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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $890 per month in Zakho vs $1,043 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,364 per month in Zakho vs $1,545 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,839 per month in Zakho vs $2,046 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 33% lower, Erbil 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

-1.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.31 IQD 30.5K

$23.11 IQD 30.3K

0.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.61 IQD 11.3K

$9.01 IQD 11.8K

-4.44%

Cappuccino

$3.09 IQD 4,043

$3.24 IQD 4,240

-4.63%

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

$0.52 IQD 677

$0.49 IQD 640

6.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 262

$0.22 IQD 288

-9.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 IQD 2,636

$1.96 IQD 2,562

2.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 IQD 2,825

$2.16 IQD 2,824

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 IQD 1,750

$1.31 IQD 1,718

2.29%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,040

$0.79 IQD 1,034

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 IQD 2,432

$1.87 IQD 2,450

-0.53%

Eggs

$1.90 IQD 2,491

$1.95 IQD 2,557

-2.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.42 IQD 9,721

$7.26 IQD 9,502

2.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.73 IQD 6,199

$4.69 IQD 6,144

0.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.98 IQD 18.3K

$14.08 IQD 18.4K

-0.71%

Apples (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,487

$1.15 IQD 1,502

-0.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,551

$1.18 IQD 1,547

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,479

$1.13 IQD 1,480

Tomato (1kg)

$0.82 IQD 1,068

$0.75 IQD 982

9.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 860

$0.72 IQD 948

-8.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 933

$0.76 IQD 990

-6.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 IQD 967

$0.76 IQD 1,001

-2.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 692

$0.56 IQD 738

-5.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.73 IQD 3,569

$2.66 IQD 3,486

2.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.23 IQD 16.0K

$12.28 IQD 16.1K

-0.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 IQD 1,807

$1.44 IQD 1,880

-4.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 IQD 2,661

$1.94 IQD 2,538

4.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 473

$0.59 IQD 767

-38.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.67 IQD 40.2K

$34.79 IQD 45.6K

-11.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.27 IQD 2,976

$2.27 IQD 2,971

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.22 IQD 2,912

$2.32 IQD 3,033

-4.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.98 IQD 9,142

$7.05 IQD 9,233

-0.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 IQD 919

$0.64 IQD 837

9.37%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

0.36%

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

$20.9K IQD 27.3M

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

1.42%

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

$101 IQD 131.6K

$101 IQD 132.5K

-0.70%

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

$17.58 IQD 23.0K

$17.79 IQD 23.3K

-1.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.20 IQD 39.5K

$29.56 IQD 38.7K

2.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.33 IQD 47.6K

$73.8 IQD 96.7K

-50.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.06 IQD 22.3K

$11.76 IQD 15.4K

45.07%

Cinema Ticket

$11.42 IQD 15.0K

$11.25 IQD 14.7K

1.51%

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

$267 IQD 349.6K

$269 IQD 351.6K

-0.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,247 IQD 4.3M

$3,330 IQD 4.4M

-2.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.29 IQD 42.3K

$32.93 IQD 43.1K

-1.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.66 IQD 63.7K

$49.13 IQD 64.3K

-0.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.9 IQD 109.9K

$80.7 IQD 105.7K

3.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.6 IQD 102.9K

$77.9 IQD 102.0K

0.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$238 IQD 311.3K

$436 IQD 571.5K

-45.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 IQD 236.8K

$275 IQD 360.4K

-34.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$576 IQD 753.6K

$739 IQD 968.0K

-22.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$342 IQD 447.6K

$496 IQD 649.8K

-31.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,089 IQD 1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$653 IQD 855.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$663 IQD 867.7K

$580 IQD 759.9K

14.19%

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Erbil: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $238 in Zakho versus $436 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 14% 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: $194 vs $194 – 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 17%, 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 $1,335 per month in Zakho and $1,565 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 $890, than in Erbil at $1,043. 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.