Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Hillah and Baghdad Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Hillah and Baghdad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $791 per month in Al Hillah vs $1,143 in Baghdad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,214 per month in Al Hillah vs $1,702 in Baghdad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,636 per month in Al Hillah vs $2,262 in Baghdad, rent included.

Al Hillah is about 31% cheaper than Baghdad, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Al Hillah and Baghdad are more affordable than the global median – Al Hillah 42% lower, Baghdad 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.86 IQD 6,367

$4.91 IQD 6,430

-1.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.43 IQD 39.8K

$34.26 IQD 44.9K

-11.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.95 IQD 7,788

$7.84 IQD 10.3K

-24.11%

Cappuccino

$3.05 IQD 3,993

$3.08 IQD 4,033

-0.97%

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

$0.37 IQD 480

$0.39 IQD 514

-5.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 289

$0.26 IQD 342

-15.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.83 IQD 3,705

$3.78 IQD 4,957

-25.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.93 IQD 5,144

$3.75 IQD 4,907

4.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 IQD 1,426

$1.04 IQD 1,364

4.81%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,018

$0.83 IQD 1,090

-6.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 IQD 2,009

$1.54 IQD 2,015

-0.65%

Eggs

$1.81 IQD 2,368

$1.89 IQD 2,479

-4.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.97 IQD 5,203

$3.77 IQD 4,937

5.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.74 IQD 6,202

$4.59 IQD 6,004

3.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.24 IQD 18.6K

$14.44 IQD 18.9K

-1.39%

Apples (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,549

$1.13 IQD 1,480

4.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 IQD 1,412

$1.06 IQD 1,390

1.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,393

$1.03 IQD 1,345

2.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.78 IQD 1,017

$0.74 IQD 968

5.41%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 866

$0.69 IQD 906

-4.35%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 835

$0.70 IQD 912

-8.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 IQD 730

$0.64 IQD 838

-12.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 IQD 768

$0.69 IQD 907

-14.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.83 IQD 2,400

$1.78 IQD 2,336

2.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.64 IQD 17.9K

$13.81 IQD 18.1K

-1.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 IQD 2,937

$2.14 IQD 2,806

4.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 IQD 2,875

$2.27 IQD 2,977

-3.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 513

$0.69 IQD 905

-43.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.3 IQD 84.2K

$23.15 IQD 30.3K

177.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.26 IQD 2,960

$2.23 IQD 2,918

1.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 IQD 1,988

$1.54 IQD 2,021

-1.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.46 IQD 4,532

$7.65 IQD 10.0K

-54.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 IQD 749

$0.62 IQD 806

-8.06%

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

$17.1K IQD 22.4M

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

-11.53%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

-1.51%

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

$76.2 IQD 99.8K

$213 IQD 279.2K

-64.25%

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

$15.14 IQD 19.8K

$21.75 IQD 28.5K

-30.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.51 IQD 50.4K

$41.04 IQD 53.7K

-6.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.95 IQD 30.1K

$47.75 IQD 62.5K

-51.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.40 IQD 25.4K

$21.22 IQD 27.8K

-8.58%

Cinema Ticket

$7.55 IQD 9,889

$10.68 IQD 14.0K

-29.31%

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

$94.9 IQD 124.3K

$169 IQD 221.7K

-43.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$766 IQD 1.0M

$3,468 IQD 4.5M

-77.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.31 IQD 29.2K

$30.14 IQD 39.5K

-25.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 IQD 32.4K

$38.41 IQD 50.3K

-35.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.1 IQD 87.8K

$73.0 IQD 95.6K

-8.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.37 IQD 62.0K

$47.87 IQD 62.7K

-1.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$281 IQD 368.6K

$568 IQD 743.5K

-50.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 IQD 235.5K

$351 IQD 459.9K

-48.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$495 IQD 648.4K

$935 IQD 1.2M

-47.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$291 IQD 380.8K

$692 IQD 905.7K

-57.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,717 IQD 2.2M

$4,625 IQD 6.1M

-62.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$555 IQD 726.2K

$1,587 IQD 2.1M

-65.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$514 IQD 673.3K

$615 IQD 805.3K

-16.39%

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 Hillah: September 15, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $281 in Al Hillah 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 20% 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 $30.00 in Al Hillah versus $34.00 in Baghdad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $186 vs $187 – making Al Hillah 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 Hillah vs Baghdad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Baghdad is pricier by about 44%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,187 per month in Al Hillah 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 Hillah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 178% less in Al Hillah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $94.9 per month in Al Hillah and $169 in Baghdad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al Hillah, where all-in costs run around $791, than in Baghdad at $1,143. In Al Hillah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Baghdad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Al Hillah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Al Hillah. 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.