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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $679 in Al Kufah versus $1,074 in Baghdad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,052 in Al Kufah versus $1,581 in Baghdad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,425 in Al Kufah versus $2,088 in Baghdad.

Living in Al Kufah costs roughly 37% less than in Baghdad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al Kufah 49% lower, Baghdad 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.28 IQD 6,918

$5.26 IQD 6,892

0.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.99 IQD 47.1K

$36.91 IQD 48.3K

-2.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

$7.46 IQD 9,777

3.08%

Cappuccino

$3.11 IQD 4,078

$3.01 IQD 3,939

3.32%

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

$0.39 IQD 516

$0.36 IQD 477

8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 262

$0.18 IQD 230

11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.35 IQD 4,391

$3.51 IQD 4,596

-4.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 IQD 3,860

$2.83 IQD 3,706

4.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 IQD 1,456

$1.36 IQD 1,784

-18.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.61 IQD 794

$0.80 IQD 1,042

-23.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 IQD 2,151

$1.61 IQD 2,102

1.86%

Eggs

$1.78 IQD 2,333

$1.72 IQD 2,247

3.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.32 IQD 3,035

$4.40 IQD 5,759

-47.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.04 IQD 3,982

$4.87 IQD 6,373

-37.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.75 IQD 12.8K

$13.88 IQD 18.2K

-29.76%

Apples (1kg)

$0.52 IQD 686

$1.28 IQD 1,678

-59.38%

Banana (1kg)

$0.99 IQD 1,291

$1.16 IQD 1,523

-14.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 882

$1.01 IQD 1,323

-33.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 IQD 643

$0.70 IQD 920

-30.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 IQD 492

$0.68 IQD 895

-44.12%

Onion (1kg)

$0.31 IQD 403

$0.63 IQD 831

-50.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 IQD 867

$0.63 IQD 823

4.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 586

$0.66 IQD 867

-31.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.01 IQD 2,633

$2.07 IQD 2,713

-2.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.79 IQD 18.1K

$13.58 IQD 17.8K

1.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 IQD 2,353

$1.84 IQD 2,413

-2.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 IQD 2,719

$2.07 IQD 2,712

0.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 IQD 458

$0.74 IQD 964

-52.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.80 IQD 40.3K

$28.32 IQD 37.1K

8.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 IQD 3,089

$3.90 IQD 5,113

-39.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 IQD 2,021

$1.47 IQD 1,923

4.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.63 IQD 9,991

$7.61 IQD 9,964

0.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 IQD 711

$0.53 IQD 700

1.89%

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

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

$19.9K IQD 26.0M

-0.24%

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

$19.8K IQD 26.0M

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

-0.60%

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

$40.64 IQD 53.2K

$179 IQD 234.3K

-77.28%

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

$25.83 IQD 33.8K

$25.76 IQD 33.7K

0.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.68 IQD 29.7K

$40.94 IQD 53.6K

-44.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.24 IQD 33.1K

$41.54 IQD 54.4K

-39.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.58 IQD 21.7K

$18.57 IQD 24.3K

-10.72%

Cinema Ticket

$7.46 IQD 9,770

$7.66 IQD 10.0K

-2.61%

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

$88.3 IQD 115.7K

$168 IQD 220.3K

-47.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,403 IQD 3.1M

$3,533 IQD 4.6M

-31.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.19 IQD 27.8K

$28.32 IQD 37.1K

-25.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.53 IQD 40.0K

$30.84 IQD 40.4K

-1.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.61 IQD 25.7K

$65.0 IQD 85.1K

-69.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.02 IQD 36.7K

$43.91 IQD 57.5K

-36.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$214 IQD 280.1K

$557 IQD 729.9K

-61.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 IQD 237.3K

$324 IQD 424.8K

-44.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 IQD 566.3K

$822 IQD 1.1M

-47.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 IQD 376.5K

$594 IQD 777.9K

-51.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 IQD 4.3M

$3,867 IQD 5.1M

-15.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,674 IQD 2.2M

$1,428 IQD 1.9M

17.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$768 IQD 1.0M

$622 IQD 814.4K

23.58%

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 Kufah: April 27, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $214 in Al Kufah and $557 in Baghdad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Kufah pays 24% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $36 in Al Kufah vs $37 in Baghdad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $146 vs $189 per month, with Al Kufah cheaper across the board.

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 Kufah vs Baghdad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al Kufah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 58% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Al Kufah pays 24% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $214 in Al Kufah versus $557 in Baghdad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Al Kufah – a meal for two runs $36.00 versus $37.00 in Baghdad. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $679 per month in Al Kufah versus $1,074 in Baghdad – a 58% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $679 in Al Kufah versus $1,074 in Baghdad, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al Kufah but tight or insufficient in Baghdad. The gap between the two cities makes Al Kufah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Al Kufah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.