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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,028 per month in Medellin vs $882 in Zakho, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,586 per month in Medellin vs $1,370 in Zakho, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,144 per month in Medellin vs $1,858 in Zakho, rent included.

Medellin costs about 17% more than Zakho, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Zakho are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Zakho 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.00 COP 20.6K

$7.66 IQD 10.0K

-21.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.84 COP 112.9K

$23.28 IQD 30.5K

41.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.42 COP 25.5K

$8.78 IQD 11.5K

-15.49%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,675

$3.20 IQD 4,191

-48.44%

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

$1.07 COP 3,673

$0.52 IQD 687

105.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 COP 2,614

$0.22 IQD 288

245.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,925

$1.94 IQD 2,537

-11.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 COP 11.0K

$2.05 IQD 2,680

56.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,607

$1.38 IQD 1,806

-23.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 COP 4,492

$0.86 IQD 1,122

52.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 COP 4,604

$1.82 IQD 2,381

-26.37%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,543

$1.90 IQD 2,494

15.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.41 COP 15.2K

$7.56 IQD 9,906

-41.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.69 COP 19.6K

$4.66 IQD 6,108

22.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.52 COP 29.3K

$14.27 IQD 18.7K

-40.29%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,046

$1.18 IQD 1,551

98.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,815

$1.18 IQD 1,547

-5.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,225

$1.19 IQD 1,564

27.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,694

$0.77 IQD 1,007

77.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 3,962

$0.67 IQD 874

71.64%

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 COP 4,055

$0.75 IQD 986

57.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.84 COP 2,893

$0.72 IQD 938

16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 COP 2,940

$0.53 IQD 693

62.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.26 COP 7,776

$2.61 IQD 3,420

-13.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.60 COP 39.9K

$12.69 IQD 16.6K

-8.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,121

$1.38 IQD 1,802

-13.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 8,508

$1.93 IQD 2,523

28.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,729

$0.40 IQD 519

97.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.83 COP 140.4K

$31.07 IQD 40.7K

31.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,038

$2.37 IQD 3,101

-37.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,587

$2.32 IQD 3,037

-17.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.77 COP 26.7K

$6.84 IQD 8,953

13.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,474

$0.69 IQD 899

46.38%

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

$17.7K COP 60.7M

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

-6.63%

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

$26.5K COP 90.9M

$20.2K IQD 26.5M

30.97%

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

$81.1 COP 278.8K

$100 IQD 131.2K

-19.04%

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

$9.43 COP 32.4K

$17.97 IQD 23.5K

-47.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.86 COP 82.0K

$29.90 IQD 39.2K

-20.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.99 COP 89.4K

$37.42 IQD 49.0K

-30.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.71 COP 64.3K

$16.71 IQD 21.9K

11.97%

Cinema Ticket

$4.09 COP 14.1K

$11.67 IQD 15.3K

-64.95%

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

$315 COP 1.1M

$263 IQD 344.6K

19.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,022 COP 20.7M

$3,321 IQD 4.3M

81.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 COP 205.2K

$32.47 IQD 42.5K

83.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.97 COP 109.9K

$48.98 IQD 64.1K

-34.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 347.9K

$81.5 IQD 106.7K

24.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 COP 361.3K

$76.4 IQD 100.0K

37.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$485 COP 1.7M

$246 IQD 321.6K

97.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$365 COP 1.3M

$176 IQD 230.3K

107.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$827 COP 2.8M

$568 IQD 744.1K

45.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.5M

$347 IQD 454.3K

110.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,992 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,314 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$551 COP 1.9M

$649 IQD 850.1K

-15.15%

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: June 15, 2026

Last update for Zakho: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $485 in Medellin 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 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 $197 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 17%, 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 $1,542 per month in Medellin 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.

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 $1,028 in Medellin and $882 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 $882, than in Medellin at $1,028. 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.