Cost of Living Comparison Between Zakho and Baghdad Cost of Living Comparison Between Zakho and Baghdad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $893 in Zakho versus $1,074 in Baghdad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,364 in Zakho versus $1,581 in Baghdad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,834 in Zakho versus $2,088 in Baghdad.

Living in Zakho costs roughly 17% less than in Baghdad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Zakho 33% lower, Baghdad 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.72 IQD 10.1K

$5.26 IQD 6,892

46.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.91 IQD 30.0K

$36.91 IQD 48.3K

-37.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.68 IQD 11.4K

$7.46 IQD 9,777

16.35%

Cappuccino

$3.13 IQD 4,095

$3.01 IQD 3,939

3.99%

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

$0.48 IQD 628

$0.36 IQD 477

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 288

$0.18 IQD 230

22.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 IQD 2,629

$3.51 IQD 4,596

-42.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 IQD 2,722

$2.83 IQD 3,706

-26.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 IQD 1,789

$1.36 IQD 1,784

0.74%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 IQD 1,056

$0.80 IQD 1,042

1.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.79 IQD 2,351

$1.61 IQD 2,102

11.18%

Eggs

$1.97 IQD 2,585

$1.72 IQD 2,247

14.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.57 IQD 9,916

$4.40 IQD 5,759

72.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.79 IQD 6,274

$4.87 IQD 6,373

-1.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.95 IQD 18.3K

$13.88 IQD 18.2K

0.50%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,502

$1.28 IQD 1,678

-10.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,493

$1.16 IQD 1,523

-1.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,537

$1.01 IQD 1,323

15.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,064

$0.70 IQD 920

15.71%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 879

$0.68 IQD 895

-1.47%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 990

$0.63 IQD 831

20.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 IQD 1,013

$0.63 IQD 823

22.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 IQD 687

$0.66 IQD 867

-21.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.73 IQD 3,576

$2.07 IQD 2,713

31.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.23 IQD 16.0K

$13.58 IQD 17.8K

-9.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 IQD 1,871

$1.84 IQD 2,413

-22.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 IQD 2,668

$2.07 IQD 2,712

-1.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 522

$0.74 IQD 964

-45.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.69 IQD 41.5K

$28.32 IQD 37.1K

11.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.32 IQD 3,034

$3.90 IQD 5,113

-40.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.30 IQD 3,013

$1.47 IQD 1,923

56.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.74 IQD 8,823

$7.61 IQD 9,964

-11.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 IQD 913

$0.53 IQD 700

32.08%

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

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

$19.9K IQD 26.0M

-5.47%

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

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

2.12%

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

$99.3 IQD 130.1K

$179 IQD 234.3K

-44.47%

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

$17.84 IQD 23.4K

$25.76 IQD 33.7K

-30.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.52 IQD 38.7K

$40.94 IQD 53.6K

-27.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.43 IQD 49.0K

$41.54 IQD 54.4K

-9.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.78 IQD 22.0K

$18.57 IQD 24.3K

-9.64%

Cinema Ticket

$11.46 IQD 15.0K

$7.66 IQD 10.0K

49.61%

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

$266 IQD 348.1K

$168 IQD 220.3K

57.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,229 IQD 4.2M

$3,533 IQD 4.6M

-8.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.39 IQD 43.7K

$28.32 IQD 37.1K

17.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.02 IQD 62.9K

$30.84 IQD 40.4K

55.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.8 IQD 105.9K

$65.0 IQD 85.1K

24.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.5 IQD 102.8K

$43.91 IQD 57.5K

78.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$238 IQD 311.4K

$557 IQD 729.9K

-57.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$178 IQD 233.2K

$324 IQD 424.8K

-45.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 IQD 764.9K

$822 IQD 1.1M

-28.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$343 IQD 449.7K

$594 IQD 777.9K

-42.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,867 IQD 5.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,428 IQD 1.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$646 IQD 846.6K

$622 IQD 814.4K

3.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

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

Last update for Zakho: April 27, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $238 in Zakho and $557 in Baghdad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zakho pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $23.00 in Zakho vs $37.00 in Baghdad. Groceries flip the comparison at $195 vs $189, with Baghdad 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

Zakho vs Baghdad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zakho wins on cost – living expenses run 20% lower than in Baghdad. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Zakho the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Zakho pays 4% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $238 in Zakho versus $557 in Baghdad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Zakho runs roughly 12% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $266 in Zakho versus $168 in Baghdad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $893 in Zakho versus $1,074 in Baghdad, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Zakho but tight or insufficient in Baghdad. The gap between the two cities makes Zakho the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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, Zakho and Baghdad 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 Zakho gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.