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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $747 per month in 'aqrah vs $1,074 in Baghdad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,157 per month in 'aqrah vs $1,573 in Baghdad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,568 per month in 'aqrah vs $2,073 in Baghdad, rent included.

'aqrah is about 30% cheaper than Baghdad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both 'aqrah and Baghdad are more affordable than the global median – 'aqrah 44% lower, Baghdad 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.04 IQD 5,286

$5.27 IQD 6,895

-23.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.76 IQD 32.4K

$36.86 IQD 48.3K

-32.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.84 IQD 8,959

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

-12.08%

Cappuccino

$2.60 IQD 3,410

$2.98 IQD 3,909

-12.75%

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

$0.36 IQD 475

$0.39 IQD 512

-7.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 218

$0.17 IQD 216

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.82 IQD 3,697

$3.38 IQD 4,429

-16.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 IQD 3,741

$2.89 IQD 3,785

-1.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 IQD 1,739

$1.30 IQD 1,702

2.31%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 IQD 1,100

$0.83 IQD 1,087

1.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 IQD 2,100

$1.67 IQD 2,181

-4.19%

Eggs

$1.81 IQD 2,372

$1.79 IQD 2,343

1.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.57 IQD 5,989

$4.52 IQD 5,918

1.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.78 IQD 6,266

$4.84 IQD 6,342

-1.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 IQD 17.4K

$14.04 IQD 18.4K

-5.63%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,558

$1.28 IQD 1,680

-7.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 IQD 1,585

$1.15 IQD 1,504

5.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,388

$1.04 IQD 1,363

1.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 974

$0.70 IQD 914

5.71%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 912

$0.69 IQD 897

1.45%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 885

$0.62 IQD 813

9.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 823

$0.67 IQD 883

-5.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 690

$0.63 IQD 824

-15.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 IQD 2,575

$2.13 IQD 2,786

-7.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.64 IQD 17.9K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 IQD 2,307

$1.79 IQD 2,348

-1.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 IQD 2,832

$2.15 IQD 2,812

0.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 512

$0.76 IQD 993

-48.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.75 IQD 41.6K

$28.16 IQD 36.9K

12.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.26 IQD 2,954

$3.78 IQD 4,954

-40.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 IQD 1,959

$1.53 IQD 1,999

-1.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 IQD 8,065

$7.54 IQD 9,868

-18.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 IQD 702

$0.57 IQD 750

-5.26%

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

$18.9K IQD 24.7M

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

-5.52%

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

$19.8K IQD 26.0M

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

-2.31%

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

$78.7 IQD 103.1K

$181 IQD 236.7K

-56.47%

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

$17.29 IQD 22.6K

$25.64 IQD 33.6K

-32.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.72 IQD 45.5K

$40.76 IQD 53.4K

-14.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.58 IQD 47.9K

$41.00 IQD 53.7K

-10.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.65 IQD 21.8K

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

-10.29%

Cinema Ticket

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

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

$149 IQD 195.7K

$166 IQD 217.8K

-10.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,313 IQD 4.3M

$3,523 IQD 4.6M

-5.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.58 IQD 36.1K

$28.27 IQD 37.0K

-2.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.89 IQD 32.6K

$30.19 IQD 39.5K

-17.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.1 IQD 78.7K

$63.3 IQD 82.9K

-5.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.61 IQD 53.2K

$43.71 IQD 57.2K

-7.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$245 IQD 320.2K

$553 IQD 724.7K

-55.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 IQD 230.7K

$320 IQD 418.5K

-44.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$571 IQD 747.7K

$818 IQD 1.1M

-30.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$350 IQD 458.5K

$583 IQD 763.6K

-39.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,017 IQD 5.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,614 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$648 IQD 848.7K

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $245 in 'aqrah versus $553 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 $37.00 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 44% 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 $1,120 per month in 'aqrah and $1,610 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 $747 in 'aqrah and $1,074 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 $747, than in Baghdad at $1,074. 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.