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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $879 per month in Zakho vs $1,101 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,278 per month in Zakho vs $1,630 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,676 per month in Zakho vs $2,158 in Erbil, rent included.

Zakho is about 20% cheaper than Erbil, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Zakho and Erbil are more affordable than the global median – Zakho 36% lower, Erbil 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.73 IQD 10.1K

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

0.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.26 IQD 57.9K

$44.38 IQD 58.0K

-0.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.17 IQD 10.7K

$8.42 IQD 11.0K

-2.97%

Cappuccino

$3.81 IQD 4,987

$3.84 IQD 5,021

-0.78%

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

$1.07 IQD 1,402

$1.03 IQD 1,352

3.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 IQD 537

$0.44 IQD 579

-6.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.14 IQD 8,027

$6.05 IQD 7,911

1.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.57 IQD 5,976

$4.71 IQD 6,159

-2.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 IQD 1,655

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 IQD 1,068

$0.83 IQD 1,082

-1.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 IQD 2,306

$1.68 IQD 2,195

4.76%

Eggs

$1.77 IQD 2,314

$1.79 IQD 2,342

-1.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.19 IQD 10.7K

$8.06 IQD 10.5K

1.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.52 IQD 7,220

$5.78 IQD 7,566

-4.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.97 IQD 19.6K

$14.84 IQD 19.4K

0.88%

Apples (1kg)

$1.10 IQD 1,437

$1.13 IQD 1,481

-2.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 IQD 1,455

$1.10 IQD 1,442

0.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,612

$1.23 IQD 1,610

Tomato (1kg)

$0.80 IQD 1,041

$0.82 IQD 1,067

-2.44%

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 972

$0.70 IQD 910

5.71%

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 956

$0.69 IQD 904

5.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 IQD 1,045

$0.74 IQD 968

8.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 IQD 771

$0.55 IQD 722

7.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.45 IQD 3,207

$2.52 IQD 3,290

-2.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.65 IQD 16.5K

$12.54 IQD 16.4K

0.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 IQD 2,228

$1.69 IQD 2,215

0.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 IQD 2,694

$2.09 IQD 2,732

-1.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 771

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.81 IQD 57.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 IQD 2,567

$1.94 IQD 2,541

1.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.79 IQD 2,339

$1.82 IQD 2,378

-1.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.61 IQD 8,644

$6.56 IQD 8,579

0.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.68 IQD 891

$0.67 IQD 881

1.49%

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

$17.7K IQD 23.1M

$18.3K IQD 24.0M

-3.46%

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

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

-1.51%

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

$127 IQD 165.8K

$128 IQD 166.8K

-0.56%

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

$13.60 IQD 17.8K

$13.95 IQD 18.2K

-2.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.07 IQD 36.7K

$28.49 IQD 37.3K

-1.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.0 IQD 86.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.62 IQD 19.1K

Cinema Ticket

$11.44 IQD 15.0K

$11.67 IQD 15.3K

-1.97%

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

$317 IQD 414.0K

$309 IQD 404.6K

2.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,093 IQD 4.0M

$3,144 IQD 4.1M

-1.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.48 IQD 39.9K

$31.32 IQD 41.0K

-2.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.73 IQD 25.8K

$44.84 IQD 58.7K

-56.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.6 IQD 66.2K

$69.3 IQD 90.6K

-26.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.77 IQD 52.0K

$67.4 IQD 88.2K

-41.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$115 IQD 151.0K

$460 IQD 601.8K

-74.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$223 IQD 291.4K

$297 IQD 389.0K

-25.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$315 IQD 412.1K

$740 IQD 968.4K

-57.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$276 IQD 360.7K

$432 IQD 565.5K

-36.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,092 IQD 1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$665 IQD 869.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$657 IQD 859.6K

$614 IQD 802.9K

7.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.53

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

Last update for Zakho: September 12, 2026

Last update for Erbil: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $115 in Zakho versus $460 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 7% 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 $44.00 in Zakho versus $44.00 in Erbil. Groceries tell a different story – $205 in Zakho vs $204 in Erbil – so Erbil wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 25%, 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 $1,319 per month in Zakho and $1,652 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $879 in Zakho and $1,101 in Erbil. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $317 per month in Zakho and $309 in Erbil. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Zakho, where all-in costs run around $879, than in Erbil at $1,101. 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.