Cost of Living Comparison Between Zakho and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Zakho and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $879 per month in Zakho vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,278 per month in Zakho vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,676 per month in Zakho vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Zakho is about 31% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Zakho and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Zakho 36% lower, Playa del Carmen 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.73 IQD 10.1K

$11.60 MX$200

-33.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.26 IQD 58.0K

$47.11 MX$812

-6.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.17 IQD 10.7K

$11.88 MX$205

-31.23%

Cappuccino

$3.81 IQD 4,993

$3.98 MX$68.6

-4.27%

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

$1.07 IQD 1,403

$1.43 MX$24.60

-25.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 IQD 538

$0.82 MX$14.22

-50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.14 IQD 8,037

$3.19 MX$55.0

92.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.57 IQD 5,983

$6.79 MX$117

-32.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 IQD 1,657

$1.68 MX$28.89

-24.40%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 IQD 1,069

$2.20 MX$37.88

-62.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 IQD 2,308

$1.71 MX$29.45

2.92%

Eggs

$1.77 IQD 2,317

$2.74 MX$47.26

-35.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.19 IQD 10.7K

$9.58 MX$165

-14.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.52 IQD 7,228

$9.01 MX$155

-38.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.97 IQD 19.6K

$12.81 MX$221

16.86%

Apples (1kg)

$1.10 IQD 1,439

$2.89 MX$49.81

-61.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 IQD 1,457

$1.50 MX$25.81

-26.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,614

$2.15 MX$37.03

-42.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.80 IQD 1,042

$2.26 MX$38.96

-64.60%

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 973

$1.98 MX$34.15

-62.63%

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 958

$1.99 MX$34.30

-63.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 IQD 1,046

$1.23 MX$21.28

-34.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 IQD 772

$1.20 MX$20.63

-50.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.45 IQD 3,211

$4.55 MX$78.5

-46.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.65 IQD 16.6K

$10.37 MX$179

21.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 IQD 2,231

$1.62 MX$27.91

4.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 IQD 2,697

$2.88 MX$49.67

-28.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.35

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$497

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 IQD 2,570

$5.39 MX$92.9

-63.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.79 IQD 2,341

$3.73 MX$64.3

-52.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.61 IQD 8,654

$5.77 MX$99.5

14.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.68 IQD 892

$1.54 MX$26.48

-55.84%

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

$17.7K IQD 23.2M

$22.5K MX$388.8K

-21.55%

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

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

$26.1K MX$449.3K

-23.96%

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

$127 IQD 166.0K

$91.4 MX$1,576

38.75%

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

$13.60 IQD 17.8K

$25.20 MX$435

-46.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.07 IQD 36.8K

$31.24 MX$539

-10.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 MX$1,159

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$502

Cinema Ticket

$11.44 IQD 15.0K

$4.86 MX$83.8

135.39%

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

$317 IQD 414.5K

$224 MX$3,856

41.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,093 IQD 4.1M

$4,229 MX$72.9K

-26.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.48 IQD 39.9K

$47.10 MX$812

-35.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.73 IQD 25.8K

$44.29 MX$764

-55.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.6 IQD 66.2K

$80.1 MX$1,381

-36.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.77 IQD 52.1K

$92.7 MX$1,598

-57.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$115 IQD 151.2K

$1,063 MX$18.3K

-89.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$223 IQD 291.7K

$390 MX$6,728

-42.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$315 IQD 412.6K

$2,149 MX$37.1K

-85.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$276 IQD 361.1K

$1,272 MX$21.9K

-78.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,001 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$112.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$657 IQD 860.6K

$758 MX$13.1K

-13.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.53

11.45

-77.90%

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

Last update for Zakho: September 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $115 in Zakho versus $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. 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 15% higher in Playa del Carmen, 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $276 – 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 Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 44%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,899 in Playa del Carmen. 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $879 in Zakho and $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $317 per month in Zakho and $224 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Zakho, where all-in costs run around $879, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Zakho it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen 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, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.