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: $879 in Zakho versus $780 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,278 in Zakho versus $1,178 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,676 in Zakho versus $1,576 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in Zakho is roughly 13% more expensive than in Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Zakho 36% lower, Sulaymaniyah 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.73 IQD 10.1K

$4.50 IQD 5,898

71.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.26 IQD 58.0K

$23.28 IQD 30.5K

90.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.17 IQD 10.7K

$7.07 IQD 9,261

15.56%

Cappuccino

$3.81 IQD 4,993

$2.43 IQD 3,183

56.79%

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

$1.07 IQD 1,403

$0.45 IQD 593

137.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 IQD 538

$0.21 IQD 274

95.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.14 IQD 8,037

$4.70 IQD 6,159

30.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.57 IQD 5,983

$2.33 IQD 3,048

96.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 IQD 1,657

$1.33 IQD 1,740

-4.51%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 IQD 1,069

$0.98 IQD 1,283

-16.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 IQD 2,308

$1.91 IQD 2,507

-7.85%

Eggs

$1.77 IQD 2,317

$1.76 IQD 2,299

0.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.19 IQD 10.7K

$4.95 IQD 6,477

65.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.52 IQD 7,228

$3.55 IQD 4,645

55.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.97 IQD 19.6K

$15.75 IQD 20.6K

-4.95%

Apples (1kg)

$1.10 IQD 1,439

$1.32 IQD 1,723

-16.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 IQD 1,457

$1.30 IQD 1,701

-14.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,614

$1.15 IQD 1,500

6.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.80 IQD 1,042

$0.70 IQD 911

14.29%

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 973

$0.55 IQD 721

34.55%

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 958

$0.69 IQD 901

5.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 IQD 1,046

$0.68 IQD 890

17.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 IQD 772

$0.53 IQD 689

11.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.45 IQD 3,211

$2.46 IQD 3,218

-0.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.65 IQD 16.6K

$11.60 IQD 15.2K

9.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 IQD 2,231

$1.87 IQD 2,450

-9.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 IQD 2,697

$1.70 IQD 2,232

21.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 725

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.88 IQD 30.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 IQD 2,570

$2.33 IQD 3,045

-15.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.79 IQD 2,341

$2.24 IQD 2,936

-20.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.61 IQD 8,654

$5.47 IQD 7,168

20.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.68 IQD 892

$0.72 IQD 944

-5.56%

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

$17.7K IQD 23.2M

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

-14.08%

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

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

4.10%

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

$127 IQD 166.0K

$101 IQD 131.6K

26.13%

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

$13.60 IQD 17.8K

$10.98 IQD 14.4K

23.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.07 IQD 36.8K

$28.50 IQD 37.3K

-1.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.99 IQD 47.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.18 IQD 26.4K

Cinema Ticket

$11.44 IQD 15.0K

$7.54 IQD 9,871

51.72%

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

$317 IQD 414.5K

$176 IQD 231.0K

79.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,093 IQD 4.1M

$2,879 IQD 3.8M

7.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.48 IQD 39.9K

$19.43 IQD 25.4K

56.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.73 IQD 25.8K

$25.44 IQD 33.3K

-22.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.6 IQD 66.2K

$42.51 IQD 55.7K

18.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.77 IQD 52.1K

$38.09 IQD 49.9K

4.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$115 IQD 151.2K

$226 IQD 296.1K

-48.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$223 IQD 291.7K

$173 IQD 226.6K

28.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$315 IQD 412.6K

$506 IQD 662.0K

-37.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$276 IQD 361.1K

$363 IQD 474.9K

-23.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$831 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$587 IQD 768.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$657 IQD 860.6K

$580 IQD 759.1K

13.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.53

5.77

-56.15%

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

Last update for Zakho: September 12, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $115 in Zakho and $226 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zakho pays 13% 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: $44.00 in Zakho vs $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $188 per month, with Sulaymaniyah cheaper across the board.

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, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 13% higher in Zakho, 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: $115 in Zakho versus $226 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $317 in Zakho versus $176 in Sulaymaniyah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Sulaymaniyah – a meal for two runs $23.00 versus $44.00 in Zakho. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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 13% less than in Zakho. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.