Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Zakho and Lisbon

For one person, living is cheaper in Zakho: $725 a month against $2,210 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $17,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Zakho, Iraq
Lisbon, Portugal
Zakho
🇮🇶 Iraq
$725
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,210
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Zakho and in Lisbon

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Zakho and in Lisbon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $725 in Zakho versus $2,210 in Lisbon.

  • Zakho $725
  • Lisbon $2,210

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,158 in Zakho versus $3,275 in Lisbon.

  • Zakho $1,158
  • Lisbon $3,275

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,591 in Zakho versus $4,341 in Lisbon.

  • Zakho $1,591
  • Lisbon $4,341

Living in Zakho costs roughly 67% less than in Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Zakho is 47% below, Lisbon is 62% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zakho
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.18 IQD 6,310
$16.65 €14.91
-74.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.97 IQD 55.9K
$61.7 €55.3
-40.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.14 IQD 10.8K
$11.36 €10.17
-37.15%
Cappuccino
$3.21 IQD 4,856
$2.97 €2.66
8.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 IQD 1,256
$2.29 €2.05
-63.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 IQD 506
$1.74 €1.56
-81.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.65 IQD 8,535
$3.40 €3.05
66.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94 IQD 5,960
$3.31 €2.96
19.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zakho
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 IQD 1,669
$1.16 €1.04
-5.17%
White Bread (500g)
$0.68 IQD 1,023
$1.91 €1.71
-64.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 IQD 2,271
$1.51 €1.35
-0.66%
Eggs
$1.58 IQD 2,382
$4.02 €3.60
-60.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.88 IQD 10.4K
$12.94 €11.59
-46.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.26 IQD 6,440
$7.77 €6.96
-45.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.69 IQD 19.2K
$17.76 €15.91
-28.55%
Apples (1kg)
$0.98 IQD 1,484
$2.30 €2.06
-57.39%
Banana (1kg)
$0.94 IQD 1,414
$1.73 €1.55
-45.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.02 IQD 1,536
$1.86 €1.66
-45.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.65 IQD 986
$2.59 €2.32
-74.90%
Potato (1kg)
$0.61 IQD 920
$1.82 €1.63
-66.48%
Onion (1kg)
$0.59 IQD 895
$1.97 €1.76
-70.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.61 IQD 926
$1.47 €1.32
-58.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 IQD 775
$0.72 €0.65
-29.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.18 IQD 3,300
$6.58 €5.90
-66.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.80 IQD 16.3K
$5.61 €5.02
92.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.46 IQD 2,213
$1.36 €1.22
7.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 IQD 2,737
$2.14 €1.91
-15.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Zakho
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 IQD 439
$2.33 €2.09
-87.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$44.68 €40.01
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.68 IQD 2,546
$3.85 €3.45
-56.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.61 IQD 2,440
$1.07 €0.96
50.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.65 IQD 8,531
$16.46 €14.74
-65.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.59 IQD 886
$2.20 €1.97
-73.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.5K IQD 24.9M
$34.2K €30.6K
-51.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.1K IQD 25.8M
$38.7K €34.7K
-55.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zakho
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$115 IQD 173.5K
$161 €144
-28.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.27 IQD 18.5K
$18.41 €16.49
-33.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.28 IQD 36.7K
$32.74 €29.32
-25.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zakho
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.56 IQD 59.8K
$44.55 €39.90
-11.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.10 €17.10
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.75 IQD 14.7K
$9.60 €8.60
1.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zakho
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$298 IQD 450.7K
$668 €598
-55.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,742 IQD 4.1M
$17.6K €15.8K
-84.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zakho
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.56 IQD 40.1K
$102 €91.4
-73.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.78 IQD 29.9K
$44.46 €39.82
-55.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$49.59 IQD 74.9K
$98.5 €88.2
-49.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.81 IQD 60.1K
$124 €111
-67.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zakho
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$207 IQD 313.3K
$1,608 €1,440
-87.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$136 IQD 205.0K
$1,190 €1,066
-88.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$370 IQD 558.5K
$2,812 €2,519
-86.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$319 IQD 482.7K
$2,013 €1,803
-84.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$888 IQD 1.3M
$7,839 €7,021
-88.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$551 IQD 833.0K
$4,576 €4,098
-87.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zakho
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$660 IQD 997.8K
$1,575 €1,411
-58.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.53
3.85
-34.29%

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

Last update for Zakho: October 25, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Zakho
$172
Lisbon
$272 58.2% $100
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zakho
$151
Lisbon
$212 40.3% $61
Accommodation & Living
Zakho
$136
Lisbon
$1.2K 777% $1.1K
Eating Out
Zakho
$134
Lisbon
$243 80.8% $108
Clothing & Footwear
Zakho
$61
Lisbon
$166 172% $105
Sport & Entertainment
Zakho
$59
Lisbon
$64 7.9% $4.7
Getting Around
Zakho
$11 *
Lisbon
$63 479% $52

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $207 in Zakho and $1,608 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays about 2.4 times more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $37 in Zakho vs $62 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $172 vs $272 per month, with Zakho cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇶 Zakho
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
22:22 10:22 PM
19:22 7:22 PM
3 h behind Zakho
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
197,163
545,923 Capital
💱 Currency
Iraqi Dinar IQD ع.د
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to IQD – Iraqi Dinar Converter

Iraqi Dinar exchange rates as of October 31, 2026: 1 USD = 1,511 IQD (10,000 IQD = 6.62 USD). 1 EUR = 1,687 IQD (10,000 IQD = 5.93 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 31, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Zakho Lisbon 4,490 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Zakho
  • Lisbon

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Zakho and in Lisbon?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $725 in Zakho and $2,210 in Lisbon, so Zakho is about 67% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 58% lower in Zakho. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Zakho and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $207 in Zakho versus $1,608 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 58% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Zakho or Lisbon?
All in, you’ll spend $725 per month in Zakho versus $2,210 in Lisbon – Zakho is about 67% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $725 in Zakho versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Zakho but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Zakho the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Zakho and Lisbon?
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.
Is Zakho or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Zakho and Lisbon are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
How do I decide between Zakho and Lisbon?
It comes down to priorities – Zakho wins on affordability, Lisbon on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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