Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Zakho Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Zakho

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,074 in Baghdad versus $893 in Zakho.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,581 in Baghdad versus $1,364 in Zakho.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,088 in Baghdad versus $1,834 in Zakho.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 20% more expensive than Zakho, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 20% lower, Zakho 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.26 IQD 6,892

$7.72 IQD 10.1K

-31.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.91 IQD 48.3K

$22.91 IQD 30.0K

61.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.46 IQD 9,777

$8.68 IQD 11.4K

-14.06%

Cappuccino

$3.01 IQD 3,939

$3.13 IQD 4,095

-3.83%

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

$0.36 IQD 477

$0.48 IQD 628

-25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 230

$0.22 IQD 288

-18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 IQD 4,596

$2.01 IQD 2,629

74.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 IQD 3,706

$2.08 IQD 2,722

36.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 IQD 1,784

$1.37 IQD 1,789

-0.73%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 IQD 1,042

$0.81 IQD 1,056

-1.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 IQD 2,102

$1.79 IQD 2,351

-10.06%

Eggs

$1.72 IQD 2,247

$1.97 IQD 2,585

-12.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 IQD 5,759

$7.57 IQD 9,916

-41.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.87 IQD 6,373

$4.79 IQD 6,274

1.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.88 IQD 18.2K

$13.95 IQD 18.3K

-0.50%

Apples (1kg)

$1.28 IQD 1,678

$1.15 IQD 1,502

11.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,523

$1.14 IQD 1,493

1.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,323

$1.17 IQD 1,537

-13.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 920

$0.81 IQD 1,064

-13.58%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 895

$0.67 IQD 879

1.49%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 831

$0.76 IQD 990

-17.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 823

$0.77 IQD 1,013

-18.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 867

$0.52 IQD 687

26.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.07 IQD 2,713

$2.73 IQD 3,576

-24.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.58 IQD 17.8K

$12.23 IQD 16.0K

11.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 IQD 2,413

$1.43 IQD 1,871

28.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 IQD 2,712

$2.04 IQD 2,668

1.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 IQD 964

$0.40 IQD 522

85.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.32 IQD 37.1K

$31.69 IQD 41.5K

-10.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.90 IQD 5,113

$2.32 IQD 3,034

68.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,923

$2.30 IQD 3,013

-36.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.61 IQD 9,964

$6.74 IQD 8,823

12.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 700

$0.70 IQD 913

-24.29%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.0M

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

5.79%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

-2.08%

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

$179 IQD 234.3K

$99.3 IQD 130.1K

80.08%

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

$25.76 IQD 33.7K

$17.84 IQD 23.4K

44.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.94 IQD 53.6K

$29.52 IQD 38.7K

38.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.54 IQD 54.4K

$37.43 IQD 49.0K

10.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.57 IQD 24.3K

$16.78 IQD 22.0K

10.67%

Cinema Ticket

$7.66 IQD 10.0K

$11.46 IQD 15.0K

-33.16%

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

$168 IQD 220.3K

$266 IQD 348.1K

-36.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,533 IQD 4.6M

$3,229 IQD 4.2M

9.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.32 IQD 37.1K

$33.39 IQD 43.7K

-15.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.84 IQD 40.4K

$48.02 IQD 62.9K

-35.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.0 IQD 85.1K

$80.8 IQD 105.9K

-19.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.91 IQD 57.5K

$78.5 IQD 102.8K

-44.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$557 IQD 729.9K

$238 IQD 311.4K

134.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$324 IQD 424.8K

$178 IQD 233.2K

82.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 IQD 1.1M

$584 IQD 764.9K

40.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$594 IQD 777.9K

$343 IQD 449.7K

72.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,867 IQD 5.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,428 IQD 1.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$622 IQD 814.4K

$646 IQD 846.6K

-3.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

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

Last update for Baghdad: April 27, 2026

Last update for Zakho: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $557 in Baghdad and $238 in Zakho. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zakho pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $37.00 in Baghdad vs $23.00 in Zakho. Groceries flip the comparison at $189 vs $195, with Baghdad cheaper for home cooking.

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

Baghdad vs Zakho: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zakho wins on cost – living expenses run 20% lower than in Baghdad. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Zakho the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Zakho earns 4% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $557 in Baghdad versus $238 in Zakho. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Zakho runs roughly 12% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $168 in Baghdad versus $266 in Zakho. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $893 in Zakho versus $1,074 in Baghdad, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Zakho but tight or insufficient in Baghdad. The gap between the two cities makes Zakho the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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, Baghdad and Zakho 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 Zakho gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.