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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,005 per month in Erbil vs $882 in Zakho, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,530 per month in Erbil vs $1,370 in Zakho, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,056 per month in Erbil vs $1,858 in Zakho, rent included.

Erbil costs about 14% more than Zakho, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Erbil and Zakho are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 25% lower, Zakho 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.79 IQD 10.2K

$7.66 IQD 10.0K

1.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.39 IQD 30.6K

$23.28 IQD 30.5K

0.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.88 IQD 11.6K

$8.78 IQD 11.5K

1.14%

Cappuccino

$3.27 IQD 4,279

$3.20 IQD 4,191

2.19%

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

$0.48 IQD 632

$0.52 IQD 687

-7.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 261

$0.22 IQD 288

-9.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 IQD 2,595

$1.94 IQD 2,537

2.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,809

$2.05 IQD 2,680

4.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 IQD 1,796

$1.38 IQD 1,806

-0.72%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 IQD 1,065

$0.86 IQD 1,122

-5.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.81 IQD 2,366

$1.82 IQD 2,381

-0.55%

Eggs

$1.92 IQD 2,520

$1.90 IQD 2,494

1.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.42 IQD 9,716

$7.56 IQD 9,906

-1.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.66 IQD 6,102

$4.66 IQD 6,108

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.13 IQD 18.5K

$14.27 IQD 18.7K

-0.98%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,506

$1.18 IQD 1,551

-2.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,550

$1.18 IQD 1,547

Oranges (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,543

$1.19 IQD 1,564

-0.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,054

$0.77 IQD 1,007

5.19%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 929

$0.67 IQD 874

5.97%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 991

$0.75 IQD 986

1.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,020

$0.72 IQD 938

8.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 722

$0.53 IQD 693

3.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.62 IQD 3,432

$2.61 IQD 3,420

0.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.53 IQD 16.4K

$12.69 IQD 16.6K

-1.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 IQD 1,826

$1.38 IQD 1,802

0.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 IQD 2,549

$1.93 IQD 2,523

1.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 777

$0.40 IQD 519

47.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.05 IQD 44.6K

$31.07 IQD 40.7K

9.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 IQD 2,937

$2.37 IQD 3,101

-5.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.30 IQD 3,016

$2.32 IQD 3,037

-0.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.87 IQD 8,990

$6.84 IQD 8,953

0.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.66 IQD 862

$0.69 IQD 899

-4.35%

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

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

0.09%

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

$20.5K IQD 26.8M

$20.2K IQD 26.5M

1.30%

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

$99.4 IQD 130.2K

$100 IQD 131.2K

-0.74%

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

$17.70 IQD 23.2K

$17.97 IQD 23.5K

-1.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.62 IQD 38.8K

$29.90 IQD 39.2K

-0.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.3 IQD 94.7K

$37.42 IQD 49.0K

93.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.55 IQD 15.1K

$16.71 IQD 21.9K

-30.88%

Cinema Ticket

$11.26 IQD 14.7K

$11.67 IQD 15.3K

-3.51%

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

$269 IQD 352.0K

$263 IQD 344.6K

2.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,227 IQD 4.2M

$3,321 IQD 4.3M

-2.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.68 IQD 42.8K

$32.47 IQD 42.5K

0.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.30 IQD 63.2K

$48.98 IQD 64.1K

-1.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.9 IQD 105.9K

$81.5 IQD 106.7K

-0.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.6 IQD 103.0K

$76.4 IQD 100.0K

2.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$439 IQD 575.5K

$246 IQD 321.6K

78.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 IQD 373.2K

$176 IQD 230.3K

62.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$733 IQD 959.5K

$568 IQD 744.1K

28.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$491 IQD 643.4K

$347 IQD 454.3K

41.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,095 IQD 1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$657 IQD 860.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$577 IQD 755.6K

$649 IQD 850.1K

-11.11%

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Zakho: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $439 in Erbil versus $246 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 13% 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: $196 vs $197 – 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 14%, 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 $1,507 per month in Erbil and $1,323 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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 0% cheaper in Erbil – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

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 $882, than in Erbil at $1,005. 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.