Cost of Living Comparison Between An Najaf and Baghdad Cost of Living Comparison Between An Najaf and Baghdad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $677 per month in An Najaf vs $1,074 in Baghdad, rent included.

A couple spends around $997 per month in An Najaf vs $1,573 in Baghdad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,317 per month in An Najaf vs $2,073 in Baghdad, rent included.

An Najaf is about 37% cheaper than Baghdad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both An Najaf and Baghdad are more affordable than the global median – An Najaf 50% lower, Baghdad 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.01 IQD 5,251

$5.27 IQD 6,895

-23.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.23 IQD 30.4K

$36.86 IQD 48.3K

-36.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.82 IQD 6,311

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

-38.05%

Cappuccino

$2.67 IQD 3,500

$2.98 IQD 3,909

-10.40%

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

$0.36 IQD 476

$0.39 IQD 512

-7.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 233

$0.17 IQD 216

5.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.41 IQD 4,462

$3.38 IQD 4,429

0.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 IQD 3,840

$2.89 IQD 3,785

1.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 IQD 1,804

$1.30 IQD 1,702

6.15%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,021

$0.83 IQD 1,087

-6.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 IQD 2,058

$1.67 IQD 2,181

-5.99%

Eggs

$1.72 IQD 2,258

$1.79 IQD 2,343

-3.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.38 IQD 3,121

$4.52 IQD 5,918

-47.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.80 IQD 6,281

$4.84 IQD 6,342

-0.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 IQD 13.8K

$14.04 IQD 18.4K

-25.00%

Apples (1kg)

$1.27 IQD 1,658

$1.28 IQD 1,680

-0.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,513

$1.15 IQD 1,504

0.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,387

$1.04 IQD 1,363

1.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 963

$0.70 IQD 914

5.71%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 905

$0.69 IQD 897

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 889

$0.62 IQD 813

9.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 806

$0.67 IQD 883

-7.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 IQD 479

$0.63 IQD 824

-41.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.49 IQD 1,951

$2.13 IQD 2,786

-30.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.65 IQD 17.9K

$13.64 IQD 17.9K

0.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 IQD 2,404

$1.79 IQD 2,348

2.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 IQD 2,719

$2.15 IQD 2,812

-3.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 522

$0.76 IQD 993

-47.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.74 IQD 45.5K

$28.16 IQD 36.9K

23.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.92 IQD 2,515

$3.78 IQD 4,954

-49.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 IQD 1,939

$1.53 IQD 1,999

-3.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.89 IQD 6,398

$7.54 IQD 9,868

-35.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 IQD 632

$0.57 IQD 750

-15.79%

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

$11.6K IQD 15.2M

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

-41.90%

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

$19.6K IQD 25.7M

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

-3.24%

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

$59.8 IQD 78.3K

$181 IQD 236.7K

-66.94%

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

$22.94 IQD 30.0K

$25.64 IQD 33.6K

-10.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.50 IQD 45.2K

$40.76 IQD 53.4K

-15.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.33 IQD 38.4K

$41.00 IQD 53.7K

-28.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.05 IQD 19.7K

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

-18.91%

Cinema Ticket

$7.67 IQD 10.0K

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

-1.79%

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

$165 IQD 216.6K

$166 IQD 217.8K

-0.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$917 IQD 1.2M

$3,523 IQD 4.6M

-73.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.27 IQD 21.3K

$28.27 IQD 37.0K

-42.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 IQD 33.3K

$30.19 IQD 39.5K

-15.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.7 IQD 84.8K

$63.3 IQD 82.9K

2.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.71 IQD 55.9K

$43.71 IQD 57.2K

-2.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$238 IQD 311.7K

$553 IQD 724.7K

-56.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$132 IQD 173.4K

$320 IQD 418.5K

-58.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$383 IQD 501.1K

$818 IQD 1.1M

-53.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$151 IQD 198.2K

$583 IQD 763.6K

-74.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,276 IQD 1.7M

$4,017 IQD 5.3M

-68.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$480 IQD 628.7K

$1,614 IQD 2.1M

-70.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$752 IQD 984.2K

$648 IQD 848.7K

15.97%

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 An Najaf: June 7, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $238 in An Najaf versus $553 in Baghdad. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 16% higher in An Najaf, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in An Najaf versus $37.00 in Baghdad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $170 vs $190 – making An Najaf the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

An Najaf vs Baghdad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baghdad costs about 58% more than An Najaf, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,016 per month in An Najaf and $1,610 in Baghdad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in An Najaf, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $677 in An Najaf and $1,074 in Baghdad. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 23% less in An Najaf. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in An Najaf, where all-in costs run around $677, than in Baghdad at $1,074. In An Najaf it covers expenses comfortably, while in Baghdad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward An Najaf – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with An Najaf. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Baghdad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.