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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $864 per month in Zakho vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,359 per month in Zakho vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,854 per month in Zakho vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Zakho is about 15% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Zakho and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Zakho 36% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.58 IQD 9,926

$5.95 COP 20.8K

27.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.64 IQD 29.7K

$33.33 COP 116.3K

-32.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.88 IQD 11.6K

$7.23 COP 25.2K

22.82%

Cappuccino

$3.19 IQD 4,184

$1.63 COP 5,687

95.71%

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

$0.48 IQD 628

$1.09 COP 3,821

-55.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 288

$0.73 COP 2,548

-69.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.03 IQD 2,656

$1.74 COP 6,065

16.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 IQD 2,673

$3.23 COP 11.3K

-36.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 IQD 1,739

$1.05 COP 3,662

26.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,039

$1.29 COP 4,515

-38.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 IQD 2,434

$1.32 COP 4,617

40.91%

Eggs

$1.90 IQD 2,489

$2.27 COP 7,927

-16.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.27 IQD 9,524

$4.35 COP 15.2K

67.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.81 IQD 6,294

$5.88 COP 20.5K

-18.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.09 IQD 18.5K

$8.61 COP 30.0K

63.65%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,510

$2.25 COP 7,844

-48.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,558

$1.07 COP 3,733

11.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,541

$1.52 COP 5,322

-22.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,062

$1.42 COP 4,964

-42.96%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 864

$1.17 COP 4,084

-43.59%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 933

$1.17 COP 4,077

-39.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 IQD 947

$0.89 COP 3,096

-19.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 727

$0.90 COP 3,146

-37.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.62 IQD 3,430

$2.25 COP 7,837

16.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.35 IQD 16.2K

$11.04 COP 38.5K

11.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 IQD 1,898

$1.14 COP 3,977

27.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 IQD 2,542

$2.38 COP 8,301

-18.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 521

$0.84 COP 2,916

-52.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.88 IQD 40.4K

$41.95 COP 146.4K

-26.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.26 IQD 2,965

$1.41 COP 4,912

60.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.23 IQD 2,921

$1.90 COP 6,634

17.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.00 IQD 9,165

$7.75 COP 27.0K

-9.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 IQD 912

$1.01 COP 3,509

-30.69%

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

$19.2K IQD 25.1M

$17.6K COP 61.4M

9.12%

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

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

$26.5K COP 92.5M

-22.30%

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

$100 IQD 131.0K

$83.7 COP 292.1K

19.54%

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

$17.47 IQD 22.9K

$9.45 COP 33.0K

84.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.69 IQD 38.9K

$24.11 COP 84.1K

23.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.17 IQD 48.7K

$25.31 COP 88.3K

46.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.01 IQD 22.3K

$19.14 COP 66.8K

-11.13%

Cinema Ticket

$11.66 IQD 15.3K

$4.10 COP 14.3K

184.39%

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

$272 IQD 355.7K

$312 COP 1.1M

-12.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,319 IQD 4.3M

$5,993 COP 20.9M

-44.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.98 IQD 43.2K

$58.0 COP 202.6K

-43.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.77 IQD 65.2K

$32.56 COP 113.6K

52.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.0 IQD 107.4K

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-17.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.1 IQD 99.6K

$109 COP 378.8K

-29.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$246 IQD 321.7K

$482 COP 1.7M

-49.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 IQD 236.0K

$379 COP 1.3M

-52.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$580 IQD 759.4K

$837 COP 2.9M

-30.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$343 IQD 448.6K

$723 COP 2.5M

-52.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$659 IQD 863.5K

$541 COP 1.9M

21.91%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $246 in Zakho versus $482 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 22% 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 – $195 in Zakho vs $190 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 18%, 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 $1,296 per month in Zakho and $1,525 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 $864 in Zakho and $1,017 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 $864, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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.