Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Zakho Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Zakho

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,043 per month in Erbil vs $890 in Zakho, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,545 per month in Erbil vs $1,364 in Zakho, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,046 per month in Erbil vs $1,839 in Zakho, rent included.

Erbil costs about 17% more than Zakho, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Erbil and Zakho are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 22% lower, Zakho 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

1.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.11 IQD 30.3K

$23.31 IQD 30.5K

-0.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.01 IQD 11.8K

$8.61 IQD 11.3K

4.65%

Cappuccino

$3.24 IQD 4,240

$3.09 IQD 4,043

4.85%

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

$0.49 IQD 640

$0.52 IQD 677

-5.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 288

$0.20 IQD 262

10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 IQD 2,562

$2.01 IQD 2,636

-2.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 IQD 2,824

$2.16 IQD 2,825

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,718

$1.34 IQD 1,750

-2.24%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,034

$0.79 IQD 1,040

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 IQD 2,450

$1.86 IQD 2,432

0.54%

Eggs

$1.95 IQD 2,557

$1.90 IQD 2,491

2.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.26 IQD 9,502

$7.42 IQD 9,721

-2.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 IQD 6,144

$4.73 IQD 6,199

-0.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.08 IQD 18.4K

$13.98 IQD 18.3K

0.72%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,502

$1.14 IQD 1,487

0.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,547

$1.18 IQD 1,551

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,480

$1.13 IQD 1,479

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 982

$0.82 IQD 1,068

-8.54%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 IQD 948

$0.66 IQD 860

9.09%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 990

$0.71 IQD 933

7.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 IQD 1,001

$0.74 IQD 967

2.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 738

$0.53 IQD 692

5.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.66 IQD 3,486

$2.73 IQD 3,569

-2.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.28 IQD 16.1K

$12.23 IQD 16.0K

0.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 IQD 1,880

$1.38 IQD 1,807

4.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 IQD 2,538

$2.03 IQD 2,661

-4.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 767

$0.36 IQD 473

63.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.79 IQD 45.6K

$30.67 IQD 40.2K

13.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.27 IQD 2,971

$2.27 IQD 2,976

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.32 IQD 3,033

$2.22 IQD 2,912

4.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.05 IQD 9,233

$6.98 IQD 9,142

1.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 IQD 837

$0.70 IQD 919

-8.57%

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

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

-0.36%

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

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

$20.9K IQD 27.3M

-1.40%

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

$101 IQD 132.5K

$101 IQD 131.6K

0.71%

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

$17.79 IQD 23.3K

$17.58 IQD 23.0K

1.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.56 IQD 38.7K

$30.20 IQD 39.5K

-2.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.8 IQD 96.7K

$36.33 IQD 47.6K

103.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.76 IQD 15.4K

$17.06 IQD 22.3K

-31.07%

Cinema Ticket

$11.25 IQD 14.7K

$11.42 IQD 15.0K

-1.49%

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

$269 IQD 351.6K

$267 IQD 349.6K

0.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,330 IQD 4.4M

$3,247 IQD 4.3M

2.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.93 IQD 43.1K

$32.29 IQD 42.3K

1.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.13 IQD 64.3K

$48.66 IQD 63.7K

0.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 IQD 105.7K

$83.9 IQD 109.9K

-3.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 IQD 102.0K

$78.6 IQD 102.9K

-0.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$436 IQD 571.5K

$238 IQD 311.3K

83.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$275 IQD 360.4K

$181 IQD 236.8K

52.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$739 IQD 968.0K

$576 IQD 753.6K

28.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$496 IQD 649.8K

$342 IQD 447.6K

45.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,089 IQD 1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$653 IQD 855.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$580 IQD 759.9K

$663 IQD 867.7K

-12.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.33

5.67

152.73%

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

Last update for Erbil: July 27, 2026

Last update for Zakho: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $436 in Erbil versus $238 in Zakho. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 14% higher in Zakho, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Erbil versus $23.00 in Zakho. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $194 vs $194 – making Erbil the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Erbil vs Zakho: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Erbil is pricier by about 17%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,565 per month in Erbil and $1,335 in Zakho. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Zakho, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 0% more in Erbil, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Erbil and $23.00 in Zakho. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Zakho, where all-in costs run around $890, than in Erbil at $1,043. In Zakho it covers expenses comfortably, while in Erbil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Zakho – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Zakho. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Erbil makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.