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: $879 in Zakho versus $1,143 in Baghdad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,278 in Zakho versus $1,702 in Baghdad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,676 in Zakho versus $2,262 in Baghdad.

Living in Zakho costs roughly 23% less than in Baghdad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Zakho 36% lower, Baghdad 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.73 IQD 10.1K

$4.91 IQD 6,430

57.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.26 IQD 58.0K

$34.26 IQD 44.9K

29.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.17 IQD 10.7K

$7.84 IQD 10.3K

4.21%

Cappuccino

$3.81 IQD 4,993

$3.08 IQD 4,033

23.70%

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

$1.07 IQD 1,404

$0.39 IQD 514

174.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 IQD 538

$0.26 IQD 342

57.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.14 IQD 8,037

$3.78 IQD 4,957

62.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.57 IQD 5,983

$3.75 IQD 4,907

21.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 IQD 1,657

$1.04 IQD 1,364

22.12%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 IQD 1,069

$0.83 IQD 1,090

-1.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 IQD 2,308

$1.54 IQD 2,015

14.29%

Eggs

$1.77 IQD 2,317

$1.89 IQD 2,479

-6.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.19 IQD 10.7K

$3.77 IQD 4,937

117.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.52 IQD 7,228

$4.59 IQD 6,004

20.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.97 IQD 19.6K

$14.44 IQD 18.9K

3.67%

Apples (1kg)

$1.10 IQD 1,439

$1.13 IQD 1,480

-2.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 IQD 1,457

$1.06 IQD 1,390

4.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,614

$1.03 IQD 1,345

19.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.80 IQD 1,042

$0.74 IQD 968

8.11%

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 973

$0.69 IQD 906

7.25%

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 958

$0.70 IQD 912

4.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 IQD 1,046

$0.64 IQD 838

25.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 IQD 772

$0.69 IQD 907

-14.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.45 IQD 3,211

$1.78 IQD 2,336

37.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.65 IQD 16.6K

$13.81 IQD 18.1K

-8.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 IQD 2,231

$2.14 IQD 2,806

-20.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 IQD 2,697

$2.27 IQD 2,977

-9.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 IQD 905

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.15 IQD 30.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 IQD 2,570

$2.23 IQD 2,918

-12.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.79 IQD 2,342

$1.54 IQD 2,021

16.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.61 IQD 8,654

$7.65 IQD 10.0K

-13.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.68 IQD 892

$0.62 IQD 806

9.68%

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

$17.7K IQD 23.2M

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

-8.63%

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

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

2.56%

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

$127 IQD 166.0K

$213 IQD 279.2K

-40.54%

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

$13.60 IQD 17.8K

$21.75 IQD 28.5K

-37.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.07 IQD 36.8K

$41.04 IQD 53.7K

-31.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.75 IQD 62.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.22 IQD 27.8K

Cinema Ticket

$11.44 IQD 15.0K

$10.68 IQD 14.0K

7.12%

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

$317 IQD 414.5K

$169 IQD 221.7K

87.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,093 IQD 4.1M

$3,468 IQD 4.5M

-10.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.48 IQD 39.9K

$30.14 IQD 39.5K

1.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.73 IQD 25.8K

$38.41 IQD 50.3K

-48.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.6 IQD 66.2K

$73.0 IQD 95.6K

-30.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.77 IQD 52.1K

$47.87 IQD 62.7K

-16.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$115 IQD 151.2K

$568 IQD 743.5K

-79.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$223 IQD 291.7K

$351 IQD 459.9K

-36.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$315 IQD 412.6K

$935 IQD 1.2M

-66.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$276 IQD 361.1K

$692 IQD 905.7K

-60.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,625 IQD 6.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,587 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$657 IQD 860.6K

$615 IQD 805.3K

6.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.53

4.12

-38.59%

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

Last update for Zakho: September 12, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $115 in Zakho and $568 in Baghdad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zakho pays 7% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $44.00 in Zakho vs $34.00 in Baghdad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $187 per month, with Baghdad 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

Zakho vs Baghdad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zakho wins on cost – living expenses run 30% 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.

Average pay runs 7% higher in Zakho, 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: $115 in Zakho versus $568 in Baghdad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Baghdad pay roughly 10% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $879 per month in Zakho versus $1,143 in Baghdad – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $879 in Zakho versus $1,143 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 30% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.