Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and Zakho Cost of Living Comparison Between Sulaymaniyah and Zakho

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $780 in Sulaymaniyah versus $879 in Zakho.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,178 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,278 in Zakho.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,576 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,676 in Zakho.

Living in Sulaymaniyah costs roughly 11% less than in Zakho, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sulaymaniyah 43% lower, Zakho 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.50 IQD 5,898

$7.73 IQD 10.1K

-41.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.28 IQD 30.5K

$44.26 IQD 58.0K

-47.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.07 IQD 9,261

$8.17 IQD 10.7K

-13.46%

Cappuccino

$2.43 IQD 3,183

$3.81 IQD 4,993

-36.22%

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

$0.45 IQD 593

$1.07 IQD 1,403

-57.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 274

$0.41 IQD 538

-48.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.70 IQD 6,159

$6.14 IQD 8,037

-23.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 IQD 3,048

$4.57 IQD 5,983

-49.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 IQD 1,740

$1.27 IQD 1,657

4.72%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 IQD 1,283

$0.82 IQD 1,069

19.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 IQD 2,507

$1.76 IQD 2,308

8.52%

Eggs

$1.76 IQD 2,299

$1.77 IQD 2,317

-0.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.95 IQD 6,477

$8.19 IQD 10.7K

-39.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.55 IQD 4,645

$5.52 IQD 7,228

-35.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.75 IQD 20.6K

$14.97 IQD 19.6K

5.21%

Apples (1kg)

$1.32 IQD 1,723

$1.10 IQD 1,439

20.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,701

$1.11 IQD 1,457

17.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,500

$1.23 IQD 1,614

-6.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 911

$0.80 IQD 1,042

-12.50%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 IQD 721

$0.74 IQD 973

-25.68%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 901

$0.73 IQD 958

-5.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 IQD 890

$0.80 IQD 1,046

-15.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 689

$0.59 IQD 772

-10.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.46 IQD 3,218

$2.45 IQD 3,211

0.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.60 IQD 15.2K

$12.65 IQD 16.6K

-8.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 IQD 2,450

$1.70 IQD 2,231

10.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 IQD 2,232

$2.06 IQD 2,697

-17.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 725

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.88 IQD 30.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,045

$1.96 IQD 2,570

18.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.24 IQD 2,936

$1.79 IQD 2,341

25.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.47 IQD 7,168

$6.61 IQD 8,654

-17.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 IQD 944

$0.68 IQD 892

5.88%

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

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

$17.7K IQD 23.2M

16.39%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

-3.94%

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

$101 IQD 131.6K

$127 IQD 166.0K

-20.72%

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

$10.98 IQD 14.4K

$13.60 IQD 17.8K

-19.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.50 IQD 37.3K

$28.07 IQD 36.8K

1.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.99 IQD 47.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.18 IQD 26.4K

Cinema Ticket

$7.54 IQD 9,871

$11.44 IQD 15.0K

-34.09%

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

$176 IQD 231.0K

$317 IQD 414.5K

-44.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,879 IQD 3.8M

$3,093 IQD 4.1M

-6.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.43 IQD 25.4K

$30.48 IQD 39.9K

-36.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.44 IQD 33.3K

$19.73 IQD 25.8K

28.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$42.51 IQD 55.7K

$50.6 IQD 66.2K

-15.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.09 IQD 49.9K

$39.77 IQD 52.1K

-4.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$226 IQD 296.1K

$115 IQD 151.2K

95.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 IQD 226.6K

$223 IQD 291.7K

-22.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$506 IQD 662.0K

$315 IQD 412.6K

60.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$363 IQD 474.9K

$276 IQD 361.1K

31.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$831 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$587 IQD 768.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$580 IQD 759.1K

$657 IQD 860.6K

-11.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.77

2.53

128.06%

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

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: September 14, 2026

Last update for Zakho: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $226 in Sulaymaniyah and $115 in Zakho. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zakho pays 13% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah vs $44.00 in Zakho for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $205 per month, with Sulaymaniyah cheaper across the board.

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

Sulaymaniyah vs Zakho: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sulaymaniyah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 13% lower in Zakho. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $226 in Sulaymaniyah versus $115 in Zakho. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $176 in Sulaymaniyah versus $317 in Zakho. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Sulaymaniyah – a meal for two runs $23.00 versus $44.00 in Zakho. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Sulaymaniyah gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Sulaymaniyah and Zakho are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Sulaymaniyah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Zakho. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.