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: $750 in Sulaymaniyah versus $893 in Zakho.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,166 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,364 in Zakho.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,581 in Sulaymaniyah versus $1,834 in Zakho.

Living in Sulaymaniyah costs roughly 16% less than in Zakho, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sulaymaniyah 44% lower, Zakho 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.26 IQD 6,895

$7.72 IQD 10.1K

-31.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.81 IQD 35.1K

$22.91 IQD 30.0K

17.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.01 IQD 9,182

$8.68 IQD 11.4K

-19.24%

Cappuccino

$2.64 IQD 3,461

$3.13 IQD 4,096

-15.65%

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

$0.39 IQD 514

$0.48 IQD 628

-18.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 269

$0.22 IQD 288

-4.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.07 IQD 2,714

$2.01 IQD 2,629

2.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 IQD 3,550

$2.08 IQD 2,723

30.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 IQD 1,851

$1.37 IQD 1,789

2.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 IQD 1,332

$0.81 IQD 1,056

25.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 IQD 2,109

$1.79 IQD 2,351

-10.06%

Eggs

$1.78 IQD 2,329

$1.97 IQD 2,586

-9.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.10 IQD 7,998

$7.57 IQD 9,918

-19.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.56 IQD 4,667

$4.79 IQD 6,276

-25.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.01 IQD 18.4K

$13.95 IQD 18.3K

0.43%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,532

$1.15 IQD 1,502

1.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 IQD 1,694

$1.14 IQD 1,494

13.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.27 IQD 1,662

$1.17 IQD 1,537

8.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 957

$0.81 IQD 1,064

-9.88%

Potato (1kg)

$0.61 IQD 798

$0.67 IQD 879

-8.96%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 879

$0.76 IQD 990

-11.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 IQD 777

$0.77 IQD 1,013

-23.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 590

$0.52 IQD 687

-13.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 IQD 2,536

$2.73 IQD 3,576

-28.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.61 IQD 15.2K

$12.23 IQD 16.0K

-5.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 IQD 1,975

$1.43 IQD 1,871

5.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 IQD 2,367

$2.04 IQD 2,669

-11.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 715

$0.40 IQD 522

37.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.16 IQD 30.3K

$31.69 IQD 41.5K

-26.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 IQD 3,096

$2.32 IQD 3,034

1.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 IQD 3,053

$2.30 IQD 3,013

1.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.46 IQD 7,150

$6.74 IQD 8,825

-18.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 IQD 1,006

$0.70 IQD 913

10.00%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

8.22%

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

$20.6K IQD 26.9M

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

0.84%

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

$76.6 IQD 100.4K

$99.3 IQD 130.1K

-22.89%

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

$16.90 IQD 22.1K

$17.84 IQD 23.4K

-5.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.27 IQD 34.4K

$29.52 IQD 38.7K

-11.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.65 IQD 51.9K

$37.43 IQD 49.0K

5.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.92 IQD 22.2K

$16.78 IQD 22.0K

0.83%

Cinema Ticket

$7.47 IQD 9,788

$11.46 IQD 15.0K

-34.82%

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

$151 IQD 198.4K

$266 IQD 348.2K

-43.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,491 IQD 4.6M

$3,229 IQD 4.2M

8.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.36 IQD 30.6K

$33.39 IQD 43.7K

-30.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.92 IQD 32.6K

$48.02 IQD 62.9K

-48.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.74 IQD 57.3K

$80.8 IQD 105.9K

-45.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.40 IQD 47.7K

$78.5 IQD 102.9K

-53.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$240 IQD 315.0K

$238 IQD 311.5K

1.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.4K

$178 IQD 233.3K

-1.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$572 IQD 749.7K

$584 IQD 765.1K

-2.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$341 IQD 446.4K

$343 IQD 449.8K

-0.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$810 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$579 IQD 758.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$580 IQD 759.7K

$646 IQD 846.8K

-10.28%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Zakho: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $240 in Sulaymaniyah and $238 in Zakho. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zakho pays 11% 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 $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 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Zakho earns 11% 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: $240 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 $750 per month in Sulaymaniyah versus $893 in Zakho – a 19% 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 19% less than in Zakho. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.