Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Zakho Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Zakho

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $893 in Zakho, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,364 in Zakho, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $1,834 in Zakho, rent included.

Medellin costs about 16% more than Zakho, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Zakho are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Zakho 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.4K

$7.72 IQD 10.1K

-23.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 118.2K

$22.91 IQD 30.0K

42.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.0K

$8.68 IQD 11.4K

-17.05%

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,140

$3.13 IQD 4,096

-45.69%

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

$1.10 COP 3,966

$0.48 IQD 628

129.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,605

$0.22 IQD 288

227.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,022

$2.01 IQD 2,629

-16.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.2K

$2.08 IQD 2,723

49.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,809

$1.37 IQD 1,789

-22.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,497

$0.81 IQD 1,056

54.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,022

$1.79 IQD 2,351

-22.35%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,168

$1.97 IQD 2,586

14.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.6K

$7.57 IQD 9,918

-42.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.1K

$4.79 IQD 6,276

21.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 31.9K

$13.95 IQD 18.3K

-36.70%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,099

$1.15 IQD 1,502

94.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,882

$1.14 IQD 1,494

-5.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,522

$1.17 IQD 1,537

30.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,950

$0.81 IQD 1,064

69.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,078

$0.67 IQD 879

68.66%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,036

$0.76 IQD 990

47.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,057

$0.77 IQD 1,013

10.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,281

$0.52 IQD 687

75.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

$2.73 IQD 3,576

-14.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.2K

$12.23 IQD 16.0K

-8.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,309

$1.43 IQD 1,871

-16.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,553

$2.04 IQD 2,669

16.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

$0.40 IQD 522

97.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

$31.69 IQD 41.5K

29.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,184

$2.32 IQD 3,034

-37.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,901

$2.30 IQD 3,013

-16.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 28.9K

$6.74 IQD 8,825

18.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,385

$0.70 IQD 913

34.29%

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

$17.9K COP 64.7M

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

-4.52%

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

$26.8K COP 96.7M

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

31.37%

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

$84.0 COP 303.1K

$99.3 IQD 130.1K

-15.48%

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

$9.60 COP 34.7K

$17.84 IQD 23.4K

-46.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.2K

$29.52 IQD 38.7K

-18.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 93.4K

$37.43 IQD 49.0K

-30.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

$16.78 IQD 22.0K

13.47%

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.1K

$11.46 IQD 15.0K

-65.79%

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

$306 COP 1.1M

$266 IQD 348.2K

15.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

$3,229 IQD 4.2M

83.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 209.1K

$33.39 IQD 43.7K

73.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 114.9K

$48.02 IQD 62.9K

-33.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 360.6K

$80.8 IQD 105.9K

23.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 386.8K

$78.5 IQD 102.9K

36.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

$238 IQD 311.5K

104.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

$178 IQD 233.3K

106.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

$584 IQD 765.1K

41.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

$343 IQD 449.8K

108.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

$646 IQD 846.8K

-15.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

5.67

136.86%

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

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Last update for Zakho: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin 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 18% 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $23.00 in Zakho. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $195 in Zakho – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Medellin vs Zakho: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 16%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,550 per month in Medellin 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $23.00 in Zakho. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,034 in Medellin and $893 in Zakho. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Zakho, where all-in costs run around $893, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Zakho it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin 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, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.