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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,101 per month in Erbil vs $879 in Zakho, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,630 per month in Erbil vs $1,278 in Zakho, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,158 per month in Erbil vs $1,676 in Zakho, rent included.

Erbil costs about 25% more than Zakho, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Erbil and Zakho are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 19% lower, Zakho 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

$7.73 IQD 10.1K

-0.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.38 IQD 58.1K

$44.26 IQD 58.0K

0.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.42 IQD 11.0K

$8.17 IQD 10.7K

3.06%

Cappuccino

$3.84 IQD 5,027

$3.81 IQD 4,993

0.79%

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

$1.03 IQD 1,353

$1.07 IQD 1,403

-3.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 IQD 580

$0.41 IQD 538

7.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 IQD 7,920

$6.14 IQD 8,037

-1.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.71 IQD 6,166

$4.57 IQD 5,983

3.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 IQD 1,657

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,083

$0.82 IQD 1,069

1.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 IQD 2,197

$1.76 IQD 2,308

-4.55%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,345

$1.77 IQD 2,317

1.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.06 IQD 10.6K

$8.19 IQD 10.7K

-1.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.78 IQD 7,574

$5.52 IQD 7,228

4.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.84 IQD 19.4K

$14.97 IQD 19.6K

-0.87%

Apples (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,483

$1.10 IQD 1,439

2.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 IQD 1,443

$1.11 IQD 1,457

-0.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,612

$1.23 IQD 1,614

Tomato (1kg)

$0.82 IQD 1,068

$0.80 IQD 1,042

2.50%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 911

$0.74 IQD 973

-5.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 905

$0.73 IQD 958

-5.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 IQD 969

$0.80 IQD 1,046

-7.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 723

$0.59 IQD 772

-6.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.52 IQD 3,294

$2.45 IQD 3,211

2.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.54 IQD 16.4K

$12.65 IQD 16.6K

-0.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 IQD 2,217

$1.70 IQD 2,231

-0.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 IQD 2,735

$2.06 IQD 2,697

1.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 772

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.81 IQD 57.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 IQD 2,544

$1.96 IQD 2,570

-1.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 IQD 2,381

$1.79 IQD 2,341

1.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.56 IQD 8,588

$6.61 IQD 8,654

-0.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 882

$0.68 IQD 892

-1.47%

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

$18.3K IQD 24.0M

$17.7K IQD 23.2M

3.59%

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

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

1.53%

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

$128 IQD 167.0K

$127 IQD 166.0K

0.57%

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

$13.95 IQD 18.3K

$13.60 IQD 17.8K

2.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.49 IQD 37.3K

$28.07 IQD 36.8K

1.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.0 IQD 86.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.62 IQD 19.1K

Cinema Ticket

$11.67 IQD 15.3K

$11.44 IQD 15.0K

2.01%

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

$309 IQD 405.1K

$317 IQD 414.5K

-2.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,144 IQD 4.1M

$3,093 IQD 4.1M

1.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.32 IQD 41.0K

$30.48 IQD 39.9K

2.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.84 IQD 58.7K

$19.73 IQD 25.8K

127.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.3 IQD 90.7K

$50.6 IQD 66.2K

36.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.4 IQD 88.3K

$39.77 IQD 52.1K

69.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$460 IQD 602.5K

$115 IQD 151.2K

298.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$297 IQD 389.4K

$223 IQD 291.7K

33.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$740 IQD 969.5K

$315 IQD 412.6K

134.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$432 IQD 566.1K

$276 IQD 361.1K

56.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,092 IQD 1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$665 IQD 870.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$614 IQD 803.9K

$657 IQD 860.6K

-6.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.53

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

Last update for Erbil: September 14, 2026

Last update for Zakho: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $460 in Erbil versus $115 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 7% 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 $44.00 in Erbil versus $44.00 in Zakho. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $204 vs $205 – 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 25%, 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 $1,652 per month in Erbil and $1,319 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,101 in Erbil and $879 in Zakho. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Erbil and $317 in Zakho. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Zakho, where all-in costs run around $879, than in Erbil at $1,101. 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.