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: $667 in Al Kufah versus $1,055 in Baghdad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,063 in Al Kufah versus $1,565 in Baghdad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,460 in Al Kufah versus $2,074 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 50% lower, Baghdad 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.30 IQD 6,938

$5.50 IQD 7,206

-3.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.29 IQD 47.5K

$36.22 IQD 47.4K

0.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.45 IQD 9,759

$7.70 IQD 10.1K

-3.25%

Cappuccino

$2.96 IQD 3,871

$2.98 IQD 3,903

-0.67%

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

$0.36 IQD 476

$0.36 IQD 477

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 IQD 244

$0.17 IQD 219

11.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.50 IQD 4,580

$3.51 IQD 4,590

-0.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 IQD 3,773

$2.93 IQD 3,839

-1.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 IQD 1,470

$1.35 IQD 1,768

-17.04%

White Bread (500g)

$0.61 IQD 801

$0.78 IQD 1,023

-21.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 IQD 2,096

$1.59 IQD 2,076

0.63%

Eggs

$1.75 IQD 2,290

$1.79 IQD 2,338

-2.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.30 IQD 3,017

$4.58 IQD 5,999

-49.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.96 IQD 3,882

$4.81 IQD 6,296

-38.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.08 IQD 13.2K

$14.13 IQD 18.5K

-28.66%

Apples (1kg)

$0.48 IQD 632

$1.23 IQD 1,612

-60.98%

Banana (1kg)

$0.94 IQD 1,226

$1.21 IQD 1,590

-22.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 885

$1.00 IQD 1,311

-32.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.50 IQD 655

$0.74 IQD 970

-32.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.37 IQD 488

$0.65 IQD 854

-43.08%

Onion (1kg)

$0.31 IQD 402

$0.67 IQD 881

-53.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 829

$0.62 IQD 817

1.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 589

$0.66 IQD 861

-31.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.98 IQD 2,588

$2.05 IQD 2,690

-3.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.68 IQD 17.9K

$13.49 IQD 17.7K

1.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 IQD 2,439

$1.79 IQD 2,346

3.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 IQD 2,772

$2.15 IQD 2,821

-1.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 IQD 495

$0.75 IQD 976

-49.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.80 IQD 40.3K

$27.88 IQD 36.5K

10.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,941

$3.93 IQD 5,147

-42.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 IQD 1,949

$1.47 IQD 1,922

1.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.80 IQD 10.2K

$7.50 IQD 9,826

4.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 IQD 661

$0.56 IQD 740

-10.71%

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

$20.2K IQD 26.5M

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

2.70%

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

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

-1.05%

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

$40.44 IQD 52.9K

$176 IQD 230.7K

-77.04%

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

$26.03 IQD 34.1K

$25.81 IQD 33.8K

0.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.39 IQD 30.6K

$41.29 IQD 54.1K

-43.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.75 IQD 33.7K

$42.14 IQD 55.2K

-38.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 IQD 22.4K

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

-7.65%

Cinema Ticket

$7.49 IQD 9,804

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

-3.60%

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

$86.2 IQD 112.9K

$168 IQD 220.3K

-48.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,396 IQD 3.1M

$3,627 IQD 4.7M

-33.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.08 IQD 27.6K

$27.92 IQD 36.6K

-24.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.78 IQD 39.0K

$30.46 IQD 39.9K

-2.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.61 IQD 25.7K

$64.9 IQD 85.0K

-69.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$27.17 IQD 35.6K

$43.79 IQD 57.3K

-37.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$214 IQD 280.1K

$554 IQD 725.1K

-61.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 IQD 230.6K

$321 IQD 419.7K

-45.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 IQD 553.3K

$839 IQD 1.1M

-49.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$295 IQD 385.7K

$583 IQD 764.1K

-49.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,317 IQD 1.7M

$4,745 IQD 6.2M

-72.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$383 IQD 502.0K

$1,597 IQD 2.1M

-75.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,031 IQD 1.3M

$612 IQD 800.9K

68.55%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $214 in Al Kufah and $554 in Baghdad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Kufah pays 69% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $36.00 in Al Kufah vs $36.00 in Baghdad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $147 vs $190 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, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 58% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 69% higher in Al Kufah, 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 $554 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 $36.00 in Baghdad. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $667 per month in Al Kufah versus $1,055 in Baghdad – a 58% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $667 in Al Kufah versus $1,055 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.