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: $671 in Al Kufah versus $1,074 in Baghdad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,041 in Al Kufah versus $1,573 in Baghdad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,411 in Al Kufah versus $2,073 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 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.45 IQD 7,133

$5.27 IQD 6,895

3.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.38 IQD 47.6K

$36.86 IQD 48.3K

-1.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.60 IQD 9,956

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

-2.31%

Cappuccino

$2.94 IQD 3,856

$2.98 IQD 3,909

-1.34%

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

$0.40 IQD 519

$0.39 IQD 512

2.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 233

$0.17 IQD 216

5.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.52 IQD 4,604

$3.38 IQD 4,429

4.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 IQD 3,784

$2.89 IQD 3,785

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 IQD 1,459

$1.30 IQD 1,702

-14.62%

White Bread (500g)

$0.66 IQD 865

$0.83 IQD 1,087

-20.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 IQD 2,166

$1.67 IQD 2,181

-1.20%

Eggs

$1.71 IQD 2,236

$1.79 IQD 2,343

-4.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.22 IQD 2,910

$4.52 IQD 5,918

-50.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 IQD 3,963

$4.84 IQD 6,342

-37.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.21 IQD 13.4K

$14.04 IQD 18.4K

-27.28%

Apples (1kg)

$0.49 IQD 637

$1.28 IQD 1,680

-61.72%

Banana (1kg)

$0.96 IQD 1,261

$1.15 IQD 1,504

-16.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 891

$1.04 IQD 1,363

-34.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.46 IQD 607

$0.70 IQD 914

-34.29%

Potato (1kg)

$0.40 IQD 530

$0.69 IQD 897

-42.03%

Onion (1kg)

$0.34 IQD 439

$0.62 IQD 813

-45.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 824

$0.67 IQD 883

-5.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 586

$0.63 IQD 824

-28.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.03 IQD 2,662

$2.13 IQD 2,786

-4.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.53 IQD 17.7K

$13.64 IQD 17.9K

-0.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 IQD 2,310

$1.79 IQD 2,348

-1.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 IQD 2,759

$2.15 IQD 2,812

-1.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 489

$0.76 IQD 993

-51.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.49 IQD 41.2K

$28.16 IQD 36.9K

11.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.32 IQD 3,041

$3.78 IQD 4,954

-38.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 IQD 2,018

$1.53 IQD 1,999

0.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.47 IQD 9,783

$7.54 IQD 9,868

-0.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 697

$0.57 IQD 750

-7.02%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

1.63%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

-0.13%

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

$40.56 IQD 53.1K

$181 IQD 236.7K

-77.56%

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

$26.38 IQD 34.5K

$25.64 IQD 33.6K

2.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.19 IQD 30.4K

$40.76 IQD 53.4K

-43.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.04 IQD 34.1K

$41.00 IQD 53.7K

-36.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.05 IQD 22.3K

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

-8.14%

Cinema Ticket

$7.62 IQD 9,982

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

-2.43%

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

$86.3 IQD 113.0K

$166 IQD 217.8K

-48.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,370 IQD 3.1M

$3,523 IQD 4.6M

-32.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.20 IQD 27.8K

$28.27 IQD 37.0K

-25.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.55 IQD 38.7K

$30.19 IQD 39.5K

-2.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$20.10 IQD 26.3K

$63.3 IQD 82.9K

-68.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$27.59 IQD 36.1K

$43.71 IQD 57.2K

-36.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$213 IQD 278.8K

$553 IQD 724.7K

-61.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.4K

$320 IQD 418.5K

-45.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$427 IQD 558.7K

$818 IQD 1.1M

-47.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$295 IQD 386.1K

$583 IQD 763.6K

-49.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,258 IQD 4.3M

$4,017 IQD 5.3M

-18.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,677 IQD 2.2M

$1,614 IQD 2.1M

3.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$769 IQD 1.0M

$648 IQD 848.7K

18.63%

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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $213 in Al Kufah and $553 in Baghdad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Kufah pays 19% 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 $37.00 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 60% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Al Kufah pays 19% 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: $213 in Al Kufah versus $553 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 $671 per month in Al Kufah versus $1,074 in Baghdad – a 60% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $671 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 60% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.