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: $1,055 in Baghdad versus $890 in Zakho.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,565 in Baghdad versus $1,364 in Zakho.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,074 in Baghdad versus $1,839 in Zakho.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 19% more expensive than in Zakho, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 21% lower, Zakho 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.50 IQD 7,206

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

-29.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.22 IQD 47.4K

$23.31 IQD 30.5K

55.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.70 IQD 10.1K

$8.61 IQD 11.3K

-10.57%

Cappuccino

$2.98 IQD 3,903

$3.09 IQD 4,043

-3.56%

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

$0.36 IQD 477

$0.52 IQD 677

-30.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 219

$0.20 IQD 262

-15.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 IQD 4,590

$2.01 IQD 2,636

74.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 IQD 3,839

$2.16 IQD 2,825

35.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 IQD 1,768

$1.34 IQD 1,750

0.75%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,023

$0.79 IQD 1,040

-1.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 IQD 2,076

$1.86 IQD 2,432

-14.52%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,338

$1.90 IQD 2,491

-5.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.58 IQD 5,999

$7.42 IQD 9,721

-38.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.81 IQD 6,296

$4.73 IQD 6,199

1.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.13 IQD 18.5K

$13.98 IQD 18.3K

1.07%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,612

$1.14 IQD 1,487

7.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 IQD 1,590

$1.18 IQD 1,551

2.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 IQD 1,311

$1.13 IQD 1,479

-11.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 970

$0.82 IQD 1,068

-9.76%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 854

$0.66 IQD 860

-1.52%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 881

$0.71 IQD 933

-5.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 817

$0.74 IQD 967

-16.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 861

$0.53 IQD 692

24.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.05 IQD 2,690

$2.73 IQD 3,569

-24.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.49 IQD 17.7K

$12.23 IQD 16.0K

10.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,346

$1.38 IQD 1,807

29.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,821

$2.03 IQD 2,661

5.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 IQD 976

$0.36 IQD 473

108.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.88 IQD 36.5K

$30.67 IQD 40.2K

-9.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.93 IQD 5,147

$2.27 IQD 2,976

73.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,922

$2.22 IQD 2,912

-33.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.50 IQD 9,826

$6.98 IQD 9,142

7.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 740

$0.70 IQD 919

-20.00%

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

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

3.66%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

$20.9K IQD 27.3M

-4.66%

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

$176 IQD 230.7K

$101 IQD 131.6K

75.28%

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

$25.81 IQD 33.8K

$17.58 IQD 23.0K

46.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.29 IQD 54.1K

$30.20 IQD 39.5K

36.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.14 IQD 55.2K

$36.33 IQD 47.6K

15.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

$17.06 IQD 22.3K

8.79%

Cinema Ticket

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

$11.42 IQD 15.0K

-31.96%

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

$168 IQD 220.3K

$267 IQD 349.6K

-36.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,627 IQD 4.7M

$3,247 IQD 4.3M

11.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.92 IQD 36.6K

$32.29 IQD 42.3K

-13.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.46 IQD 39.9K

$48.66 IQD 63.7K

-37.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.9 IQD 85.0K

$83.9 IQD 109.9K

-22.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.79 IQD 57.3K

$78.6 IQD 102.9K

-44.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$554 IQD 725.1K

$238 IQD 311.3K

132.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$321 IQD 419.7K

$181 IQD 236.8K

77.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$839 IQD 1.1M

$576 IQD 753.6K

45.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$583 IQD 764.1K

$342 IQD 447.6K

70.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,745 IQD 6.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,597 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$612 IQD 800.9K

$663 IQD 867.7K

-7.70%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Zakho: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $554 in Baghdad and $238 in Zakho. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zakho pays 8% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $36.00 in Baghdad vs $23.00 in Zakho. Groceries flip the comparison at $190 vs $194, 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 19% 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 8% 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: $554 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 10% 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 $267 in Zakho. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $890 in Zakho versus $1,055 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 19% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.