Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-'amarah and Baghdad Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-'amarah and Baghdad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $683 per month in Al-'amarah vs $1,066 in Baghdad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,105 per month in Al-'amarah vs $1,598 in Baghdad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,526 per month in Al-'amarah vs $2,130 in Baghdad, rent included.

Al-'amarah is about 36% cheaper than Baghdad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Al-'amarah and Baghdad are more affordable than the global median – Al-'amarah 49% lower, Baghdad 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.95 IQD 5,168

$5.30 IQD 6,947

-25.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.27 IQD 33.1K

$36.81 IQD 48.2K

-31.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.96 IQD 9,120

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

-10.54%

Cappuccino

$2.59 IQD 3,397

$3.11 IQD 4,074

-16.72%

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

$0.37 IQD 479

$0.40 IQD 522

-7.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 260

$0.18 IQD 233

11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 IQD 3,842

$3.49 IQD 4,576

-16.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 IQD 3,671

$2.82 IQD 3,686

-0.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 IQD 2,436

$1.31 IQD 1,722

41.98%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 IQD 951

$0.84 IQD 1,100

-13.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 IQD 1,416

$1.64 IQD 2,152

-34.15%

Eggs

$1.54 IQD 2,014

$1.81 IQD 2,364

-14.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 IQD 5,766

$4.52 IQD 5,923

-2.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.62 IQD 6,048

$4.86 IQD 6,364

-4.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.12 IQD 17.2K

$14.16 IQD 18.5K

-7.34%

Apples (1kg)

$0.92 IQD 1,204

$1.23 IQD 1,615

-25.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 IQD 1,415

$1.16 IQD 1,519

-6.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 IQD 1,111

$1.04 IQD 1,366

-18.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.37 IQD 484

$0.75 IQD 984

-50.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 929

$0.64 IQD 843

10.94%

Onion (1kg)

$0.37 IQD 488

$0.67 IQD 873

-44.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 811

$0.63 IQD 828

-1.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.44 IQD 570

$0.66 IQD 858

-33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.95 IQD 2,554

$2.07 IQD 2,707

-5.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.33 IQD 17.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 IQD 2,335

$1.80 IQD 2,354

-1.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 IQD 2,728

$2.11 IQD 2,762

-1.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 513

$0.74 IQD 965

-47.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.25 IQD 40.9K

$27.86 IQD 36.5K

12.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 IQD 2,114

$3.72 IQD 4,870

-56.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 IQD 2,032

$1.55 IQD 2,026

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.05 IQD 7,921

$7.49 IQD 9,803

-19.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.31 IQD 405

$0.53 IQD 700

-41.51%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

-4.89%

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

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

-2.69%

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

$78.8 IQD 103.2K

$175 IQD 229.3K

-54.97%

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

$17.95 IQD 23.5K

$26.17 IQD 34.3K

-31.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.13 IQD 44.7K

$40.52 IQD 53.1K

-15.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.91 IQD 30.0K

$42.04 IQD 55.1K

-45.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.78 IQD 22.0K

$18.31 IQD 24.0K

-8.36%

Cinema Ticket

$7.72 IQD 10.1K

$7.49 IQD 9,813

3.07%

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

$154 IQD 201.4K

$166 IQD 217.8K

-7.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,260 IQD 4.3M

$3,526 IQD 4.6M

-7.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.76 IQD 35.0K

$28.00 IQD 36.7K

-4.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.81 IQD 32.5K

$30.12 IQD 39.4K

-17.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.0 IQD 81.2K

$63.9 IQD 83.7K

-2.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.86 IQD 53.5K

$43.06 IQD 56.4K

-5.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$329 IQD 431.3K

$548 IQD 717.9K

-39.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$134 IQD 175.3K

$323 IQD 422.7K

-58.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$454 IQD 594.7K

$834 IQD 1.1M

-45.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$342 IQD 447.8K

$597 IQD 781.1K

-42.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$567 IQD 741.9K

$4,734 IQD 6.2M

-88.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,570 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$491 IQD 643.0K

$629 IQD 823.2K

-21.90%

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 Al-'amarah: July 11, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $329 in Al-'amarah versus $548 in Baghdad. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 28% higher in Baghdad, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Al-'amarah versus $37.00 in Baghdad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $152 vs $190 – making Al-'amarah 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

Al-'amarah vs Baghdad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Baghdad is pricier by about 56%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,025 per month in Al-'amarah and $1,600 in Baghdad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Al-'amarah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 25% more in Baghdad, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Al-'amarah and $37.00 in Baghdad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al-'amarah, where all-in costs run around $683, than in Baghdad at $1,066. In Al-'amarah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Baghdad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Al-'amarah – 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 Al-'amarah. 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.