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: $630 in Al Kufah versus $1,124 in Baghdad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,038 in Al Kufah versus $1,692 in Baghdad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,446 in Al Kufah versus $2,259 in Baghdad.

Living in Al Kufah costs roughly 44% less than in Baghdad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al Kufah 54% lower, Baghdad 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.83 IQD 6,320

$4.74 IQD 6,209

1.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.07 IQD 44.6K

$33.69 IQD 44.1K

1.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 IQD 9,795

$7.75 IQD 10.1K

-3.48%

Cappuccino

$3.20 IQD 4,191

$3.07 IQD 4,024

4.23%

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

$0.36 IQD 474

$0.40 IQD 521

-10.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 IQD 312

$0.24 IQD 313

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.86 IQD 5,055

$3.87 IQD 5,071

-0.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.89 IQD 5,100

$3.75 IQD 4,911

3.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 IQD 1,347

$1.09 IQD 1,423

-5.50%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,035

$0.80 IQD 1,042

-1.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 IQD 1,993

$1.51 IQD 1,982

0.66%

Eggs

$1.82 IQD 2,390

$1.82 IQD 2,386

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.33 IQD 3,046

$3.90 IQD 5,106

-40.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.57 IQD 5,980

$4.70 IQD 6,149

-2.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.29 IQD 12.2K

$14.34 IQD 18.8K

-35.22%

Apples (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 976

$1.12 IQD 1,465

-33.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 IQD 1,370

$1.06 IQD 1,389

-0.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.61 IQD 801

$1.07 IQD 1,400

-42.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 IQD 739

$0.74 IQD 967

-24.32%

Potato (1kg)

$0.51 IQD 668

$0.66 IQD 860

-22.73%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 IQD 431

$0.70 IQD 915

-52.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.20 IQD 267

$0.62 IQD 813

-67.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 716

$0.65 IQD 845

-15.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.59 IQD 2,077

$1.78 IQD 2,333

-10.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.80 IQD 18.1K

$13.68 IQD 17.9K

0.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 IQD 2,908

$2.14 IQD 2,798

3.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 IQD 2,893

$2.27 IQD 2,971

-2.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 482

$0.64 IQD 838

-42.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.99 IQD 30.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.22 IQD 2,909

$2.25 IQD 2,941

-1.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 IQD 2,027

$1.48 IQD 1,944

4.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

-1.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.58 IQD 762

$0.67 IQD 877

-13.43%

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

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

0.16%

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

$19.6K IQD 25.6M

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

2.42%

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

$218 IQD 285.9K

$214 IQD 280.5K

1.91%

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

$21.02 IQD 27.5K

$21.41 IQD 28.0K

-1.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.69 IQD 29.7K

$42.10 IQD 55.1K

-46.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.54 IQD 20.3K

$47.30 IQD 61.9K

-67.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.04 IQD 28.9K

Cinema Ticket

$9.96 IQD 13.0K

$10.76 IQD 14.1K

-7.43%

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

$72.7 IQD 95.2K

$165 IQD 215.5K

-55.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,401 IQD 3.1M

$3,445 IQD 4.5M

-30.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.86 IQD 12.9K

$29.79 IQD 39.0K

-66.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.84 IQD 39.1K

$38.31 IQD 50.2K

-22.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$20.17 IQD 26.4K

$74.4 IQD 97.5K

-72.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$34.50 IQD 45.2K

$47.59 IQD 62.3K

-27.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$189 IQD 247.3K

$566 IQD 741.8K

-66.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 IQD 453.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$250 IQD 327.9K

$959 IQD 1.3M

-73.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$204 IQD 266.8K

$679 IQD 889.1K

-69.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,333 IQD 1.7M

$4,665 IQD 6.1M

-71.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$382 IQD 499.8K

$1,599 IQD 2.1M

-76.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,017 IQD 1.3M

$615 IQD 805.6K

65.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Al Kufah: September 7, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $189 in Al Kufah and $566 in Baghdad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Kufah pays 65% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $34.00 in Al Kufah vs $34.00 in Baghdad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $157 vs $186 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, Getting Around. The 79% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 65% 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: $189 in Al Kufah versus $566 in Baghdad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 19% higher in Baghdad. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $630 per month in Al Kufah versus $1,124 in Baghdad – a 79% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $630 in Al Kufah versus $1,124 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 79% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.