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: $777 in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,066 in Baghdad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,176 in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,598 in Baghdad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,574 in Al-Rumaitha versus $2,130 in Baghdad.

Living in Al-Rumaitha costs roughly 27% less than in Baghdad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al-Rumaitha 42% lower, Baghdad 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.00 IQD 5,239

$5.30 IQD 6,947

-24.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.15 IQD 32.9K

$36.81 IQD 48.2K

-31.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.71 IQD 8,785

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

-13.75%

Cappuccino

$2.60 IQD 3,408

$3.11 IQD 4,074

-16.40%

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

$0.39 IQD 515

$0.40 IQD 522

-2.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 265

$0.18 IQD 233

11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.86 IQD 3,745

$3.49 IQD 4,576

-18.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 IQD 3,809

$2.82 IQD 3,686

3.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 IQD 1,738

$1.31 IQD 1,722

1.53%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,031

$0.84 IQD 1,100

-5.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 IQD 2,168

$1.64 IQD 2,152

1.22%

Eggs

$1.74 IQD 2,274

$1.81 IQD 2,364

-3.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.37 IQD 5,727

$4.52 IQD 5,923

-3.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.61 IQD 6,039

$4.86 IQD 6,364

-5.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.31 IQD 17.4K

$14.16 IQD 18.5K

-6.00%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 IQD 1,570

$1.23 IQD 1,615

-2.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,507

$1.16 IQD 1,519

-0.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,330

$1.04 IQD 1,366

-1.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 964

$0.75 IQD 984

-1.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 845

$0.64 IQD 843

1.56%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 872

$0.67 IQD 873

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 813

$0.63 IQD 828

-1.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 722

$0.66 IQD 858

-16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.89 IQD 2,479

$2.07 IQD 2,707

-8.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.90 IQD 16.9K

$13.33 IQD 17.5K

-3.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 IQD 2,421

$1.80 IQD 2,354

2.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 IQD 2,727

$2.11 IQD 2,762

-1.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 478

$0.74 IQD 965

-51.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.29 IQD 41.0K

$27.86 IQD 36.5K

12.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,054

$3.72 IQD 4,870

-37.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 IQD 1,957

$1.55 IQD 2,026

-3.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.92 IQD 7,756

$7.49 IQD 9,803

-20.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 IQD 751

$0.53 IQD 700

7.55%

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

$19.2K IQD 25.2M

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

-3.97%

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

$19.6K IQD 25.7M

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

-3.63%

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

$78.1 IQD 102.3K

$175 IQD 229.3K

-55.38%

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

$17.49 IQD 22.9K

$26.17 IQD 34.3K

-33.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.43 IQD 45.1K

$40.52 IQD 53.1K

-15.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.84 IQD 48.2K

$42.04 IQD 55.1K

-12.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 IQD 22.4K

$18.31 IQD 24.0K

-6.50%

Cinema Ticket

$7.63 IQD 9,995

$7.49 IQD 9,813

1.87%

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

$153 IQD 200.1K

$166 IQD 217.8K

-8.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,328 IQD 4.4M

$3,526 IQD 4.6M

-5.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.81 IQD 35.1K

$28.00 IQD 36.7K

-4.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.05 IQD 32.8K

$30.12 IQD 39.4K

-16.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.3 IQD 81.5K

$63.9 IQD 83.7K

-2.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.45 IQD 53.0K

$43.06 IQD 56.4K

-6.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$239 IQD 313.3K

$548 IQD 717.9K

-56.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 IQD 234.9K

$323 IQD 422.7K

-44.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 IQD 764.6K

$834 IQD 1.1M

-29.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$338 IQD 442.7K

$597 IQD 781.1K

-43.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,734 IQD 6.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,570 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$629 IQD 823.2K

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-Rumaitha: July 13, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $239 in Al-Rumaitha and $548 in Baghdad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $25.00 in Al-Rumaitha vs $37.00 in Baghdad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $183 vs $190 per month, with Al-Rumaitha 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-Rumaitha vs Baghdad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al-Rumaitha is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 37% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,165 in Al-Rumaitha and $1,600 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: $239 in Al-Rumaitha versus $548 in Baghdad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $777 per month in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,066 in Baghdad – a 37% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Al-Rumaitha runs roughly 12% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $777 in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,066 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 37% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.