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 $273 per month in Al-'amarah vs $1,143 in Baghdad, rent included.

A couple spends around $294 per month in Al-'amarah vs $1,702 in Baghdad, rent included.

A family of three spends $316 per month in Al-'amarah vs $2,262 in Baghdad, rent included.

Al-'amarah is about 76% cheaper than Baghdad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Al-'amarah and Baghdad are more affordable than the global median – Al-'amarah 80% lower, Baghdad 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.89 IQD 2,477

$4.91 IQD 6,430

-61.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.26 IQD 44.9K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.49 IQD 5,883

$7.84 IQD 10.3K

-42.73%

Cappuccino

$3.08 IQD 4,033

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

$0.39 IQD 514

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 IQD 342

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.78 IQD 4,957

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 IQD 4,907

Milk (1 liter)

$2.72 IQD 3,567

$1.04 IQD 1,364

161.54%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 IQD 965

$0.83 IQD 1,090

-10.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.93 IQD 1,214

$1.54 IQD 2,015

-39.61%

Eggs

$1.49 IQD 1,945

$1.89 IQD 2,479

-21.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.77 IQD 4,937

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.59 IQD 6,004

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.44 IQD 18.9K

Apples (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 978

$1.13 IQD 1,480

-33.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,519

$1.06 IQD 1,390

9.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.79 IQD 1,029

$1.03 IQD 1,345

-23.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.26 IQD 340

$0.74 IQD 968

-64.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.79 IQD 1,029

$0.69 IQD 906

14.49%

Onion (1kg)

$0.40 IQD 519

$0.70 IQD 912

-42.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 IQD 838

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 733

$0.69 IQD 907

-18.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.78 IQD 2,336

Wine (Bottle)

$13.81 IQD 18.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,806

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 IQD 2,977

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 IQD 905

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.15 IQD 30.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.31 IQD 3,030

$2.23 IQD 2,918

3.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 IQD 2,021

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.65 IQD 10.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.33 IQD 431

$0.62 IQD 806

-46.77%

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

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

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

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

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

$213 IQD 279.2K

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

$21.75 IQD 28.5K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.98 IQD 35.3K

$41.04 IQD 53.7K

-34.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.44 IQD 39.9K

$47.75 IQD 62.5K

-36.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.22 IQD 27.8K

Cinema Ticket

$10.68 IQD 14.0K

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

$169 IQD 221.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,468 IQD 4.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.14 IQD 39.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.41 IQD 50.3K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.0 IQD 95.6K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.87 IQD 62.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$152 IQD 198.5K

$568 IQD 743.5K

-73.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$115 IQD 150.3K

$351 IQD 459.9K

-67.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$195 IQD 254.9K

$935 IQD 1.2M

-79.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$692 IQD 905.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$578 IQD 757.5K

$4,625 IQD 6.1M

-87.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,587 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$501 IQD 655.7K

$615 IQD 805.3K

-18.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

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

Last update for Al-'amarah: September 12, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $152 in Al-'amarah versus $568 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 23% higher in Baghdad, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 319%, 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 $409 per month in Al-'amarah and $1,714 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $273 in Al-'amarah and $1,143 in Baghdad. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 170% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al-'amarah, where all-in costs run around $273, than in Baghdad at $1,143. 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.