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: $890 in Zakho versus $1,055 in Baghdad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,364 in Zakho versus $1,565 in Baghdad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,839 in Zakho versus $2,074 in Baghdad.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Zakho 33% lower, Baghdad 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

$5.50 IQD 7,206

41.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.31 IQD 30.5K

$36.22 IQD 47.4K

-35.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.61 IQD 11.3K

$7.70 IQD 10.1K

11.82%

Cappuccino

$3.09 IQD 4,043

$2.98 IQD 3,903

3.69%

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

$0.52 IQD 677

$0.36 IQD 477

44.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 262

$0.17 IQD 219

17.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 IQD 2,636

$3.51 IQD 4,590

-42.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 IQD 2,825

$2.93 IQD 3,839

-26.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 IQD 1,750

$1.35 IQD 1,768

-0.74%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,040

$0.78 IQD 1,023

1.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 IQD 2,432

$1.59 IQD 2,076

16.98%

Eggs

$1.90 IQD 2,491

$1.79 IQD 2,338

6.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.42 IQD 9,721

$4.58 IQD 5,999

62.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.73 IQD 6,199

$4.81 IQD 6,296

-1.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.98 IQD 18.3K

$14.13 IQD 18.5K

-1.06%

Apples (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,487

$1.23 IQD 1,612

-7.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,551

$1.21 IQD 1,590

-2.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,479

$1.00 IQD 1,311

13.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.82 IQD 1,068

$0.74 IQD 970

10.81%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 860

$0.65 IQD 854

1.54%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 933

$0.67 IQD 881

5.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 IQD 967

$0.62 IQD 817

19.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 692

$0.66 IQD 861

-19.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.73 IQD 3,569

$2.05 IQD 2,690

33.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.23 IQD 16.0K

$13.49 IQD 17.7K

-9.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 IQD 1,807

$1.79 IQD 2,346

-22.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 IQD 2,661

$2.15 IQD 2,821

-5.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 473

$0.75 IQD 976

-52.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.67 IQD 40.2K

$27.88 IQD 36.5K

10.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.27 IQD 2,976

$3.93 IQD 5,147

-42.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.22 IQD 2,912

$1.47 IQD 1,922

51.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.98 IQD 9,142

$7.50 IQD 9,826

-6.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 IQD 919

$0.56 IQD 740

25.00%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

-3.53%

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

$20.9K IQD 27.3M

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

4.89%

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

$101 IQD 131.6K

$176 IQD 230.7K

-42.95%

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

$17.58 IQD 23.0K

$25.81 IQD 33.8K

-31.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.20 IQD 39.5K

$41.29 IQD 54.1K

-26.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.33 IQD 47.6K

$42.14 IQD 55.2K

-13.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.06 IQD 22.3K

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

-8.08%

Cinema Ticket

$11.42 IQD 15.0K

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

46.98%

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

$267 IQD 349.6K

$168 IQD 220.3K

58.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,247 IQD 4.3M

$3,627 IQD 4.7M

-10.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.29 IQD 42.3K

$27.92 IQD 36.6K

15.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.66 IQD 63.7K

$30.46 IQD 39.9K

59.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.9 IQD 109.9K

$64.9 IQD 85.0K

29.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.6 IQD 102.9K

$43.79 IQD 57.3K

79.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$238 IQD 311.3K

$554 IQD 725.1K

-57.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 IQD 236.8K

$321 IQD 419.7K

-43.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$576 IQD 753.6K

$839 IQD 1.1M

-31.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$342 IQD 447.6K

$583 IQD 764.1K

-41.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,745 IQD 6.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,597 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$663 IQD 867.7K

$612 IQD 800.9K

8.35%

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $238 in Zakho and $554 in Baghdad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zakho pays 8% 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 $36.00 in Baghdad. Groceries flip the comparison at $194 vs $190, 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 19% 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 8% 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: $238 in Zakho versus $554 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 10% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $267 in Zakho versus $168 in Baghdad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $890 in Zakho versus $1,055 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 19% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.