Cost of Living Comparison Between 'aqrah and Baghdad Cost of Living Comparison Between 'aqrah and Baghdad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $750 per month in 'aqrah vs $1,055 in Baghdad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,160 per month in 'aqrah vs $1,565 in Baghdad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,570 per month in 'aqrah vs $2,074 in Baghdad, rent included.

'aqrah is about 29% cheaper than Baghdad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both 'aqrah and Baghdad are more affordable than the global median – 'aqrah 44% lower, Baghdad 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.13 IQD 5,408

$5.50 IQD 7,206

-24.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.77 IQD 32.4K

$36.22 IQD 47.4K

-31.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.87 IQD 8,996

$7.70 IQD 10.1K

-10.78%

Cappuccino

$2.64 IQD 3,462

$2.98 IQD 3,903

-11.41%

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

$0.40 IQD 522

$0.36 IQD 477

11.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 IQD 250

$0.17 IQD 219

11.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.89 IQD 3,783

$3.51 IQD 4,590

-17.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 IQD 3,854

$2.93 IQD 3,839

0.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 IQD 1,773

$1.35 IQD 1,768

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,017

$0.78 IQD 1,023

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 IQD 2,093

$1.59 IQD 2,076

0.63%

Eggs

$1.81 IQD 2,368

$1.79 IQD 2,338

1.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.60 IQD 6,027

$4.58 IQD 5,999

0.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.78 IQD 6,262

$4.81 IQD 6,296

-0.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.32 IQD 17.4K

$14.13 IQD 18.5K

-5.73%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,552

$1.23 IQD 1,612

-3.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 IQD 1,590

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,389

$1.00 IQD 1,311

6.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 929

$0.74 IQD 970

-4.05%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 855

$0.65 IQD 854

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 869

$0.67 IQD 881

-1.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 813

$0.62 IQD 817

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 IQD 682

$0.66 IQD 861

-21.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 IQD 2,541

$2.05 IQD 2,690

-5.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.49 IQD 17.7K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 IQD 2,401

$1.79 IQD 2,346

2.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 IQD 2,706

$2.15 IQD 2,821

-3.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 482

$0.75 IQD 976

-50.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.55 IQD 41.3K

$27.88 IQD 36.5K

13.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 IQD 2,928

$3.93 IQD 5,147

-43.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 IQD 2,013

$1.47 IQD 1,922

4.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.90 IQD 7,729

$7.50 IQD 9,826

-21.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 IQD 701

$0.56 IQD 740

-3.57%

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

$19.3K IQD 25.2M

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

-2.10%

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

$19.7K IQD 25.7M

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

-1.27%

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

$76.5 IQD 100.1K

$176 IQD 230.7K

-56.59%

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

$17.41 IQD 22.8K

$25.81 IQD 33.8K

-32.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.96 IQD 44.5K

$41.29 IQD 54.1K

-17.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.59 IQD 47.9K

$42.14 IQD 55.2K

-13.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.49 IQD 21.6K

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

-11.15%

Cinema Ticket

$7.50 IQD 9,817

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

-3.47%

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

$150 IQD 197.1K

$168 IQD 220.3K

-10.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,228 IQD 4.2M

$3,627 IQD 4.7M

-11.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.10 IQD 35.5K

$27.92 IQD 36.6K

-2.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.99 IQD 32.7K

$30.46 IQD 39.9K

-17.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.3 IQD 80.2K

$64.9 IQD 85.0K

-5.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.99 IQD 53.7K

$43.79 IQD 57.3K

-6.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$243 IQD 318.8K

$554 IQD 725.1K

-56.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 IQD 237.3K

$321 IQD 419.7K

-43.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$583 IQD 763.3K

$839 IQD 1.1M

-30.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$348 IQD 455.2K

$583 IQD 764.1K

-40.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,745 IQD 6.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,597 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$612 IQD 800.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

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

Last update for 'aqrah: July 28, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $243 in 'aqrah versus $554 in Baghdad. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in 'aqrah versus $36.00 in Baghdad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $159 vs $190 – making 'aqrah 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

'aqrah vs Baghdad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baghdad costs about 41% more than 'aqrah, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,125 per month in 'aqrah and $1,582 in Baghdad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in 'aqrah, 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 $750 in 'aqrah and $1,055 in Baghdad. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 13% less in 'aqrah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in 'aqrah, where all-in costs run around $750, than in Baghdad at $1,055. In 'aqrah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Baghdad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward 'aqrah – 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 'aqrah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Baghdad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.