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: $890 in Zakho versus $761 in Sulaymaniyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,364 in Zakho versus $1,176 in Sulaymaniyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,839 in Zakho versus $1,591 in Sulaymaniyah.

Living in Zakho is roughly 17% more expensive than in Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Zakho 33% lower, Sulaymaniyah 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

$5.42 IQD 7,098

43.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.31 IQD 30.5K

$26.66 IQD 34.9K

-12.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.61 IQD 11.3K

$6.84 IQD 8,953

25.88%

Cappuccino

$3.09 IQD 4,043

$2.65 IQD 3,468

16.60%

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

$0.52 IQD 677

$0.39 IQD 515

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 262

$0.20 IQD 256

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 IQD 2,636

$2.05 IQD 2,681

-1.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 IQD 2,825

$2.69 IQD 3,529

-19.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 IQD 1,750

$1.46 IQD 1,913

-8.22%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,040

$0.99 IQD 1,295

-20.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 IQD 2,432

$1.61 IQD 2,105

15.53%

Eggs

$1.90 IQD 2,491

$1.71 IQD 2,244

11.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.42 IQD 9,721

$6.05 IQD 7,920

22.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.73 IQD 6,199

$3.53 IQD 4,617

33.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.98 IQD 18.3K

$14.46 IQD 18.9K

-3.32%

Apples (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,487

$1.17 IQD 1,527

-2.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,551

$1.23 IQD 1,615

-4.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,479

$1.28 IQD 1,671

-11.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.82 IQD 1,068

$0.75 IQD 985

9.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 860

$0.67 IQD 871

-1.49%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 933

$0.65 IQD 845

9.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 IQD 967

$0.55 IQD 715

34.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 692

$0.45 IQD 586

17.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.73 IQD 3,569

$1.94 IQD 2,543

40.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.23 IQD 16.0K

$11.56 IQD 15.1K

5.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 IQD 1,807

$1.51 IQD 1,976

-8.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 IQD 2,661

$1.73 IQD 2,269

17.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 473

$0.55 IQD 724

-34.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.67 IQD 40.2K

$22.59 IQD 29.6K

35.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.27 IQD 2,976

$2.27 IQD 2,966

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.22 IQD 2,912

$2.28 IQD 2,986

-2.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.98 IQD 9,142

$5.21 IQD 6,828

33.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 IQD 919

$0.75 IQD 985

-6.67%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

-8.40%

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

$20.9K IQD 27.3M

$21.1K IQD 27.7M

-1.21%

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

$101 IQD 131.6K

$77.5 IQD 101.5K

29.74%

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

$17.58 IQD 23.0K

$16.80 IQD 22.0K

4.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.20 IQD 39.5K

$26.70 IQD 35.0K

13.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.33 IQD 47.6K

$38.57 IQD 50.5K

-5.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.06 IQD 22.3K

$16.67 IQD 21.8K

2.34%

Cinema Ticket

$11.42 IQD 15.0K

$7.48 IQD 9,799

52.67%

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

$267 IQD 349.6K

$150 IQD 196.2K

78.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,247 IQD 4.3M

$3,550 IQD 4.6M

-8.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.29 IQD 42.3K

$23.44 IQD 30.7K

37.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.66 IQD 63.7K

$24.93 IQD 32.6K

95.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.9 IQD 109.9K

$43.58 IQD 57.1K

92.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.6 IQD 102.9K

$36.28 IQD 47.5K

116.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$238 IQD 311.3K

$235 IQD 308.2K

0.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 IQD 236.8K

$180 IQD 236.2K

0.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$576 IQD 753.6K

$568 IQD 744.4K

1.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$342 IQD 447.6K

$340 IQD 445.3K

0.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$820 IQD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$576 IQD 753.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$663 IQD 867.7K

$570 IQD 746.9K

16.17%

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $238 in Zakho and $235 in Sulaymaniyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zakho pays 16% 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 $194 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 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 16% 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: $238 in Zakho versus $235 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 $890 per month in Zakho versus $761 in Sulaymaniyah – a 17% 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 17% less than in Zakho. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.