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: $766 in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,054 in Baghdad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,181 in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,592 in Baghdad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,596 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 43% lower, Baghdad 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.07 IQD 5,331

$5.48 IQD 7,181

-25.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.66 IQD 32.3K

$36.97 IQD 48.4K

-33.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.94 IQD 9,087

$7.57 IQD 9,909

-8.32%

Cappuccino

$2.57 IQD 3,369

$3.06 IQD 4,003

-16.01%

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

$0.39 IQD 516

$0.40 IQD 518

-2.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 IQD 216

$0.18 IQD 242

-11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.86 IQD 3,743

$3.42 IQD 4,485

-16.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 IQD 3,870

$2.94 IQD 3,853

0.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 IQD 1,736

$1.32 IQD 1,726

0.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 IQD 1,112

$0.78 IQD 1,017

8.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 IQD 2,060

$1.65 IQD 2,166

-4.85%

Eggs

$1.78 IQD 2,329

$1.79 IQD 2,350

-0.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.38 IQD 5,741

$4.40 IQD 5,763

-0.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.73 IQD 6,192

$5.07 IQD 6,637

-6.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.99 IQD 17.0K

$14.34 IQD 18.8K

-9.41%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 IQD 1,577

$1.23 IQD 1,612

-2.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,500

$1.17 IQD 1,530

-1.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,383

$1.01 IQD 1,329

4.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 919

$0.70 IQD 922

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 920

$0.70 IQD 911

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 830

$0.64 IQD 835

-1.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 IQD 835

$0.63 IQD 822

1.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 722

$0.66 IQD 871

-16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 IQD 2,546

$2.11 IQD 2,765

-8.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.18 IQD 17.3K

$13.35 IQD 17.5K

-1.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 IQD 2,414

$1.76 IQD 2,301

4.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,806

$2.15 IQD 2,815

-0.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 483

$0.78 IQD 1,027

-52.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.62 IQD 41.4K

$28.60 IQD 37.4K

10.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.34 IQD 3,070

$3.88 IQD 5,087

-39.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 IQD 1,935

$1.47 IQD 1,923

0.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.14 IQD 8,044

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

-21.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 IQD 703

$0.56 IQD 737

-3.57%

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

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

-7.65%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

0.34%

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

$76.9 IQD 100.7K

$181 IQD 237.4K

-57.58%

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

$17.44 IQD 22.8K

$25.40 IQD 33.3K

-31.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.89 IQD 45.7K

$40.16 IQD 52.6K

-13.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.96 IQD 48.4K

$41.29 IQD 54.1K

-10.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.50 IQD 21.6K

$18.43 IQD 24.1K

-10.47%

Cinema Ticket

$7.64 IQD 10.0K

$7.82 IQD 10.2K

-2.30%

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

$150 IQD 196.0K

$163 IQD 213.2K

-8.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,219 IQD 4.2M

$3,573 IQD 4.7M

-9.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.34 IQD 35.8K

$28.57 IQD 37.4K

-4.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.62 IQD 33.6K

$30.72 IQD 40.2K

-16.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.5 IQD 81.9K

$63.4 IQD 83.0K

-1.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.65 IQD 53.2K

$43.53 IQD 57.0K

-6.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$244 IQD 319.4K

$540 IQD 707.6K

-54.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 IQD 230.0K

$321 IQD 420.5K

-45.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$570 IQD 746.9K

$818 IQD 1.1M

-30.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$343 IQD 449.5K

$580 IQD 759.9K

-40.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,034 IQD 5.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,617 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$642 IQD 841.2K

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $244 in Al-Rumaitha and $540 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 $184 vs $191 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 37% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,150 in Al-Rumaitha and $1,581 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: $244 in Al-Rumaitha versus $540 in Baghdad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $766 per month in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,054 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 11% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $766 in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,054 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.