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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $893 per month in Zakho vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,364 per month in Zakho vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,834 per month in Zakho vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.

Zakho is about 14% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Zakho and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Zakho 33% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.72 IQD 10.1K

$5.92 COP 21.4K

30.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.91 IQD 30.0K

$32.75 COP 118.2K

-30.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.68 IQD 11.4K

$7.20 COP 26.0K

20.56%

Cappuccino

$3.13 IQD 4,096

$1.70 COP 6,140

84.12%

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

$0.48 IQD 628

$1.10 COP 3,966

-56.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 288

$0.72 COP 2,605

-69.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 IQD 2,629

$1.67 COP 6,022

20.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 IQD 2,723

$3.10 COP 11.2K

-32.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 IQD 1,789

$1.06 COP 3,809

29.25%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 IQD 1,056

$1.25 COP 4,497

-35.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.79 IQD 2,351

$1.39 COP 5,022

28.78%

Eggs

$1.97 IQD 2,586

$2.26 COP 8,168

-12.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.57 IQD 9,918

$4.33 COP 15.6K

74.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.79 IQD 6,276

$5.84 COP 21.1K

-17.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.95 IQD 18.3K

$8.83 COP 31.9K

57.98%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,502

$2.24 COP 8,099

-48.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,494

$1.08 COP 3,882

5.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,537

$1.53 COP 5,522

-23.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,064

$1.37 COP 4,950

-40.88%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 879

$1.13 COP 4,078

-40.71%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 990

$1.12 COP 4,036

-32.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 IQD 1,013

$0.85 COP 3,057

-9.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 IQD 687

$0.91 COP 3,281

-42.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.73 IQD 3,576

$2.33 COP 8,414

17.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.23 IQD 16.0K

$11.13 COP 40.2K

9.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 IQD 1,871

$1.19 COP 4,309

20.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 IQD 2,669

$2.37 COP 8,553

-13.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 522

$0.79 COP 2,838

-49.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.69 IQD 41.5K

$41.13 COP 148.5K

-22.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.32 IQD 3,034

$1.44 COP 5,184

61.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.30 IQD 3,013

$1.91 COP 6,901

20.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.74 IQD 8,825

$8.02 COP 28.9K

-15.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 IQD 913

$0.94 COP 3,385

-25.53%

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

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

$17.9K COP 64.7M

4.73%

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

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

$26.8K COP 96.7M

-23.88%

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

$99.3 IQD 130.1K

$84.0 COP 303.1K

18.32%

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

$17.84 IQD 23.4K

$9.60 COP 34.7K

85.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.52 IQD 38.7K

$24.16 COP 87.2K

22.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.43 IQD 49.0K

$25.88 COP 93.4K

44.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.78 IQD 22.0K

$19.04 COP 68.7K

-11.87%

Cinema Ticket

$11.46 IQD 15.0K

$3.92 COP 14.1K

192.35%

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

$266 IQD 348.2K

$306 COP 1.1M

-13.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,229 IQD 4.2M

$5,919 COP 21.4M

-45.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.39 IQD 43.7K

$57.9 COP 209.1K

-42.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.02 IQD 62.9K

$31.82 COP 114.9K

50.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.8 IQD 105.9K

$99.9 COP 360.6K

-19.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.5 IQD 102.9K

$107 COP 386.8K

-26.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$238 IQD 311.5K

$487 COP 1.8M

-51.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$178 IQD 233.3K

$368 COP 1.3M

-51.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 IQD 765.1K

$826 COP 3.0M

-29.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$343 IQD 449.8K

$716 COP 2.6M

-52.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$646 IQD 846.8K

$546 COP 2.0M

18.48%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $238 in Zakho versus $487 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 18% 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 16%, 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 $1,340 per month in Zakho and $1,550 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 $893 in Zakho and $1,034 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 $893, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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.