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: $864 in Zakho versus $744 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,359 in Zakho versus $1,167 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,854 in Zakho versus $1,591 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in Zakho is roughly 16% more expensive than Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Zakho 36% lower, Sulaymaniyah 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.58 IQD 9,926

$5.32 IQD 6,971

42.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.64 IQD 29.7K

$27.03 IQD 35.4K

-16.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.88 IQD 11.6K

$6.90 IQD 9,040

28.70%

Cappuccino

$3.19 IQD 4,184

$2.56 IQD 3,349

24.61%

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

$0.48 IQD 628

$0.37 IQD 482

29.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 288

$0.21 IQD 277

4.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.03 IQD 2,656

$2.05 IQD 2,683

-0.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 IQD 2,673

$2.64 IQD 3,454

-22.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 IQD 1,739

$1.42 IQD 1,862

-6.34%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,039

$0.98 IQD 1,277

-19.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 IQD 2,434

$1.66 IQD 2,172

12.05%

Eggs

$1.90 IQD 2,489

$1.76 IQD 2,299

7.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.27 IQD 9,524

$5.80 IQD 7,598

25.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.81 IQD 6,294

$3.44 IQD 4,501

39.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.09 IQD 18.5K

$14.30 IQD 18.7K

-1.47%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,510

$1.23 IQD 1,607

-6.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,558

$1.25 IQD 1,634

-4.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,541

$1.26 IQD 1,645

-6.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,062

$0.70 IQD 921

15.71%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 864

$0.63 IQD 821

4.76%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 933

$0.64 IQD 844

10.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 IQD 947

$0.54 IQD 711

33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 727

$0.45 IQD 591

24.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.62 IQD 3,430

$1.89 IQD 2,470

38.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.35 IQD 16.2K

$11.68 IQD 15.3K

5.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 IQD 1,898

$1.58 IQD 2,072

-8.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 IQD 2,542

$1.74 IQD 2,272

11.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 521

$0.55 IQD 724

-27.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.88 IQD 40.4K

$22.87 IQD 29.9K

35.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.26 IQD 2,965

$2.25 IQD 2,949

0.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.23 IQD 2,921

$2.24 IQD 2,929

-0.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.00 IQD 9,165

$5.37 IQD 7,033

30.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 IQD 912

$0.75 IQD 985

-6.67%

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

$19.2K IQD 25.1M

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

-7.38%

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

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

-0.26%

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

$100 IQD 131.0K

$75.9 IQD 99.4K

31.72%

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

$17.47 IQD 22.9K

$16.34 IQD 21.4K

6.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.69 IQD 38.9K

$26.04 IQD 34.1K

14.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.17 IQD 48.7K

$39.68 IQD 52.0K

-6.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.01 IQD 22.3K

$16.91 IQD 22.1K

0.59%

Cinema Ticket

$11.66 IQD 15.3K

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

48.54%

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

$272 IQD 355.7K

$154 IQD 201.3K

76.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,319 IQD 4.3M

$3,539 IQD 4.6M

-6.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.98 IQD 43.2K

$24.16 IQD 31.6K

36.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.77 IQD 65.2K

$25.00 IQD 32.7K

99.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.0 IQD 107.4K

$43.01 IQD 56.3K

90.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.1 IQD 99.6K

$35.77 IQD 46.8K

112.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$246 IQD 321.7K

$237 IQD 310.3K

3.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 IQD 236.0K

$181 IQD 236.9K

-0.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$580 IQD 759.4K

$569 IQD 744.6K

1.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$343 IQD 448.6K

$344 IQD 450.5K

-0.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$805 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$587 IQD 768.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$659 IQD 863.5K

$562 IQD 735.6K

17.39%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $246 in Zakho and $237 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zakho pays 17% 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 $183, 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 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Zakho pays 17% 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: $246 in Zakho versus $237 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 $864 per month in Zakho versus $744 in Sulaymaniyah – a 16% 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 16% less than in Zakho. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.