Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-Rumaitha and Baghdad Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-Rumaitha and Baghdad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $388 in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,148 in Baghdad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,246 in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,708 in Baghdad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,105 in Al-Rumaitha versus $2,269 in Baghdad.

Living in Al-Rumaitha costs roughly 66% less than in Baghdad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al-Rumaitha 72% lower, Baghdad 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.81 IQD 6,302

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.76 IQD 44.2K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.68 IQD 10.1K

Cappuccino

$3.07 IQD 4,018

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

$0.40 IQD 520

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 IQD 342

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.89 IQD 5,091

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 IQD 4,906

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 IQD 1,424

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,091

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.78 IQD 1,015

$1.53 IQD 2,005

-49.02%

Eggs

$1.80 IQD 2,355

$1.89 IQD 2,473

-4.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.80 IQD 4,971

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.95 IQD 2,549

$4.58 IQD 5,992

-57.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.57 IQD 13.8K

$14.59 IQD 19.1K

-27.55%

Apples (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 982

$1.14 IQD 1,492

-34.21%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 IQD 1,027

$1.07 IQD 1,399

-27.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.77 IQD 1,011

$1.06 IQD 1,391

-27.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.36 IQD 476

$0.74 IQD 971

-51.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.40 IQD 520

$0.66 IQD 860

-39.39%

Onion (1kg)

$0.39 IQD 515

$0.64 IQD 843

-39.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 IQD 512

$0.63 IQD 827

-38.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 IQD 512

$0.70 IQD 920

-44.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.50 IQD 1,965

$1.83 IQD 2,400

-18.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.76 IQD 16.7K

$13.65 IQD 17.9K

-6.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 IQD 2,027

$2.21 IQD 2,891

-29.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 IQD 3,031

$2.18 IQD 2,861

5.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 475

$0.65 IQD 854

-44.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.62 IQD 29.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.32 IQD 3,040

$2.32 IQD 3,037

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 IQD 1,009

$1.55 IQD 2,025

-50.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.79 IQD 10.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 IQD 801

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

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

$9,188 IQD 12.0M

$19.2K IQD 25.1M

-52.03%

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

$213 IQD 278.8K

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

$75.0 IQD 98.3K

$20.99 IQD 27.5K

257.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.26 IQD 55.3K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.91 IQD 35.2K

$46.87 IQD 61.4K

-42.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.87 IQD 5,073

$22.00 IQD 28.8K

-82.41%

Cinema Ticket

$11.47 IQD 15.0K

$10.57 IQD 13.8K

8.51%

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

$165 IQD 216.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,462 IQD 4.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.28 IQD 14.8K

$30.18 IQD 39.5K

-62.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.99 IQD 19.6K

$38.06 IQD 49.8K

-60.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 IQD 95.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$22.81 IQD 29.9K

$47.63 IQD 62.4K

-52.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$150 IQD 196.8K

$575 IQD 753.1K

-73.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$114 IQD 149.6K

$350 IQD 457.9K

-67.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$229 IQD 300.4K

$959 IQD 1.3M

-76.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,537 IQD 2.0M

$687 IQD 899.8K

123.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,743 IQD 6.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,576 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$604 IQD 791.2K

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-Rumaitha: August 30, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $150 in Al-Rumaitha and $575 in Baghdad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

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-Rumaitha vs Baghdad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al-Rumaitha is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Eating Out. The 196% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $582 in Al-Rumaitha and $1,722 in Baghdad to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $150 in Al-Rumaitha versus $575 in Baghdad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 69% higher in Baghdad. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $388 per month in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,148 in Baghdad – a 196% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $388 in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,148 in Baghdad, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al-Rumaitha but tight or insufficient in Baghdad. The gap between the two cities makes Al-Rumaitha 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-Rumaitha gentler on the wallet – expenses run 196% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.