 1,027

$1.23 IQD 1,607

-36.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,485

$1.25 IQD 1,634

-9.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.12 IQD 1,462

$1.26 IQD 1,645

-11.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.55 IQD 715

$0.70 IQD 921

-21.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 IQD 770

$0.63 IQD 821

-6.35%

Onion (1kg)

$0.59 IQD 777

$0.64 IQD 844

-7.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.40 IQD 522

$0.54 IQD 711

-25.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 IQD 474

$0.45 IQD 591

-20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 IQD 3,062

$1.89 IQD 2,470

23.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.39 IQD 16.2K

$11.68 IQD 15.3K

6.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 IQD 1,867

$1.58 IQD 2,072

-9.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 IQD 2,550

$1.74 IQD 2,272

12.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 479

$0.55 IQD 724

-32.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.34 IQD 41.0K

$22.87 IQD 29.9K

37.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.56 IQD 2,042

$2.25 IQD 2,949

-30.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.79 IQD 1,031

$2.24 IQD 2,929

-64.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.74 IQD 4,900

$5.37 IQD 7,033

-30.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 IQD 856

$0.75 IQD 985

-13.33%

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

$19.2K IQD 25.2M

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

-7.14%

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

$18.4K IQD 24.0M

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

-11.04%

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

$99.7 IQD 130.5K

$75.9 IQD 99.4K

31.27%

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

$17.52 IQD 22.9K

$16.34 IQD 21.4K

7.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.19 IQD 39.5K

$26.04 IQD 34.1K

15.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.44 IQD 49.0K

$39.68 IQD 52.0K

-5.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.56 IQD 21.7K

$16.91 IQD 22.1K

-2.07%

Cinema Ticket

$11.56 IQD 15.1K

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

47.26%

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

$64.1 IQD 83.9K

$154 IQD 201.3K

-58.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,146 IQD 1.5M

$3,539 IQD 4.6M

-67.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.58 IQD 20.4K

$24.16 IQD 31.6K

-35.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.99 IQD 24.9K

$25.00 IQD 32.7K

-24.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.3 IQD 109.1K

$43.01 IQD 56.3K

93.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$18.90 IQD 24.7K

$35.77 IQD 46.8K

-47.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$246 IQD 322.2K

$237 IQD 310.3K

3.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 IQD 230.1K

$181 IQD 236.9K

-2.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$591 IQD 773.3K

$569 IQD 744.6K

3.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$349 IQD 456.5K

$344 IQD 450.5K

1.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$805 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$587 IQD 768.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$562 IQD 735.6K

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $246 in Koysinjaq and $237 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 $162 vs $183 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 2% 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 $1,096 in Koysinjaq and $1,116 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: $246 in Koysinjaq versus $237 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $731 per month in Koysinjaq versus $744 in Sulaymaniyah – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Koysinjaq runs roughly 37% 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 2% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.