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: $780 in Sulaymaniyah versus $690 in Koysinjaq.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,178 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,093 in Koysinjaq.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,576 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,497 in Koysinjaq.

Living in Sulaymaniyah is roughly 13% more expensive than in Koysinjaq, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sulaymaniyah 43% lower, Koysinjaq 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.50 IQD 5,898

$7.46 IQD 9,765

-39.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.28 IQD 30.5K

$44.43 IQD 58.2K

-47.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.07 IQD 9,261

$8.56 IQD 11.2K

-17.41%

Cappuccino

$2.43 IQD 3,183

$3.67 IQD 4,799

-33.79%

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

$0.45 IQD 593

$1.02 IQD 1,336

-55.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 274

$0.42 IQD 549

-50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.70 IQD 6,160

$6.26 IQD 8,202

-24.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 IQD 3,048

$4.53 IQD 5,931

-48.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 IQD 1,740

$1.22 IQD 1,598

9.02%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 IQD 1,283

$0.78 IQD 1,019

25.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 IQD 2,507

$1.75 IQD 2,288

9.14%

Eggs

$1.76 IQD 2,299

$1.79 IQD 2,347

-1.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.95 IQD 6,477

$8.27 IQD 10.8K

-40.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.55 IQD 4,645

$5.57 IQD 7,291

-36.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.75 IQD 20.6K

$14.83 IQD 19.4K

6.20%

Apples (1kg)

$1.32 IQD 1,724

$1.13 IQD 1,483

16.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,701

$1.12 IQD 1,465

16.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,500

$1.18 IQD 1,548

-2.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 911

$0.81 IQD 1,054

-13.58%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 IQD 721

$0.71 IQD 932

-22.54%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 901

$0.72 IQD 946

-4.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 IQD 890

$0.79 IQD 1,029

-13.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 689

$0.55 IQD 725

-3.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.46 IQD 3,218

$2.51 IQD 3,282

-1.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.60 IQD 15.2K

$12.30 IQD 16.1K

-5.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 IQD 2,450

$1.62 IQD 2,121

15.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 IQD 2,232

$2.06 IQD 2,703

-17.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 725

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.88 IQD 30.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,045

$1.95 IQD 2,551

19.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.24 IQD 2,936

$1.73 IQD 2,270

29.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.47 IQD 7,168

$6.41 IQD 8,389

-14.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 IQD 944

$0.62 IQD 814

16.13%

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

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

$18.1K IQD 23.7M

13.96%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

$19.6K IQD 25.6M

-2.82%

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

$101 IQD 131.6K

$128 IQD 167.8K

-21.55%

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

$10.98 IQD 14.4K

$13.79 IQD 18.1K

-20.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.50 IQD 37.3K

$28.35 IQD 37.1K

0.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.99 IQD 47.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.18 IQD 26.4K

Cinema Ticket

$7.54 IQD 9,871

$11.63 IQD 15.2K

-35.17%

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

$176 IQD 231.1K

$308 IQD 402.9K

-42.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,879 IQD 3.8M

$3,106 IQD 4.1M

-7.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.43 IQD 25.4K

$30.76 IQD 40.3K

-36.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.44 IQD 33.3K

$45.05 IQD 59.0K

-43.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$42.51 IQD 55.7K

$69.0 IQD 90.4K

-38.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.09 IQD 49.9K

$69.2 IQD 90.6K

-44.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$226 IQD 296.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 IQD 226.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$506 IQD 662.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$363 IQD 474.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$831 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$587 IQD 768.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$580 IQD 759.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.77

2.53

128.06%

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

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: September 14, 2026

Last update for Koysinjaq: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah vs $44.00 in Koysinjaq for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $203 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

Sulaymaniyah vs Koysinjaq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Koysinjaq wins on cost – living expenses run 13% 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 $1,171 in Sulaymaniyah and $1,035 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.

Shoppers in Sulaymaniyah pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $780 per month in Sulaymaniyah versus $690 in Koysinjaq – a 13% 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, 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 13% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.