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: $744 in Sulaymaniyah versus $731 in Koysinjaq.

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

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

Living in Sulaymaniyah is roughly 2% more expensive than Koysinjaq, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.32 IQD 6,971

$2.23 IQD 2,924

138.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.03 IQD 35.4K

$12.27 IQD 16.1K

120.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.90 IQD 9,040

$8.79 IQD 11.5K

-21.50%

Cappuccino

$2.56 IQD 3,349

$1.57 IQD 2,054

63.06%

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

$0.37 IQD 482

$0.39 IQD 514

-5.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 277

$0.17 IQD 228

23.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 IQD 2,683

$1.93 IQD 2,524

6.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 IQD 3,454

$2.08 IQD 2,720

26.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 IQD 1,862

$1.12 IQD 1,470

26.79%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 IQD 1,277

$0.80 IQD 1,046

22.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 IQD 2,172

$1.16 IQD 1,524

43.10%

Eggs

$1.76 IQD 2,299

$1.56 IQD 2,046

12.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.80 IQD 7,598

$7.54 IQD 9,868

-23.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.44 IQD 4,501

$3.88 IQD 5,076

-11.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 IQD 18.7K

$9.08 IQD 11.9K

57.49%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,607

$0.78 IQD 1,027

57.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.25 IQD 1,634

$1.13 IQD 1,485

10.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 IQD 1,645

$1.12 IQD 1,462

12.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 921

$0.55 IQD 715

27.27%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 821

$0.59 IQD 770

6.78%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 844

$0.59 IQD 777

8.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 IQD 711

$0.40 IQD 522

35.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 591

$0.36 IQD 474

25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.89 IQD 2,470

$2.34 IQD 3,062

-19.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.68 IQD 15.3K

$12.39 IQD 16.2K

-5.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 IQD 2,072

$1.43 IQD 1,867

10.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 IQD 2,272

$1.95 IQD 2,550

-10.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 724

$0.37 IQD 479

48.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.87 IQD 29.9K

$31.34 IQD 41.0K

-27.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,949

$1.56 IQD 2,042

44.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.24 IQD 2,929

$0.79 IQD 1,031

183.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.37 IQD 7,033

$3.74 IQD 4,900

43.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 IQD 985

$0.65 IQD 856

15.38%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

$19.2K IQD 25.2M

7.69%

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

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

$18.4K IQD 24.0M

12.42%

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

$75.9 IQD 99.4K

$99.7 IQD 130.5K

-23.82%

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

$16.34 IQD 21.4K

$17.52 IQD 22.9K

-6.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.04 IQD 34.1K

$30.19 IQD 39.5K

-13.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.68 IQD 52.0K

$37.44 IQD 49.0K

5.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.91 IQD 22.1K

$16.56 IQD 21.7K

2.11%

Cinema Ticket

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

$11.56 IQD 15.1K

-32.09%

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

$154 IQD 201.3K

$64.1 IQD 83.9K

139.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,539 IQD 4.6M

$1,146 IQD 1.5M

208.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.16 IQD 31.6K

$15.58 IQD 20.4K

55.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.00 IQD 32.7K

$18.99 IQD 24.9K

31.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.01 IQD 56.3K

$83.3 IQD 109.1K

-48.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.77 IQD 46.8K

$18.90 IQD 24.7K

89.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$237 IQD 310.3K

$246 IQD 322.2K

-3.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 IQD 236.9K

$176 IQD 230.1K

2.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$569 IQD 744.6K

$591 IQD 773.3K

-3.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$344 IQD 450.5K

$349 IQD 456.5K

-1.31%

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

58.73%

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

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: June 8, 2026

Last update for Koysinjaq: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

All in, you'll spend $744 per month in Sulaymaniyah versus $731 in Koysinjaq – 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, 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 2% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.