Cost of Living Comparison Between Zakho and Erbil Cost of Living Comparison Between Zakho and Erbil

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $864 per month in Zakho vs $1,017 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,359 per month in Zakho vs $1,518 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,854 per month in Zakho vs $2,019 in Erbil, rent included.

Zakho is about 15% cheaper than Erbil, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Zakho and Erbil are more affordable than the global median – Zakho 36% lower, Erbil 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.58 IQD 9,926

$7.59 IQD 9,938

-0.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.64 IQD 29.7K

$22.90 IQD 30.0K

-1.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.88 IQD 11.6K

$8.65 IQD 11.3K

2.66%

Cappuccino

$3.19 IQD 4,184

$3.25 IQD 4,260

-1.85%

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

$0.48 IQD 628

$0.52 IQD 676

-7.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 288

$0.20 IQD 261

10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.03 IQD 2,656

$1.95 IQD 2,555

4.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 IQD 2,673

$2.04 IQD 2,675

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 IQD 1,739

$1.32 IQD 1,725

0.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,039

$0.81 IQD 1,062

-2.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 IQD 2,434

$1.80 IQD 2,357

3.33%

Eggs

$1.90 IQD 2,489

$1.91 IQD 2,505

-0.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.27 IQD 9,524

$7.50 IQD 9,816

-3.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.81 IQD 6,294

$4.82 IQD 6,315

-0.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.09 IQD 18.5K

$14.10 IQD 18.5K

-0.07%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,510

$1.18 IQD 1,551

-2.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,558

$1.15 IQD 1,500

3.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,541

$1.14 IQD 1,494

3.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,062

$0.80 IQD 1,045

1.25%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 864

$0.66 IQD 863

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 933

$0.77 IQD 1,002

-7.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 IQD 947

$0.77 IQD 1,008

-6.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 727

$0.55 IQD 721

1.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.62 IQD 3,430

$2.74 IQD 3,594

-4.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.35 IQD 16.2K

$12.38 IQD 16.2K

-0.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 IQD 1,898

$1.37 IQD 1,794

5.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 IQD 2,542

$2.00 IQD 2,619

-3.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 521

$0.59 IQD 768

-32.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.88 IQD 40.4K

$34.99 IQD 45.8K

-11.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.26 IQD 2,965

$2.25 IQD 2,942

0.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.23 IQD 2,921

$2.29 IQD 2,993

-2.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.00 IQD 9,165

$6.85 IQD 8,966

2.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 IQD 912

$0.64 IQD 839

9.37%

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

$19.2K IQD 25.1M

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

-0.73%

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

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

$20.7K IQD 27.2M

-0.79%

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

$100 IQD 131.0K

$101 IQD 132.2K

-0.91%

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

$17.47 IQD 22.9K

$17.35 IQD 22.7K

0.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.69 IQD 38.9K

$30.25 IQD 39.6K

-1.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.17 IQD 48.7K

$72.1 IQD 94.4K

-48.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.01 IQD 22.3K

$11.54 IQD 15.1K

47.40%

Cinema Ticket

$11.66 IQD 15.3K

$11.28 IQD 14.8K

3.37%

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

$272 IQD 355.7K

$271 IQD 354.5K

0.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,319 IQD 4.3M

$3,274 IQD 4.3M

1.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.98 IQD 43.2K

$32.30 IQD 42.3K

2.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.77 IQD 65.2K

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

0.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.0 IQD 107.4K

$81.1 IQD 106.1K

1.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.1 IQD 99.6K

$77.2 IQD 101.0K

-1.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$246 IQD 321.7K

$425 IQD 556.0K

-42.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 IQD 236.0K

$279 IQD 365.3K

-35.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$580 IQD 759.4K

$740 IQD 969.0K

-21.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$343 IQD 448.6K

$491 IQD 643.3K

-30.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,098 IQD 1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$646 IQD 845.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$659 IQD 863.5K

$591 IQD 773.3K

11.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

14.33

-60.43%

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

Last update for Zakho: June 7, 2026

Last update for Erbil: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $246 in Zakho versus $425 in Erbil. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 12% higher in Zakho, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Zakho versus $23.00 in Erbil. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $195 vs $195 – making Zakho the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Erbil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Erbil is pricier by about 18%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,296 per month in Zakho and $1,525 in Erbil. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Zakho, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 0% more in Erbil, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Zakho and $23.00 in Erbil. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Zakho, where all-in costs run around $864, than in Erbil at $1,017. In Zakho it covers expenses comfortably, while in Erbil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Zakho – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Zakho. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Erbil makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.