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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $893 per month in Zakho vs $1,019 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,364 per month in Zakho vs $1,524 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,834 per month in Zakho vs $2,029 in Erbil, rent included.

Zakho is about 12% cheaper than Erbil, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Zakho and Erbil are more affordable than the global median – Zakho 33% lower, Erbil 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.72 IQD 10.1K

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

-0.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.91 IQD 30.0K

$22.99 IQD 30.1K

-0.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.68 IQD 11.4K

$8.97 IQD 11.7K

-3.23%

Cappuccino

$3.13 IQD 4,095

$3.25 IQD 4,251

-3.69%

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

$0.48 IQD 628

$0.48 IQD 630

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 288

$0.22 IQD 289

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 IQD 2,629

$2.01 IQD 2,632

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 IQD 2,722

$2.04 IQD 2,671

1.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 IQD 1,789

$1.32 IQD 1,726

3.79%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 IQD 1,056

$0.85 IQD 1,115

-4.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.79 IQD 2,351

$1.81 IQD 2,368

-1.10%

Eggs

$1.97 IQD 2,585

$1.98 IQD 2,589

-0.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.57 IQD 9,916

$7.44 IQD 9,743

1.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.79 IQD 6,274

$4.75 IQD 6,228

0.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.95 IQD 18.3K

$13.99 IQD 18.3K

-0.29%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,502

$1.15 IQD 1,509

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,493

$1.16 IQD 1,513

-1.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,537

$1.13 IQD 1,482

3.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,064

$0.81 IQD 1,061

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 879

$0.71 IQD 935

-5.63%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 990

$0.76 IQD 996

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 IQD 1,013

$0.76 IQD 1,001

1.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 IQD 687

$0.53 IQD 690

-1.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.73 IQD 3,576

$2.76 IQD 3,609

-1.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.23 IQD 16.0K

$12.29 IQD 16.1K

-0.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 IQD 1,871

$1.42 IQD 1,862

0.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 IQD 2,668

$2.00 IQD 2,626

2.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 522

$0.56 IQD 727

-28.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.69 IQD 41.5K

$34.51 IQD 45.2K

-8.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.32 IQD 3,034

$2.28 IQD 2,991

1.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.30 IQD 3,013

$2.29 IQD 2,996

0.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.74 IQD 8,823

$6.92 IQD 9,058

-2.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 IQD 913

$0.70 IQD 910

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

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

-1.42%

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

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

-1.72%

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

$99.3 IQD 130.1K

$100 IQD 131.3K

-0.88%

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

$17.84 IQD 23.4K

$17.57 IQD 23.0K

1.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.52 IQD 38.7K

$29.61 IQD 38.8K

-0.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.43 IQD 49.0K

$74.2 IQD 97.2K

-49.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.78 IQD 22.0K

$11.82 IQD 15.5K

41.96%

Cinema Ticket

$11.46 IQD 15.0K

$11.57 IQD 15.2K

-0.95%

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

$266 IQD 348.1K

$264 IQD 345.6K

0.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,229 IQD 4.2M

$3,284 IQD 4.3M

-1.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.39 IQD 43.7K

$32.96 IQD 43.2K

1.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.02 IQD 62.9K

$49.58 IQD 64.9K

-3.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.8 IQD 105.9K

$83.8 IQD 109.7K

-3.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.5 IQD 102.8K

$76.7 IQD 100.5K

2.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$238 IQD 311.4K

$430 IQD 562.7K

-44.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$178 IQD 233.2K

$281 IQD 367.6K

-36.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 IQD 764.9K

$716 IQD 938.3K

-18.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$343 IQD 449.7K

$486 IQD 637.1K

-29.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,111 IQD 1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$652 IQD 853.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$646 IQD 846.6K

$576 IQD 754.0K

12.27%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Erbil: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $238 in Zakho versus $430 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 14%, 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 $1,340 per month in Zakho and $1,528 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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 0% cheaper in Erbil – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

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 $893, than in Erbil at $1,019. 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.