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: $1,143 in Baghdad versus $879 in Zakho.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,702 in Baghdad versus $1,278 in Zakho.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,262 in Baghdad versus $1,676 in Zakho.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 30% more expensive than in Zakho, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 16% lower, Zakho 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.91 IQD 6,430

$7.73 IQD 10.1K

-36.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.26 IQD 44.9K

$44.26 IQD 58.0K

-22.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 IQD 10.3K

$8.17 IQD 10.7K

-4.04%

Cappuccino

$3.08 IQD 4,033

$3.81 IQD 4,993

-19.16%

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

$0.39 IQD 514

$1.07 IQD 1,404

-63.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 IQD 342

$0.41 IQD 538

-36.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.78 IQD 4,957

$6.14 IQD 8,037

-38.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 IQD 4,907

$4.57 IQD 5,983

-17.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 IQD 1,364

$1.27 IQD 1,657

-18.11%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,090

$0.82 IQD 1,069

1.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 IQD 2,015

$1.76 IQD 2,308

-12.50%

Eggs

$1.89 IQD 2,479

$1.77 IQD 2,317

6.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.77 IQD 4,937

$8.19 IQD 10.7K

-53.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.59 IQD 6,004

$5.52 IQD 7,228

-16.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.44 IQD 18.9K

$14.97 IQD 19.6K

-3.54%

Apples (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,480

$1.10 IQD 1,439

2.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,390

$1.11 IQD 1,457

-4.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 IQD 1,345

$1.23 IQD 1,614

-16.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 968

$0.80 IQD 1,042

-7.50%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 906

$0.74 IQD 973

-6.76%

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 912

$0.73 IQD 958

-4.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 IQD 838

$0.80 IQD 1,046

-20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 IQD 907

$0.59 IQD 772

16.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.78 IQD 2,336

$2.45 IQD 3,211

-27.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.81 IQD 18.1K

$12.65 IQD 16.6K

9.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,806

$1.70 IQD 2,231

25.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 IQD 2,977

$2.06 IQD 2,697

10.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 IQD 905

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.15 IQD 30.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.23 IQD 2,918

$1.96 IQD 2,570

13.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 IQD 2,021

$1.79 IQD 2,342

-13.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.65 IQD 10.0K

$6.61 IQD 8,654

15.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.62 IQD 806

$0.68 IQD 892

-8.82%

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

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

$17.7K IQD 23.2M

9.45%

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

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

-2.49%

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

$213 IQD 279.2K

$127 IQD 166.0K

68.18%

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

$21.75 IQD 28.5K

$13.60 IQD 17.8K

59.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.04 IQD 53.7K

$28.07 IQD 36.8K

46.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.75 IQD 62.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.22 IQD 27.8K

Cinema Ticket

$10.68 IQD 14.0K

$11.44 IQD 15.0K

-6.64%

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

$169 IQD 221.7K

$317 IQD 414.5K

-46.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,468 IQD 4.5M

$3,093 IQD 4.1M

12.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.14 IQD 39.5K

$30.48 IQD 39.9K

-1.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.41 IQD 50.3K

$19.73 IQD 25.8K

94.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.0 IQD 95.6K

$50.6 IQD 66.2K

44.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.87 IQD 62.7K

$39.77 IQD 52.1K

20.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$568 IQD 743.5K

$115 IQD 151.2K

391.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$351 IQD 459.9K

$223 IQD 291.7K

57.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$935 IQD 1.2M

$315 IQD 412.6K

196.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$692 IQD 905.7K

$276 IQD 361.1K

150.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,625 IQD 6.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,587 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$615 IQD 805.3K

$657 IQD 860.6K

-6.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

2.53

62.85%

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

Last update for Baghdad: September 13, 2026

Last update for Zakho: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $568 in Baghdad and $115 in Zakho. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zakho pays 7% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $34.00 in Baghdad vs $44.00 in Zakho for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $187 vs $205 per month, with Baghdad 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

Baghdad vs Zakho: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zakho wins on cost – living expenses run 30% 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, salaries run 7% lower in Zakho. 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: $568 in Baghdad versus $115 in Zakho. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Baghdad pay roughly 10% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,143 per month in Baghdad versus $879 in Zakho – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $879 in Zakho versus $1,143 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 30% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.