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: $864 in Zakho versus $1,074 in Baghdad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,359 in Zakho versus $1,573 in Baghdad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,854 in Zakho versus $2,073 in Baghdad.

Living in Zakho costs roughly 20% less than in Baghdad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Zakho 36% lower, Baghdad 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.58 IQD 9,926

$5.27 IQD 6,895

43.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.64 IQD 29.7K

$36.86 IQD 48.3K

-38.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.88 IQD 11.6K

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

14.14%

Cappuccino

$3.19 IQD 4,184

$2.98 IQD 3,909

7.05%

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

$0.48 IQD 628

$0.39 IQD 512

23.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 288

$0.17 IQD 216

29.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.03 IQD 2,656

$3.38 IQD 4,429

-39.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 IQD 2,673

$2.89 IQD 3,785

-29.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 IQD 1,739

$1.30 IQD 1,702

2.31%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,039

$0.83 IQD 1,087

-4.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 IQD 2,434

$1.67 IQD 2,181

11.38%

Eggs

$1.90 IQD 2,489

$1.79 IQD 2,343

6.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.27 IQD 9,524

$4.52 IQD 5,918

60.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.81 IQD 6,294

$4.84 IQD 6,342

-0.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.09 IQD 18.5K

$14.04 IQD 18.4K

0.36%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,510

$1.28 IQD 1,680

-10.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,558

$1.15 IQD 1,504

3.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,541

$1.04 IQD 1,363

13.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,062

$0.70 IQD 914

15.71%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 864

$0.69 IQD 897

-4.35%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 933

$0.62 IQD 813

14.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 IQD 947

$0.67 IQD 883

7.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 727

$0.63 IQD 824

-11.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.62 IQD 3,430

$2.13 IQD 2,786

23.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.35 IQD 16.2K

$13.64 IQD 17.9K

-9.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 IQD 1,898

$1.79 IQD 2,348

-18.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 IQD 2,542

$2.15 IQD 2,812

-9.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 521

$0.76 IQD 993

-47.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.88 IQD 40.4K

$28.16 IQD 36.9K

9.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.26 IQD 2,965

$3.78 IQD 4,954

-40.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.23 IQD 2,921

$1.53 IQD 1,999

45.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.00 IQD 9,165

$7.54 IQD 9,868

-7.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 IQD 912

$0.57 IQD 750

22.81%

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

$19.2K IQD 25.1M

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

-3.90%

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

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

1.40%

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

$100 IQD 131.0K

$181 IQD 236.7K

-44.67%

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

$17.47 IQD 22.9K

$25.64 IQD 33.6K

-31.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.69 IQD 38.9K

$40.76 IQD 53.4K

-27.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.17 IQD 48.7K

$41.00 IQD 53.7K

-9.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.01 IQD 22.3K

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

-8.35%

Cinema Ticket

$11.66 IQD 15.3K

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

49.30%

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

$272 IQD 355.7K

$166 IQD 217.8K

63.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,319 IQD 4.3M

$3,523 IQD 4.6M

-5.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.98 IQD 43.2K

$28.27 IQD 37.0K

16.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.77 IQD 65.2K

$30.19 IQD 39.5K

64.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.0 IQD 107.4K

$63.3 IQD 82.9K

29.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.1 IQD 99.6K

$43.71 IQD 57.2K

74.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$246 IQD 321.7K

$553 IQD 724.7K

-55.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 IQD 236.0K

$320 IQD 418.5K

-43.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$580 IQD 759.4K

$818 IQD 1.1M

-29.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$343 IQD 448.6K

$583 IQD 763.6K

-41.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,017 IQD 5.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,614 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$659 IQD 863.5K

$648 IQD 848.7K

1.75%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $246 in Zakho and $553 in Baghdad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zakho pays 2% 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 $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 24% 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 2% 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: $246 in Zakho versus $553 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 $272 in Zakho versus $166 in Baghdad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $864 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 24% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.