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: $761 in Sulaymaniyah versus $890 in Zakho.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,176 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,364 in Zakho.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,591 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,839 in Zakho.

Living in Sulaymaniyah costs roughly 14% less than in Zakho, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sulaymaniyah 43% lower, Zakho 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.42 IQD 7,098

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

-30.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.66 IQD 34.9K

$23.31 IQD 30.5K

14.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.84 IQD 8,953

$8.61 IQD 11.3K

-20.56%

Cappuccino

$2.65 IQD 3,468

$3.09 IQD 4,043

-14.24%

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

$0.39 IQD 515

$0.52 IQD 677

-25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 256

$0.20 IQD 262

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 IQD 2,681

$2.01 IQD 2,636

1.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 IQD 3,529

$2.16 IQD 2,825

24.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 IQD 1,913

$1.34 IQD 1,750

8.96%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 IQD 1,295

$0.79 IQD 1,040

25.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 IQD 2,105

$1.86 IQD 2,432

-13.44%

Eggs

$1.71 IQD 2,244

$1.90 IQD 2,491

-10.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.05 IQD 7,920

$7.42 IQD 9,721

-18.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.53 IQD 4,617

$4.73 IQD 6,199

-25.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.46 IQD 18.9K

$13.98 IQD 18.3K

3.43%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,527

$1.14 IQD 1,487

2.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,615

$1.18 IQD 1,551

4.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.28 IQD 1,671

$1.13 IQD 1,479

13.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 985

$0.82 IQD 1,068

-8.54%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 871

$0.66 IQD 860

1.52%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 845

$0.71 IQD 933

-8.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 IQD 715

$0.74 IQD 967

-25.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 586

$0.53 IQD 692

-15.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 IQD 2,543

$2.73 IQD 3,569

-28.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.56 IQD 15.1K

$12.23 IQD 16.0K

-5.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 IQD 1,976

$1.38 IQD 1,807

9.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 IQD 2,269

$2.03 IQD 2,661

-14.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 724

$0.36 IQD 473

52.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.59 IQD 29.6K

$30.67 IQD 40.2K

-26.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.27 IQD 2,966

$2.27 IQD 2,976

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.28 IQD 2,986

$2.22 IQD 2,912

2.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.21 IQD 6,828

$6.98 IQD 9,142

-25.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 IQD 985

$0.70 IQD 919

7.14%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

9.17%

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

$21.1K IQD 27.7M

$20.9K IQD 27.3M

1.22%

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

$77.5 IQD 101.5K

$101 IQD 131.6K

-22.92%

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

$16.80 IQD 22.0K

$17.58 IQD 23.0K

-4.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.70 IQD 35.0K

$30.20 IQD 39.5K

-11.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.57 IQD 50.5K

$36.33 IQD 47.6K

6.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.67 IQD 21.8K

$17.06 IQD 22.3K

-2.29%

Cinema Ticket

$7.48 IQD 9,799

$11.42 IQD 15.0K

-34.50%

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

$150 IQD 196.2K

$267 IQD 349.6K

-43.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,550 IQD 4.6M

$3,247 IQD 4.3M

9.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.44 IQD 30.7K

$32.29 IQD 42.3K

-27.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.93 IQD 32.6K

$48.66 IQD 63.7K

-48.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.58 IQD 57.1K

$83.9 IQD 109.9K

-48.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.28 IQD 47.5K

$78.6 IQD 102.9K

-53.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$235 IQD 308.2K

$238 IQD 311.3K

-0.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 IQD 236.2K

$181 IQD 236.8K

-0.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$568 IQD 744.4K

$576 IQD 753.6K

-1.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$340 IQD 445.3K

$342 IQD 447.6K

-0.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$820 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$576 IQD 753.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$570 IQD 746.9K

$663 IQD 867.7K

-13.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

58.73%

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

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: July 27, 2026

Last update for Zakho: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $235 in Sulaymaniyah and $238 in Zakho. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zakho pays 16% 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: $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah vs $23.00 in Zakho. Groceries flip the comparison at $184 vs $194, with Sulaymaniyah cheaper for home cooking.

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, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 16% 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: $235 in Sulaymaniyah versus $238 in Zakho. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Sulaymaniyah – a meal for two runs $27.00 versus $23.00 in Zakho. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $761 per month in Sulaymaniyah versus $890 in Zakho – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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 17% less than in Zakho. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.