Is Iraqi Kurdistan Cheap? Here Is What You Can Expect

o if you are planning a trip to Iraqi Kurdistan, one of the questions you may have, after “Is it safe to travel there?“, is probably whether Iraqi Kurdistan is an expensive place to visit or not. Having traveled there recently, I can tell you that if you are a Westerner, your money will stretch a lot further here, although some things are not as cheap as one might expect.

In general, Iraqi Kurdistan is an affordable travel destination. To be quite frank, there isn’t much more to spend your money on other than hotels, food, and taxi rides. If you are two people traveling together, you can expect to pay around between $80-$100 a day for a comfortable stay.

This blog post delves further into the cost of living and traveling expenses that you can expect as you prepare for your next travel adventure to Iraqi Kurdistan.

You Need Cash

First things first, you need to have cash when you travel to Iraqi Kurdistan. Cash is without question the most common payment method, and often the only payment method. Most places, such as restaurants and hotels, do not accept credit cards, so make sure you bring enough for your whole trip, preferably in US Dollars but Euros are also easily exchanged.

1 USD = 1,500 Iraqi Dinars

The best places to exchange your hard currency are at the local bazaar, not at the airport, which will usually give you a worse conversion rate. Most places and people also accept payment in dollars. Due to the low crime rate, the exchange offices are usually just a counter with heaps of cash on top with one person sitting behind it. It’s an interesting sight.

– To be quite frank, there isn’t so much to spend your money on in iraqi kurdistan, other than food, hotels and taxi rides.

Accommodation Costs

Accommodation in Iraqi Kurdistan ranges from high-end hotels to budget-friendly hostels and guesthouses. In Erbil, a night at a good hotel, with a big clean room and a solid breakfast, might set you back between $80-$90. Budget travelers can find hostels for as low as $15-20 per night, while mid-range options often range between $30 to $50 per night. Having tried several different hotel standards during my stay in Iraqi Kurdistan, my recommendation is to go for a hotel at around $80 per night, especially if you are two traveling together. I stayed at Erbil Sun Hotel, located in Ankawa (the Christian district), and I can highly recommend it. The rooms are big and comfortable with a solid breakfast and a view of Erbil.

Food and Dining Expenses

Eating out is generally affordable, although not quite as cheap as you might expect. A meal at a more upscale restaurant will cost you around $15 for a main course, while simpler street food will cost you only a few dollars. However, if you have a sensitive stomach, be careful with the street food. The hygiene is not always up to par. Since all alcohol is imported into Kurdistan with nothing being produced locally, beer is expensive and costs around $5-6.

Transportation Costs

In terms of transportation, taxis are your best option. When traveling within cities like Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, use the app Careem (the Iraqi version of Uber). The lowest rate is 5,000 Iraqi Dinars (approx $3), and it will take you almost anywhere you want to go within the city. When traveling between cities like Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, the most common mode of transportation is a shared taxi. A shared taxi (often a Toyota Corolla) will cost you between 15,000 and 20,000 Iraqi Dinars, and you will be four people in the car including the driver. If you want to explore the countryside of Iraqi Kurdistan and don’t want to drive yourself, I suggest that you hire a guide with a car for the day. Expect to pay around $180-$200 for a full day; we paid around $230 for three people, which I believe was a bit too much considering the overall living standard and gas prices in Kurdistan.

Entrance Fee to Tourist Attractions

Since the tourism infrastructure is practically non-existent in Iraqi Kurdistan, there are almost no entrance fees for any of the see-worthy sites. Even the famous Amna Suraka Museum in Sulaymaniyah or the Erbil Citadel does not have any entrance fees, which is great if you are a budget traveler. The only time I recall having paid an entrance fee to any “tourist” site was the Geli Ali Beg Waterfall, which cost 1,000 Dinars (less than a dollar). If you are interested in what the best things are to do in Erbil, check out the blog post that I wrote on the topic.

Buy A Local Sim-Card

The best investment you can make when visiting Iraqi Kurdistan is buying a SIM card. A SIM card with a decent data package can be purchased at the airport for around $10-$15, and it gives you good connectivity in most parts of Kurdistan. Wi-Fi is also widely available in most upscale cafes, restaurants, and hotels.

Don’t Forget To Bargain

If there is one tip I can give you, it is not to forget to bargain. All prices are negotiable, and bargaining is part of the culture. It will save you a lot of money if you do.

How Much To Budget

To be quite frank, there isn’t so much to spend your money on in Iraqi Kurdistan, other than food, hotels, and taxi rides. But then again, it’s precisely for this reason that makes it a real travel adventure. If you are two people traveling together, expect to spend between $80-$100 a day. For that amount, you will get a comfortable upscale hotel including breakfast, lunch, dinner, and taxi rides around town. If you want to get your daily spend down to $50 a day, this is doable, however, I found $80-$100 a day to be the sweet spot.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Iraqi Kurdistan is indeed an affordable travel destination, apart from the beer, but then again, that’s probably not the reason for your visit. Make sure to bring cash, buy a sim card, and don’t forget to bargain and it will make your stay in this unexplored part of the world a lot easier and affordable.

Happy Travels!