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 $346 per month in Al-'amarah vs $1,161 in Baghdad, rent included.

A couple spends around $527 per month in Al-'amarah vs $1,735 in Baghdad, rent included.

A family of three spends $708 per month in Al-'amarah vs $2,309 in Baghdad, rent included.

Al-'amarah is about 70% cheaper than Baghdad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Al-'amarah and Baghdad are more affordable than the global median – Al-'amarah 74% lower, Baghdad 14% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.95 IQD 2,555

$4.76 IQD 6,234

-59.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.81 IQD 50.8K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.46 IQD 5,840

$7.54 IQD 9,872

-40.85%

Cappuccino

$3.31 IQD 4,330

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

$0.37 IQD 479

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 IQD 342

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.87 IQD 5,070

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 IQD 4,955

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 IQD 2,438

$1.08 IQD 1,420

72.22%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 IQD 979

$0.83 IQD 1,089

-9.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 IQD 1,457

$1.50 IQD 1,966

-26.00%

Eggs

$1.47 IQD 1,930

$1.86 IQD 2,435

-20.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$1.95 IQD 2,554

$3.94 IQD 5,166

-50.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.37 IQD 9,649

$4.86 IQD 6,362

51.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.00 IQD 10.5K

$14.07 IQD 18.4K

-43.14%

Apples (1kg)

$0.85 IQD 1,108

$1.16 IQD 1,523

-26.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 IQD 1,378

$1.08 IQD 1,417

-2.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.84 IQD 1,099

$0.99 IQD 1,299

-15.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.37 IQD 481

$0.79 IQD 1,037

-53.16%

Potato (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 989

$0.65 IQD 847

16.92%

Onion (1kg)

$0.38 IQD 495

$0.71 IQD 923

-46.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 IQD 627

$0.66 IQD 865

-27.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 IQD 614

$0.70 IQD 922

-32.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 IQD 2,537

Wine (Bottle)

$13.74 IQD 18.0K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 IQD 2,913

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 IQD 2,937

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 IQD 840

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.78 IQD 27.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.69 IQD 2,209

$2.32 IQD 3,044

-27.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.24 IQD 1,618

$1.50 IQD 1,960

-17.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.71 IQD 12.7K

$7.54 IQD 9,876

28.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.31 IQD 404

$0.63 IQD 828

-50.79%

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

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

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

$20.2K IQD 26.5M

$19.6K IQD 25.6M

3.43%

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

$214 IQD 280.0K

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

$21.20 IQD 27.8K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.29 IQD 34.4K

$42.05 IQD 55.1K

-37.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.99 IQD 30.1K

$46.90 IQD 61.4K

-50.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.40 IQD 28.0K

Cinema Ticket

$10.86 IQD 14.2K

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

$169 IQD 221.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,444 IQD 4.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.65 IQD 42.8K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.77 IQD 52.1K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.5 IQD 100.2K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$51.6 IQD 67.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$319 IQD 418.2K

$580 IQD 759.9K

-44.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$132 IQD 172.4K

$357 IQD 467.6K

-63.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$445 IQD 582.3K

$963 IQD 1.3M

-53.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$253 IQD 331.2K

$695 IQD 910.5K

-63.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$567 IQD 741.9K

$4,585 IQD 6.0M

-87.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,610 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$497 IQD 650.6K

$625 IQD 818.0K

-20.46%

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: August 3, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: August 3, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $319 in Al-'amarah versus $580 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 26% 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 236%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $519 per month in Al-'amarah and $1,742 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 $346 in Al-'amarah and $1,161 in Baghdad. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 46% 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 $346, than in Baghdad at $1,161. 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.