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: $750 in Sulaymaniyah versus $728 in Koysinjaq.

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

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

Living in Sulaymaniyah is roughly 3% more expensive than Koysinjaq, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.26 IQD 6,893

$2.23 IQD 2,924

135.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.81 IQD 35.1K

$12.07 IQD 15.8K

122.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.01 IQD 9,180

$8.94 IQD 11.7K

-21.59%

Cappuccino

$2.64 IQD 3,461

$1.48 IQD 1,945

78.38%

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

$0.39 IQD 514

$0.40 IQD 520

-2.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 269

$0.20 IQD 263

5.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.07 IQD 2,713

$2.02 IQD 2,652

2.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 IQD 3,549

$2.16 IQD 2,829

25.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 IQD 1,851

$1.18 IQD 1,551

19.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 IQD 1,332

$0.76 IQD 993

34.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 IQD 2,108

$1.12 IQD 1,472

43.75%

Eggs

$1.78 IQD 2,328

$1.49 IQD 1,954

19.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.10 IQD 7,996

$7.53 IQD 9,860

-18.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.56 IQD 4,666

$3.86 IQD 5,059

-7.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.01 IQD 18.4K

$9.10 IQD 11.9K

53.96%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,531

$0.75 IQD 981

56.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 IQD 1,693

$1.17 IQD 1,533

10.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.27 IQD 1,662

$1.13 IQD 1,476

12.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 957

$0.55 IQD 720

32.73%

Potato (1kg)

$0.61 IQD 798

$0.55 IQD 718

10.91%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 879

$0.55 IQD 716

21.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 IQD 777

$0.36 IQD 478

63.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 590

$0.37 IQD 481

21.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 IQD 2,535

$2.35 IQD 3,078

-17.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.61 IQD 15.2K

$12.18 IQD 16.0K

-4.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 IQD 1,974

$1.43 IQD 1,877

5.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 IQD 2,367

$1.92 IQD 2,516

-5.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 715

$0.37 IQD 482

48.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.16 IQD 30.3K

$31.44 IQD 41.2K

-26.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 IQD 3,096

$1.56 IQD 2,050

51.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 IQD 3,053

$0.79 IQD 1,041

194.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.46 IQD 7,149

$3.85 IQD 5,039

41.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 IQD 1,005

$0.70 IQD 918

10.00%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$19.5K IQD 25.5M

4.22%

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

$20.6K IQD 26.9M

$18.3K IQD 24.0M

12.36%

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

$76.6 IQD 100.3K

$99.2 IQD 130.0K

-22.81%

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

$16.90 IQD 22.1K

$17.85 IQD 23.4K

-5.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.27 IQD 34.4K

$29.90 IQD 39.2K

-12.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.65 IQD 51.9K

$36.01 IQD 47.2K

10.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.92 IQD 22.2K

$16.61 IQD 21.8K

1.87%

Cinema Ticket

$7.47 IQD 9,786

$11.64 IQD 15.3K

-35.82%

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

$151 IQD 198.3K

$64.4 IQD 84.3K

135.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,491 IQD 4.6M

$1,128 IQD 1.5M

209.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.36 IQD 30.6K

$15.12 IQD 19.8K

54.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.92 IQD 32.6K

$19.48 IQD 25.5K

27.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.74 IQD 57.3K

$83.2 IQD 108.9K

-47.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.40 IQD 47.7K

$19.18 IQD 25.1K

89.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$240 IQD 315.0K

$240 IQD 314.6K

0.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.3K

$177 IQD 231.7K

-1.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$572 IQD 749.5K

$584 IQD 765.3K

-2.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$341 IQD 446.3K

$344 IQD 450.1K

-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

58.73%

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

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: April 27, 2026

Last update for Koysinjaq: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $240 in Sulaymaniyah and $240 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 $161 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 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 $1,126 in Sulaymaniyah and $1,093 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: $240 in Sulaymaniyah versus $240 in Koysinjaq. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $750 per month in Sulaymaniyah versus $728 in Koysinjaq – 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, 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 3% less than in Sulaymaniyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.