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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,019 per month in Erbil vs $893 in Zakho, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,524 per month in Erbil vs $1,364 in Zakho, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,029 per month in Erbil vs $1,834 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 24% lower, Zakho 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$7.72 IQD 10.1K

0.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.99 IQD 30.1K

$22.91 IQD 30.0K

0.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.97 IQD 11.7K

$8.68 IQD 11.4K

3.34%

Cappuccino

$3.25 IQD 4,252

$3.13 IQD 4,096

3.83%

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

$0.48 IQD 630

$0.48 IQD 628

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 289

$0.22 IQD 288

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 IQD 2,633

$2.01 IQD 2,629

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 IQD 2,671

$2.08 IQD 2,723

-1.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,727

$1.37 IQD 1,789

-3.65%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 IQD 1,115

$0.81 IQD 1,056

4.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.81 IQD 2,368

$1.79 IQD 2,351

1.12%

Eggs

$1.98 IQD 2,590

$1.97 IQD 2,586

0.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.44 IQD 9,745

$7.57 IQD 9,918

-1.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.75 IQD 6,229

$4.79 IQD 6,276

-0.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.99 IQD 18.3K

$13.95 IQD 18.3K

0.29%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,509

$1.15 IQD 1,502

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,514

$1.14 IQD 1,494

1.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,483

$1.17 IQD 1,537

-3.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,061

$0.81 IQD 1,064

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 936

$0.67 IQD 879

5.97%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 997

$0.76 IQD 990

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 IQD 1,002

$0.77 IQD 1,013

-1.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 690

$0.52 IQD 687

1.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.76 IQD 3,610

$2.73 IQD 3,576

1.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.29 IQD 16.1K

$12.23 IQD 16.0K

0.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 IQD 1,862

$1.43 IQD 1,871

-0.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 IQD 2,627

$2.04 IQD 2,669

-1.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 IQD 728

$0.40 IQD 522

40.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.51 IQD 45.2K

$31.69 IQD 41.5K

8.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.28 IQD 2,992

$2.32 IQD 3,034

-1.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.29 IQD 2,997

$2.30 IQD 3,013

-0.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.92 IQD 9,060

$6.74 IQD 8,825

2.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 IQD 911

$0.70 IQD 913

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

1.44%

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

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

1.75%

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

$100 IQD 131.3K

$99.3 IQD 130.1K

0.89%

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

$17.57 IQD 23.0K

$17.84 IQD 23.4K

-1.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.61 IQD 38.8K

$29.52 IQD 38.7K

0.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.2 IQD 97.2K

$37.43 IQD 49.0K

98.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.82 IQD 15.5K

$16.78 IQD 22.0K

-29.56%

Cinema Ticket

$11.57 IQD 15.2K

$11.46 IQD 15.0K

0.96%

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

$264 IQD 345.7K

$266 IQD 348.2K

-0.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,284 IQD 4.3M

$3,229 IQD 4.2M

1.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.96 IQD 43.2K

$33.39 IQD 43.7K

-1.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.58 IQD 65.0K

$48.02 IQD 62.9K

3.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.8 IQD 109.7K

$80.8 IQD 105.9K

3.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 IQD 100.5K

$78.5 IQD 102.9K

-2.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 IQD 562.8K

$238 IQD 311.5K

80.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$281 IQD 367.7K

$178 IQD 233.3K

57.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$716 IQD 938.5K

$584 IQD 765.1K

22.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$486 IQD 637.2K

$343 IQD 449.8K

41.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,111 IQD 1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$652 IQD 854.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$576 IQD 754.2K

$646 IQD 846.8K

-10.93%

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Zakho: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 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 12% 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: $195 vs $195 – 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 $1,528 per month in Erbil and $1,340 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 $893, than in Erbil at $1,019. 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.