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 $675 per month in An Najaf vs $1,074 in Baghdad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,012 per month in An Najaf vs $1,581 in Baghdad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,349 per month in An Najaf vs $2,088 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

$4.00 IQD 5,235

$5.26 IQD 6,892

-23.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.73 IQD 29.8K

$36.91 IQD 48.3K

-38.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.66 IQD 6,102

$7.46 IQD 9,777

-37.53%

Cappuccino

$2.74 IQD 3,594

$3.01 IQD 3,939

-8.97%

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

$0.37 IQD 479

$0.36 IQD 477

2.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 226

$0.18 IQD 230

-5.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.54 IQD 4,638

$3.51 IQD 4,596

0.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 IQD 3,694

$2.83 IQD 3,706

-0.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 IQD 1,805

$1.36 IQD 1,784

1.47%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 IQD 1,102

$0.80 IQD 1,042

5.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 IQD 2,173

$1.61 IQD 2,102

3.11%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,339

$1.72 IQD 2,247

4.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.30 IQD 3,007

$4.40 IQD 5,759

-47.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.09 IQD 6,663

$4.87 IQD 6,373

4.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 IQD 14.1K

$13.88 IQD 18.2K

-22.41%

Apples (1kg)

$1.27 IQD 1,662

$1.28 IQD 1,678

-0.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,514

$1.16 IQD 1,523

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,387

$1.01 IQD 1,323

4.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 971

$0.70 IQD 920

5.71%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 850

$0.68 IQD 895

-4.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 883

$0.63 IQD 831

6.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 IQD 790

$0.63 IQD 823

-4.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 IQD 482

$0.66 IQD 867

-43.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.49 IQD 1,946

$2.07 IQD 2,713

-28.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.42 IQD 17.6K

$13.58 IQD 17.8K

-1.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 IQD 2,307

$1.84 IQD 2,413

-4.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 IQD 2,833

$2.07 IQD 2,712

4.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 476

$0.74 IQD 964

-51.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.31 IQD 44.9K

$28.32 IQD 37.1K

21.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.93 IQD 2,531

$3.90 IQD 5,113

-50.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 IQD 2,001

$1.47 IQD 1,923

4.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.87 IQD 6,381

$7.61 IQD 9,964

-36.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 IQD 618

$0.53 IQD 700

-11.32%

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

$11.7K IQD 15.3M

$19.9K IQD 26.0M

-41.04%

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

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

0.65%

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

$59.6 IQD 78.1K

$179 IQD 234.3K

-66.66%

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

$23.19 IQD 30.4K

$25.76 IQD 33.7K

-9.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.04 IQD 44.6K

$40.94 IQD 53.6K

-16.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.85 IQD 39.1K

$41.54 IQD 54.4K

-28.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.09 IQD 19.8K

$18.57 IQD 24.3K

-18.74%

Cinema Ticket

$7.61 IQD 9,965

$7.66 IQD 10.0K

-0.65%

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

$166 IQD 217.3K

$168 IQD 220.3K

-1.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$913 IQD 1.2M

$3,533 IQD 4.6M

-74.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.29 IQD 21.3K

$28.32 IQD 37.1K

-42.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.72 IQD 32.4K

$30.84 IQD 40.4K

-19.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.4 IQD 85.6K

$65.0 IQD 85.1K

0.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.68 IQD 55.9K

$43.91 IQD 57.5K

-2.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$239 IQD 312.5K

$557 IQD 729.9K

-57.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$134 IQD 175.8K

$324 IQD 424.8K

-58.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$380 IQD 498.2K

$822 IQD 1.1M

-53.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$153 IQD 200.0K

$594 IQD 777.9K

-74.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,266 IQD 1.7M

$3,867 IQD 5.1M

-67.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$481 IQD 629.9K

$1,428 IQD 1.9M

-66.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$746 IQD 976.6K

$622 IQD 814.4K

19.92%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $239 in An Najaf versus $557 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 $37.00 in Baghdad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $172 vs $189 – 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 59% 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 $1,013 per month in An Najaf and $1,611 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 $675 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 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 $675, 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.