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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $879 per month in Zakho vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,278 per month in Zakho vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,676 per month in Zakho vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Zakho is about 48% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Zakho sits 36% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.73 IQD 10.1K

$8.02 COP 25.0K

-3.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.26 IQD 58.0K

$47.87 COP 149.4K

-7.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.17 IQD 10.7K

$9.89 COP 30.8K

-17.39%

Cappuccino

$3.81 IQD 4,993

$3.13 COP 9,767

21.73%

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

$1.07 IQD 1,403

$1.91 COP 5,954

-43.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 IQD 538

$1.51 COP 4,712

-72.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.14 IQD 8,037

$3.12 COP 9,747

96.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.57 IQD 5,983

$5.75 COP 17.9K

-20.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 IQD 1,657

$1.44 COP 4,509

-11.81%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 IQD 1,069

$2.49 COP 7,759

-67.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 IQD 2,308

$1.77 COP 5,535

-0.56%

Eggs

$1.77 IQD 2,317

$2.96 COP 9,235

-40.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.19 IQD 10.7K

$10.07 COP 31.4K

-18.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.52 IQD 7,228

$10.12 COP 31.6K

-45.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.97 IQD 19.6K

$14.30 COP 44.6K

4.69%

Apples (1kg)

$1.10 IQD 1,439

$4.14 COP 12.9K

-73.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 IQD 1,457

$1.61 COP 5,019

-31.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,614

$2.25 COP 7,007

-45.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.80 IQD 1,042

$2.25 COP 7,028

-64.44%

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 973

$2.04 COP 6,375

-63.73%

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 958

$1.54 COP 4,790

-52.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 IQD 1,046

$1.17 COP 3,651

-31.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 IQD 772

$1.31 COP 4,077

-54.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.45 IQD 3,211

$3.90 COP 12.2K

-37.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.65 IQD 16.6K

$14.01 COP 43.7K

-9.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 IQD 2,231

$1.74 COP 5,439

-2.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 IQD 2,697

$2.87 COP 8,956

-28.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,792

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 251.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 IQD 2,570

$1.31 COP 4,084

49.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.79 IQD 2,341

$2.19 COP 6,825

-18.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.61 IQD 8,654

$8.71 COP 27.2K

-24.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.68 IQD 892

$1.37 COP 4,260

-50.36%

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

$17.7K IQD 23.2M

$27.8K COP 86.9M

-36.45%

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

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

$35.8K COP 111.6M

-44.61%

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

$127 IQD 166.0K

$177 COP 553.2K

-28.49%

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

$13.60 IQD 17.8K

$13.88 COP 43.3K

-2.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.07 IQD 36.8K

$29.72 COP 92.8K

-5.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 140.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 53.4K

Cinema Ticket

$11.44 IQD 15.0K

$6.65 COP 20.7K

72.03%

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

$317 IQD 414.5K

$813 COP 2.5M

-61.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,093 IQD 4.1M

$9,187 COP 28.7M

-66.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.48 IQD 39.9K

$89.5 COP 279.3K

-65.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.73 IQD 25.8K

$59.0 COP 184.0K

-66.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.6 IQD 66.2K

$138 COP 431.2K

-63.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.77 IQD 52.1K

$102 COP 318.7K

-61.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$115 IQD 151.2K

$1,062 COP 3.3M

-89.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$223 IQD 291.7K

$663 COP 2.1M

-66.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$315 IQD 412.6K

$1,888 COP 5.9M

-83.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$276 IQD 361.1K

$1,027 COP 3.2M

-73.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$657 IQD 860.6K

$678 COP 2.1M

-3.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.53

10.94

-76.87%

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

Last update for Zakho: September 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $115 in Zakho versus $1,062 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 3% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Zakho versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $305 – 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 Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 91%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $2,521 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 $44.00 in Zakho and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 49% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Zakho, where all-in costs run around $879, than in Medellin at $1,681. 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.