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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $890 in Zakho, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,364 in Zakho, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,839 in Zakho, rent included.

Medellin costs about 13% more than Zakho, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Zakho are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Zakho 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

-23.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$23.31 IQD 30.5K

41.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$8.61 IQD 11.3K

-13.70%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$3.09 IQD 4,043

-46.60%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$0.52 IQD 677

111.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.20 IQD 262

290.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$2.01 IQD 2,636

-14.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$2.16 IQD 2,825

47.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.34 IQD 1,750

-17.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$0.79 IQD 1,040

59.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.86 IQD 2,432

-25.81%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$1.90 IQD 2,491

14.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$7.42 IQD 9,721

-39.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$4.73 IQD 6,199

22.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$13.98 IQD 18.3K

-35.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$1.14 IQD 1,487

103.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.18 IQD 1,551

-10.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$1.13 IQD 1,479

34.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$0.82 IQD 1,068

65.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$0.66 IQD 860

71.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$0.71 IQD 933

64.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$0.74 IQD 967

21.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.53 IQD 692

69.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$2.73 IQD 3,569

-18.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$12.23 IQD 16.0K

-0.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$1.38 IQD 1,807

-13.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$2.03 IQD 2,661

22.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$0.36 IQD 473

136.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$30.67 IQD 40.2K

35.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$2.27 IQD 2,976

-37.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$2.22 IQD 2,912

-12.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$6.98 IQD 9,142

13.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$0.70 IQD 919

41.43%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

-7.27%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$20.9K IQD 27.3M

28.35%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$101 IQD 131.6K

-17.41%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$17.58 IQD 23.0K

-44.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$30.20 IQD 39.5K

-22.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$36.33 IQD 47.6K

-30.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$17.06 IQD 22.3K

11.96%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$11.42 IQD 15.0K

-65.41%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$267 IQD 349.6K

18.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$3,247 IQD 4.3M

83.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$32.29 IQD 42.3K

85.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$48.66 IQD 63.7K

-34.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$83.9 IQD 109.9K

21.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$78.6 IQD 102.9K

36.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$238 IQD 311.3K

99.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$181 IQD 236.8K

106.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$576 IQD 753.6K

47.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$342 IQD 447.6K

110.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$663 IQD 867.7K

-5.76%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Zakho: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 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 6% 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 – $193 in Medellin vs $194 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 13%, 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,335 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 $1,003 in Medellin and $890 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 $890, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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.