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 $819 per month in Al Hillah vs $1,054 in Baghdad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,263 per month in Al Hillah vs $1,592 in Baghdad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,708 per month in Al Hillah vs $2,130 in Baghdad, rent included.

Al Hillah is about 22% 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 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.28 IQD 6,917

$5.48 IQD 7,181

-3.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.53 IQD 40.0K

$36.97 IQD 48.4K

-17.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.00 IQD 7,851

$7.57 IQD 9,909

-20.74%

Cappuccino

$3.11 IQD 4,073

$3.06 IQD 4,003

1.63%

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

$0.40 IQD 518

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 265

$0.18 IQD 242

11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.97 IQD 3,896

$3.42 IQD 4,485

-13.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 IQD 3,706

$2.94 IQD 3,853

-3.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,713

$1.32 IQD 1,726

-0.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 IQD 967

$0.78 IQD 1,017

-5.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 IQD 2,151

$1.65 IQD 2,166

-0.61%

Eggs

$1.74 IQD 2,280

$1.79 IQD 2,350

-2.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.38 IQD 5,733

$4.40 IQD 5,763

-0.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.06 IQD 6,623

$5.07 IQD 6,636

-0.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.96 IQD 18.3K

$14.34 IQD 18.8K

-2.65%

Apples (1kg)

$1.28 IQD 1,673

$1.23 IQD 1,612

4.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,516

$1.17 IQD 1,530

-0.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,385

$1.01 IQD 1,329

4.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 920

$0.70 IQD 922

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 862

$0.70 IQD 911

-5.71%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 890

$0.64 IQD 835

6.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 IQD 720

$0.63 IQD 822

-12.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 722

$0.66 IQD 871

-16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.95 IQD 2,552

$2.11 IQD 2,765

-7.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.56 IQD 17.8K

$13.35 IQD 17.5K

1.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 IQD 2,300

$1.76 IQD 2,301

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 IQD 2,863

$2.15 IQD 2,815

1.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 522

$0.78 IQD 1,027

-48.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.8 IQD 83.6K

$28.60 IQD 37.4K

123.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.26 IQD 2,957

$3.88 IQD 5,087

-41.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 IQD 2,016

$1.47 IQD 1,923

4.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.33 IQD 4,358

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

-57.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 689

$0.56 IQD 737

-5.36%

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

$17.0K IQD 22.2M

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

-16.39%

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

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

0.83%

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

$76.0 IQD 99.6K

$181 IQD 237.4K

-58.06%

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

$15.24 IQD 20.0K

$25.40 IQD 33.3K

-40.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.99 IQD 49.8K

$40.16 IQD 52.6K

-5.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.35 IQD 30.6K

$41.29 IQD 54.1K

-43.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.37 IQD 25.4K

$18.43 IQD 24.1K

5.10%

Cinema Ticket

$7.55 IQD 9,883

$7.82 IQD 10.2K

-3.45%

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

$96.5 IQD 126.4K

$163 IQD 213.2K

-40.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$754 IQD 986.7K

$3,573 IQD 4.7M

-78.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.29 IQD 35.7K

$28.57 IQD 37.4K

-4.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.83 IQD 36.4K

$30.72 IQD 40.2K

-9.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.2 IQD 80.1K

$63.4 IQD 83.0K

-3.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.90 IQD 57.5K

$43.53 IQD 57.0K

0.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$378 IQD 494.8K

$540 IQD 707.6K

-30.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$191 IQD 249.6K

$321 IQD 420.5K

-40.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$662 IQD 867.5K

$818 IQD 1.1M

-19.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$322 IQD 422.1K

$580 IQD 759.9K

-44.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,702 IQD 2.2M

$4,034 IQD 5.3M

-57.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$562 IQD 736.0K

$1,617 IQD 2.1M

-65.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$515 IQD 674.7K

$642 IQD 841.2K

-19.79%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $378 in Al Hillah 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 25% 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: $188 vs $191 – 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 29%, 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 $1,228 per month in Al Hillah 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 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 123% less in Al Hillah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $96.5 per month in Al Hillah and $163 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 $819, than in Baghdad at $1,054. 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.