Cost of Living Comparison Between Zakho and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Zakho and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $890 per month in Zakho vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,364 per month in Zakho vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,839 per month in Zakho vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Zakho is about 11% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Zakho and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Zakho 33% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

$5.91 COP 18.6K

31.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.31 IQD 30.5K

$32.96 COP 103.8K

-29.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.61 IQD 11.3K

$7.43 COP 23.4K

15.88%

Cappuccino

$3.09 IQD 4,043

$1.65 COP 5,207

87.27%

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

$0.52 IQD 677

$1.10 COP 3,468

-52.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 262

$0.78 COP 2,458

-74.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 IQD 2,636

$1.72 COP 5,412

16.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 IQD 2,825

$3.18 COP 10.0K

-32.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 IQD 1,750

$1.10 COP 3,474

21.82%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,040

$1.26 COP 3,962

-37.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 IQD 2,432

$1.38 COP 4,349

34.78%

Eggs

$1.90 IQD 2,491

$2.18 COP 6,858

-12.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.42 IQD 9,721

$4.49 COP 14.1K

65.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.73 IQD 6,199

$5.79 COP 18.2K

-18.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.98 IQD 18.3K

$8.97 COP 28.2K

55.85%

Apples (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,487

$2.32 COP 7,308

-50.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,551

$1.06 COP 3,352

11.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,479

$1.52 COP 4,774

-25.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.82 IQD 1,068

$1.36 COP 4,270

-39.71%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 860

$1.13 COP 3,552

-41.59%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 933

$1.17 COP 3,689

-39.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 IQD 967

$0.90 COP 2,838

-17.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 692

$0.90 COP 2,823

-41.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.73 IQD 3,569

$2.23 COP 7,034

22.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.23 IQD 16.0K

$12.12 COP 38.2K

0.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 IQD 1,807

$1.19 COP 3,743

15.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 IQD 2,661

$2.48 COP 7,815

-18.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 473

$0.85 COP 2,687

-57.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.67 IQD 40.2K

$41.62 COP 131.0K

-26.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.27 IQD 2,976

$1.42 COP 4,459

59.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.22 IQD 2,912

$1.95 COP 6,141

13.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.98 IQD 9,142

$7.89 COP 24.8K

-11.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 IQD 919

$0.99 COP 3,118

-29.29%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

$17.6K COP 55.4M

7.83%

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

$20.9K IQD 27.3M

$26.8K COP 84.4M

-22.09%

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

$101 IQD 131.6K

$83.0 COP 261.4K

21.08%

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

$17.58 IQD 23.0K

$9.70 COP 30.5K

81.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.20 IQD 39.5K

$23.52 COP 74.1K

28.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.33 IQD 47.6K

$25.26 COP 79.5K

43.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.06 IQD 22.3K

$19.10 COP 60.1K

-10.68%

Cinema Ticket

$11.42 IQD 15.0K

$3.95 COP 12.4K

189.11%

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

$267 IQD 349.6K

$316 COP 994.2K

-15.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,247 IQD 4.3M

$5,975 COP 18.8M

-45.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.29 IQD 42.3K

$60.0 COP 188.9K

-46.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.66 IQD 63.7K

$31.82 COP 100.2K

52.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.9 IQD 109.9K

$102 COP 320.1K

-17.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.6 IQD 102.9K

$107 COP 338.3K

-26.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$238 IQD 311.3K

$475 COP 1.5M

-49.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 IQD 236.8K

$374 COP 1.2M

-51.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$576 IQD 753.6K

$849 COP 2.7M

-32.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$342 IQD 447.6K

$719 COP 2.3M

-52.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$663 IQD 867.7K

$624 COP 2.0M

6.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

13.43

-57.78%

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

Last update for Zakho: July 25, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $238 in Zakho versus $475 in Medellin. 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 6% 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 $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $194 in Zakho vs $193 in Medellin – so Medellin 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 Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 13%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,504 in Medellin. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Zakho and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $890 in Zakho and $1,003 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Zakho, where all-in costs run around $890, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Zakho it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin 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, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.