Cost of Living Comparison Between Zakho and Sulaymaniyah Cost of Living Comparison Between Zakho and Sulaymaniyah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $893 in Zakho versus $750 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,364 in Zakho versus $1,166 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,834 in Zakho versus $1,581 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in Zakho is roughly 19% more expensive than Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Zakho 33% lower, Sulaymaniyah 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.72 IQD 10.1K

$5.26 IQD 6,895

46.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.91 IQD 30.0K

$26.81 IQD 35.1K

-14.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.68 IQD 11.4K

$7.01 IQD 9,182

23.82%

Cappuccino

$3.13 IQD 4,096

$2.64 IQD 3,461

18.56%

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

$0.48 IQD 628

$0.39 IQD 514

23.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 288

$0.21 IQD 269

4.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 IQD 2,629

$2.07 IQD 2,714

-2.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 IQD 2,723

$2.71 IQD 3,550

-23.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 IQD 1,789

$1.41 IQD 1,851

-2.84%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 IQD 1,056

$1.02 IQD 1,332

-20.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.79 IQD 2,351

$1.61 IQD 2,109

11.18%

Eggs

$1.97 IQD 2,586

$1.78 IQD 2,329

10.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.57 IQD 9,918

$6.10 IQD 7,998

24.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.79 IQD 6,276

$3.56 IQD 4,667

34.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.95 IQD 18.3K

$14.01 IQD 18.4K

-0.43%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,502

$1.17 IQD 1,532

-1.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,494

$1.29 IQD 1,694

-11.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,537

$1.27 IQD 1,662

-7.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,064

$0.73 IQD 957

10.96%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 879

$0.61 IQD 798

9.84%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 990

$0.67 IQD 879

13.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 IQD 1,013

$0.59 IQD 777

30.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 IQD 687

$0.45 IQD 590

15.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.73 IQD 3,576

$1.94 IQD 2,536

40.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.23 IQD 16.0K

$11.61 IQD 15.2K

5.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 IQD 1,871

$1.51 IQD 1,975

-5.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 IQD 2,669

$1.81 IQD 2,367

12.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 522

$0.55 IQD 715

-27.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.69 IQD 41.5K

$23.16 IQD 30.3K

36.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.32 IQD 3,034

$2.36 IQD 3,096

-1.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.30 IQD 3,013

$2.33 IQD 3,053

-1.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.74 IQD 8,825

$5.46 IQD 7,150

23.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 IQD 913

$0.77 IQD 1,006

-9.09%

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

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

-7.60%

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

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

$20.6K IQD 26.9M

-0.83%

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

$99.3 IQD 130.1K

$76.6 IQD 100.4K

29.69%

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

$17.84 IQD 23.4K

$16.90 IQD 22.1K

5.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.52 IQD 38.7K

$26.27 IQD 34.4K

12.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.43 IQD 49.0K

$39.65 IQD 51.9K

-5.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.78 IQD 22.0K

$16.92 IQD 22.2K

-0.83%

Cinema Ticket

$11.46 IQD 15.0K

$7.47 IQD 9,788

53.41%

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

$266 IQD 348.2K

$151 IQD 198.4K

75.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,229 IQD 4.2M

$3,491 IQD 4.6M

-7.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.39 IQD 43.7K

$23.36 IQD 30.6K

42.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.02 IQD 62.9K

$24.92 IQD 32.6K

92.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.8 IQD 105.9K

$43.74 IQD 57.3K

84.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.5 IQD 102.9K

$36.40 IQD 47.7K

115.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$238 IQD 311.5K

$240 IQD 315.0K

-1.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$178 IQD 233.3K

$175 IQD 229.4K

1.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 IQD 765.1K

$572 IQD 749.7K

2.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$343 IQD 449.8K

$341 IQD 446.4K

0.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$810 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$579 IQD 758.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$646 IQD 846.8K

$580 IQD 759.7K

11.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

-37.00%

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

Last update for Zakho: April 27, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $238 in Zakho and $240 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zakho pays 11% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $23.00 in Zakho vs $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah. Groceries flip the comparison at $195 vs $184, with Sulaymaniyah cheaper for home cooking.

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 Sulaymaniyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sulaymaniyah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Zakho pays 11% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $238 in Zakho versus $240 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Sulaymaniyah – a meal for two runs $27.00 versus $23.00 in Zakho. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $893 per month in Zakho versus $750 in Sulaymaniyah – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Sulaymaniyah gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Zakho and Sulaymaniyah are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Sulaymaniyah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Zakho. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.