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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $761 in Sulaymaniyah versus $725 in Koysinjaq.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,176 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,072 in Koysinjaq.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,591 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,420 in Koysinjaq.

Living in Sulaymaniyah is roughly 5% more expensive than in Koysinjaq, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sulaymaniyah 43% lower, Koysinjaq 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.42 IQD 7,098

$2.34 IQD 3,062

131.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.66 IQD 34.9K

$12.41 IQD 16.3K

114.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.84 IQD 8,953

$8.74 IQD 11.4K

-21.74%

Cappuccino

$2.65 IQD 3,468

$1.55 IQD 2,028

70.97%

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

$0.39 IQD 515

$0.40 IQD 520

-2.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 256

$0.19 IQD 247

5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 IQD 2,681

$1.91 IQD 2,504

7.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 IQD 3,529

$2.13 IQD 2,783

26.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 IQD 1,913

$1.18 IQD 1,540

23.73%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 IQD 1,295

$0.78 IQD 1,025

26.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 IQD 2,105

$1.13 IQD 1,480

42.48%

Eggs

$1.71 IQD 2,244

$1.55 IQD 2,027

10.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.05 IQD 7,920

$7.21 IQD 9,441

-16.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.53 IQD 4,617

$3.88 IQD 5,080

-9.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.46 IQD 18.9K

$9.28 IQD 12.2K

55.82%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,527

$0.78 IQD 1,026

50.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,615

$1.13 IQD 1,473

8.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.28 IQD 1,671

$1.12 IQD 1,469

14.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 985

$0.56 IQD 732

33.93%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 871

$0.59 IQD 778

13.56%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 845

$0.59 IQD 769

10.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 IQD 715

$0.36 IQD 477

52.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 586

$0.36 IQD 473

25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 IQD 2,543

$2.26 IQD 2,955

-14.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.56 IQD 15.1K

$12.58 IQD 16.5K

-8.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 IQD 1,976

$1.42 IQD 1,862

6.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 IQD 2,269

$1.95 IQD 2,549

-11.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 724

$0.40 IQD 520

37.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.59 IQD 29.6K

$30.88 IQD 40.4K

-26.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.27 IQD 2,966

$1.54 IQD 2,018

47.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.28 IQD 2,986

$0.75 IQD 980

204.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.21 IQD 6,828

$3.74 IQD 4,892

39.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 IQD 985

$0.66 IQD 860

13.64%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

$19.5K IQD 25.5M

6.47%

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

$21.1K IQD 27.7M

$18.5K IQD 24.3M

14.10%

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

$77.5 IQD 101.5K

$102 IQD 133.0K

-23.75%

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

$16.80 IQD 22.0K

$17.42 IQD 22.8K

-3.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.70 IQD 35.0K

$30.39 IQD 39.8K

-12.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.57 IQD 50.5K

$37.06 IQD 48.5K

4.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.67 IQD 21.8K

$17.04 IQD 22.3K

-2.17%

Cinema Ticket

$7.48 IQD 9,799

$11.44 IQD 15.0K

-34.62%

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

$150 IQD 196.2K

$64.7 IQD 84.7K

131.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,550 IQD 4.6M

$1,154 IQD 1.5M

207.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.44 IQD 30.7K

$15.40 IQD 20.2K

52.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.93 IQD 32.6K

$18.99 IQD 24.9K

31.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.58 IQD 57.1K

$81.0 IQD 106.0K

-46.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.28 IQD 47.5K

$19.48 IQD 25.5K

86.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$235 IQD 308.2K

$243 IQD 318.5K

-3.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 IQD 236.2K

$177 IQD 231.2K

2.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$568 IQD 744.4K

$585 IQD 766.6K

-2.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$340 IQD 445.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$820 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$576 IQD 753.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$570 IQD 746.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

58.73%

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

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: July 27, 2026

Last update for Koysinjaq: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $235 in Sulaymaniyah and $243 in Koysinjaq. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah vs $12.00 in Koysinjaq for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $184 vs $162 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

Sulaymaniyah vs Koysinjaq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Koysinjaq wins on cost – living expenses run 5% 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 $1,142 in Sulaymaniyah and $1,087 in Koysinjaq 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: $235 in Sulaymaniyah versus $243 in Koysinjaq. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $761 per month in Sulaymaniyah versus $725 in Koysinjaq – a 5% 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, Sulaymaniyah and Koysinjaq 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 5% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.