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 $810 per month in Al Hillah vs $1,066 in Baghdad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,264 per month in Al Hillah vs $1,598 in Baghdad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,718 per month in Al Hillah vs $2,130 in Baghdad, rent included.

Al Hillah is about 24% cheaper than Baghdad, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Al Hillah and Baghdad are more affordable than the global median – Al Hillah 39% lower, Baghdad 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.45 IQD 7,132

$5.30 IQD 6,947

2.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.09 IQD 40.7K

$36.81 IQD 48.2K

-15.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.12 IQD 8,019

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

-21.34%

Cappuccino

$3.06 IQD 4,005

$3.11 IQD 4,074

-1.61%

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

$0.40 IQD 518

$0.40 IQD 522

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 242

$0.18 IQD 233

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 IQD 3,833

$3.49 IQD 4,576

-16.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 IQD 3,793

$2.82 IQD 3,686

2.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 IQD 1,800

$1.31 IQD 1,722

4.58%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 IQD 963

$0.84 IQD 1,100

-11.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 IQD 2,156

$1.64 IQD 2,152

0.61%

Eggs

$1.80 IQD 2,359

$1.81 IQD 2,364

-0.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 IQD 5,874

$4.52 IQD 5,923

-0.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.80 IQD 6,290

$4.86 IQD 6,364

-1.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.01 IQD 18.3K

$14.16 IQD 18.5K

-1.06%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,607

$1.23 IQD 1,615

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,564

$1.16 IQD 1,519

2.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,368

$1.04 IQD 1,366

Tomato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 899

$0.75 IQD 984

-8.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 863

$0.64 IQD 843

3.13%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 820

$0.67 IQD 873

-5.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 IQD 778

$0.63 IQD 828

-6.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 721

$0.66 IQD 858

-16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 IQD 2,485

$2.07 IQD 2,707

-8.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.82 IQD 18.1K

$13.33 IQD 17.5K

3.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 IQD 2,415

$1.80 IQD 2,354

2.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 IQD 2,840

$2.11 IQD 2,762

2.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 520

$0.74 IQD 965

-45.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.4 IQD 85.6K

$27.86 IQD 36.5K

134.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 IQD 3,092

$3.72 IQD 4,870

-36.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 IQD 2,031

$1.55 IQD 2,026

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.37 IQD 4,414

$7.49 IQD 9,803

-55.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 IQD 703

$0.53 IQD 700

1.89%

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

$17.4K IQD 22.8M

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

-13.01%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.5M

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

-0.31%

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

$75.8 IQD 99.3K

$175 IQD 229.3K

-56.69%

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

$15.12 IQD 19.8K

$26.17 IQD 34.3K

-42.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.00 IQD 51.1K

$40.52 IQD 53.1K

-3.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.41 IQD 30.7K

$42.04 IQD 55.1K

-44.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.19 IQD 25.1K

$18.31 IQD 24.0K

4.81%

Cinema Ticket

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

$7.49 IQD 9,813

3.74%

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

$95.6 IQD 125.2K

$166 IQD 217.8K

-42.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$779 IQD 1.0M

$3,526 IQD 4.6M

-77.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.22 IQD 35.6K

$28.00 IQD 36.7K

-2.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.73 IQD 36.3K

$30.12 IQD 39.4K

-7.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.6 IQD 80.7K

$63.9 IQD 83.7K

-3.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.71 IQD 57.2K

$43.06 IQD 56.4K

1.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$364 IQD 476.8K

$548 IQD 717.9K

-33.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$196 IQD 256.8K

$323 IQD 422.7K

-39.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$667 IQD 874.0K

$834 IQD 1.1M

-19.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$313 IQD 410.0K

$597 IQD 781.1K

-47.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,746 IQD 2.3M

$4,734 IQD 6.2M

-63.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$545 IQD 713.5K

$1,570 IQD 2.1M

-65.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$517 IQD 677.5K

$629 IQD 823.2K

-17.70%

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 Hillah: July 12, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $364 in Al Hillah 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 22% 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 $31.00 in Al Hillah versus $37.00 in Baghdad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $189 vs $190 – 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 32%, 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 $1,215 per month in Al Hillah 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 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 135% less in Al Hillah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $95.6 per month in Al Hillah and $166 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 $810, than in Baghdad at $1,066. 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.