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 $680 per month in An Najaf vs $1,055 in Baghdad, rent included.

A couple spends around $999 per month in An Najaf vs $1,565 in Baghdad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,319 per month in An Najaf vs $2,074 in Baghdad, rent included.

An Najaf is about 36% cheaper than Baghdad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both An Najaf and Baghdad are more affordable than the global median – An Najaf 49% lower, Baghdad 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.00 IQD 5,232

$5.50 IQD 7,206

-27.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.74 IQD 29.8K

$36.22 IQD 47.4K

-37.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.71 IQD 6,173

$7.70 IQD 10.1K

-38.83%

Cappuccino

$2.76 IQD 3,617

$2.98 IQD 3,903

-7.38%

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

$0.36 IQD 478

$0.36 IQD 477

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 268

$0.17 IQD 219

17.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.45 IQD 4,521

$3.51 IQD 4,590

-1.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 IQD 3,828

$2.93 IQD 3,839

-0.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,732

$1.35 IQD 1,768

-2.22%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 IQD 1,077

$0.78 IQD 1,023

5.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 IQD 2,153

$1.59 IQD 2,076

3.14%

Eggs

$1.74 IQD 2,276

$1.79 IQD 2,338

-2.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.37 IQD 3,110

$4.58 IQD 5,999

-48.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.99 IQD 6,536

$4.81 IQD 6,296

3.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.52 IQD 13.8K

$14.13 IQD 18.5K

-25.55%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,605

$1.23 IQD 1,612

Banana (1kg)

$1.20 IQD 1,573

$1.21 IQD 1,590

-0.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,388

$1.00 IQD 1,311

6.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 962

$0.74 IQD 970

-1.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 855

$0.65 IQD 854

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 883

$0.67 IQD 881

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 IQD 846

$0.62 IQD 817

4.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 IQD 514

$0.66 IQD 861

-40.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.51 IQD 1,983

$2.05 IQD 2,690

-26.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.38 IQD 17.5K

$13.49 IQD 17.7K

-0.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,338

$1.79 IQD 2,346

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 IQD 2,733

$2.15 IQD 2,821

-2.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 475

$0.75 IQD 976

-52.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$33.79 IQD 44.3K

$27.88 IQD 36.5K

21.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 IQD 2,561

$3.93 IQD 5,147

-50.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 IQD 1,999

$1.47 IQD 1,922

4.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.12 IQD 6,706

$7.50 IQD 9,826

-31.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 IQD 619

$0.56 IQD 740

-16.07%

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

$11.3K IQD 14.8M

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

-42.60%

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

$20.2K IQD 26.5M

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

1.49%

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

$60.1 IQD 78.7K

$176 IQD 230.7K

-65.87%

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

$23.36 IQD 30.6K

$25.81 IQD 33.8K

-9.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.30 IQD 44.9K

$41.29 IQD 54.1K

-16.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.48 IQD 38.6K

$42.14 IQD 55.2K

-30.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.89 IQD 19.5K

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

-19.77%

Cinema Ticket

$7.43 IQD 9,726

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

-4.38%

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

$169 IQD 221.0K

$168 IQD 220.3K

0.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$929 IQD 1.2M

$3,627 IQD 4.7M

-74.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.63 IQD 21.8K

$27.92 IQD 36.6K

-40.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.08 IQD 32.8K

$30.46 IQD 39.9K

-17.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.7 IQD 84.7K

$64.9 IQD 85.0K

-0.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.02 IQD 56.3K

$43.79 IQD 57.3K

-1.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$238 IQD 311.3K

$554 IQD 725.1K

-57.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$135 IQD 176.3K

$321 IQD 419.7K

-57.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$378 IQD 495.3K

$839 IQD 1.1M

-54.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$156 IQD 204.3K

$583 IQD 764.1K

-73.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,242 IQD 1.6M

$4,745 IQD 6.2M

-73.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$495 IQD 648.3K

$1,597 IQD 2.1M

-69.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$734 IQD 961.5K

$612 IQD 800.9K

20.05%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $238 in An Najaf versus $554 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 20% 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 $36.00 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 55% 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 $1,019 per month in An Najaf and $1,582 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 $680 in An Najaf and $1,055 in Baghdad. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 21% 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 $680, than in Baghdad at $1,055. 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.