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 $684 per month in Al-'amarah vs $1,054 in Baghdad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,091 per month in Al-'amarah vs $1,592 in Baghdad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,498 per month in Al-'amarah vs $2,130 in Baghdad, rent included.

Al-'amarah is about 35% 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 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.98 IQD 5,217

$5.48 IQD 7,181

-27.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.81 IQD 32.5K

$36.97 IQD 48.4K

-32.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.00 IQD 9,165

$7.57 IQD 9,909

-7.53%

Cappuccino

$2.56 IQD 3,348

$3.06 IQD 4,003

-16.34%

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

$0.39 IQD 515

$0.40 IQD 518

-2.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 239

$0.18 IQD 242

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 IQD 3,863

$3.42 IQD 4,485

-13.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 IQD 3,723

$2.94 IQD 3,853

-3.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 IQD 2,342

$1.32 IQD 1,726

35.61%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 IQD 977

$0.78 IQD 1,017

-3.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 IQD 1,416

$1.65 IQD 2,166

-34.55%

Eggs

$1.53 IQD 2,005

$1.79 IQD 2,350

-14.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.58 IQD 5,996

$4.40 IQD 5,763

4.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.80 IQD 6,285

$5.07 IQD 6,636

-5.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.12 IQD 17.2K

$14.34 IQD 18.8K

-8.51%

Apples (1kg)

$0.85 IQD 1,118

$1.23 IQD 1,612

-30.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 IQD 1,375

$1.17 IQD 1,530

-10.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.86 IQD 1,125

$1.01 IQD 1,329

-14.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.37 IQD 483

$0.70 IQD 922

-47.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 922

$0.70 IQD 911

Onion (1kg)

$0.34 IQD 450

$0.64 IQD 835

-46.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 IQD 882

$0.63 IQD 822

6.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 IQD 612

$0.66 IQD 871

-28.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 IQD 2,534

$2.11 IQD 2,765

-8.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.35 IQD 17.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 IQD 2,417

$1.76 IQD 2,301

5.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 IQD 2,854

$2.15 IQD 2,815

1.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 512

$0.78 IQD 1,027

-50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.94 IQD 40.5K

$28.60 IQD 37.4K

8.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.68 IQD 2,206

$3.88 IQD 5,087

-56.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 IQD 1,994

$1.47 IQD 1,923

3.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.04 IQD 7,907

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

-23.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.31 IQD 402

$0.56 IQD 737

-44.64%

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

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

-6.85%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

0.27%

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

$77.0 IQD 100.9K

$181 IQD 237.4K

-57.51%

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

$17.77 IQD 23.3K

$25.40 IQD 33.3K

-30.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.12 IQD 44.7K

$40.16 IQD 52.6K

-15.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.53 IQD 29.5K

$41.29 IQD 54.1K

-45.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.00 IQD 22.3K

$18.43 IQD 24.1K

-7.76%

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

$7.82 IQD 10.2K

-1.66%

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

$149 IQD 195.4K

$163 IQD 213.2K

-8.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,247 IQD 4.3M

$3,573 IQD 4.7M

-9.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.00 IQD 35.4K

$28.57 IQD 37.4K

-5.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.83 IQD 32.5K

$30.72 IQD 40.2K

-19.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.4 IQD 79.1K

$63.4 IQD 83.0K

-4.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.70 IQD 53.3K

$43.53 IQD 57.0K

-6.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$333 IQD 435.4K

$540 IQD 707.6K

-38.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$133 IQD 173.6K

$321 IQD 420.5K

-58.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$448 IQD 586.7K

$818 IQD 1.1M

-45.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$347 IQD 453.8K

$580 IQD 759.9K

-40.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$583 IQD 763.6K

$4,034 IQD 5.3M

-85.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,617 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 IQD 647.3K

$642 IQD 841.2K

-23.05%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $333 in Al-'amarah versus $540 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 30% 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: $153 vs $191 – 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 54%, 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 $1,026 per month in Al-'amarah and $1,581 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 24% 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 $684, than in Baghdad at $1,054. 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.