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: $744 in Sulaymaniyah versus $864 in Zakho.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,167 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,359 in Zakho.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,591 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,854 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 45% lower, Zakho 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.32 IQD 6,971

$7.58 IQD 9,926

-29.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.03 IQD 35.4K

$22.64 IQD 29.7K

19.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.90 IQD 9,040

$8.88 IQD 11.6K

-22.30%

Cappuccino

$2.56 IQD 3,349

$3.19 IQD 4,184

-19.75%

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

$0.37 IQD 482

$0.48 IQD 628

-22.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 277

$0.22 IQD 288

-4.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 IQD 2,683

$2.03 IQD 2,656

0.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 IQD 3,454

$2.04 IQD 2,673

29.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 IQD 1,862

$1.33 IQD 1,739

6.77%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 IQD 1,277

$0.79 IQD 1,039

24.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 IQD 2,172

$1.86 IQD 2,434

-10.75%

Eggs

$1.76 IQD 2,299

$1.90 IQD 2,489

-7.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.80 IQD 7,598

$7.27 IQD 9,524

-20.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.44 IQD 4,501

$4.81 IQD 6,294

-28.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 IQD 18.7K

$14.09 IQD 18.5K

1.49%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,607

$1.15 IQD 1,510

6.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.25 IQD 1,634

$1.19 IQD 1,558

5.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 IQD 1,645

$1.18 IQD 1,541

6.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 921

$0.81 IQD 1,062

-13.58%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 821

$0.66 IQD 864

-4.55%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 844

$0.71 IQD 933

-9.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 IQD 711

$0.72 IQD 947

-25.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 591

$0.56 IQD 727

-19.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.89 IQD 2,470

$2.62 IQD 3,430

-27.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.68 IQD 15.3K

$12.35 IQD 16.2K

-5.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 IQD 2,072

$1.45 IQD 1,898

8.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 IQD 2,272

$1.94 IQD 2,542

-10.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 724

$0.40 IQD 521

37.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.87 IQD 29.9K

$30.88 IQD 40.4K

-25.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,949

$2.26 IQD 2,965

-0.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.24 IQD 2,929

$2.23 IQD 2,921

0.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.37 IQD 7,033

$7.00 IQD 9,165

-23.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 IQD 985

$0.70 IQD 912

7.14%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

$19.2K IQD 25.1M

7.97%

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

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

0.26%

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

$75.9 IQD 99.4K

$100 IQD 131.0K

-24.08%

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

$16.34 IQD 21.4K

$17.47 IQD 22.9K

-6.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.04 IQD 34.1K

$29.69 IQD 38.9K

-12.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.68 IQD 52.0K

$37.17 IQD 48.7K

6.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.91 IQD 22.1K

$17.01 IQD 22.3K

-0.59%

Cinema Ticket

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

$11.66 IQD 15.3K

-32.68%

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

$154 IQD 201.3K

$272 IQD 355.7K

-43.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,539 IQD 4.6M

$3,319 IQD 4.3M

6.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.16 IQD 31.6K

$32.98 IQD 43.2K

-26.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.00 IQD 32.7K

$49.77 IQD 65.2K

-49.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.01 IQD 56.3K

$82.0 IQD 107.4K

-47.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.77 IQD 46.8K

$76.1 IQD 99.6K

-52.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$237 IQD 310.3K

$246 IQD 321.7K

-3.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 IQD 236.9K

$180 IQD 236.0K

0.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$569 IQD 744.6K

$580 IQD 759.4K

-1.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$344 IQD 450.5K

$343 IQD 448.6K

0.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$805 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$587 IQD 768.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$562 IQD 735.6K

$659 IQD 863.5K

-14.81%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Zakho: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $237 in Sulaymaniyah and $246 in Zakho. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zakho pays 17% 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 $183 vs $195, 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 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Zakho earns 17% less. 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: $237 in Sulaymaniyah versus $246 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 $744 per month in Sulaymaniyah versus $864 in Zakho – a 16% 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 16% less than in Zakho. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.