Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between 'aqrah and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in 'aqrah: $661 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $24,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

'aqrah
🇮🇶 Iraq
$661
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in 'aqrah and in Austin, TX

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in 'aqrah and in Austin, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $661 in 'aqrah versus $2,663 in Austin, TX.

  • 'aqrah $661
  • Austin, TX $2,663

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,015 in 'aqrah versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

  • 'aqrah $1,015
  • Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,369 in 'aqrah versus $5,603 in Austin, TX.

  • 'aqrah $1,369
  • Austin, TX $5,603

Living in 'aqrah costs roughly 75% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: 'aqrah is 51% below, Austin, TX is 97% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
'aqrah
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.62 IQD 5,467
$20.77 $20.77
-82.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.82 IQD 33.0K
$84.6 $84.6
-74.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.82 IQD 10.3K
$12.32 $12.32
-44.64%
Cappuccino
$2.38 IQD 3,602
$5.63 $5.63
-57.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 IQD 485
$3.72 $3.72
-91.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18 IQD 273
$2.50 $2.50
-92.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.11 IQD 4,706
$8.05 $8.05
-61.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 IQD 3,945
$9.01 $9.01
-71.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
'aqrah
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.94 IQD 1,416
$1.12 $1.12
-16.07%
White Bread (500g)
$0.72 IQD 1,086
$3.75 $3.75
-80.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.46 IQD 2,205
$3.26 $3.26
-55.21%
Eggs
$1.70 IQD 2,573
$4.17 $4.17
-59.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.48 IQD 5,252
$12.90 $12.90
-73.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.16 IQD 6,291
$14.16 $14.16
-70.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.31 IQD 20.1K
$16.22 $16.22
-17.94%
Apples (1kg)
$0.92 IQD 1,383
$4.33 $4.33
-78.75%
Banana (1kg)
$0.91 IQD 1,375
$1.46 $1.46
-37.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.77 IQD 1,161
$4.51 $4.51
-82.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.66 IQD 990
$4.34 $4.34
-84.79%
Potato (1kg)
$0.54 IQD 809
$2.58 $2.58
-79.07%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 IQD 965
$2.35 $2.35
-72.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.51 IQD 776
$1.78 $1.78
-71.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 IQD 756
$2.22 $2.22
-77.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.57 IQD 2,368
$9.88 $9.88
-84.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.92 IQD 16.5K
$15.08 $15.08
-27.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 IQD 2,003
$2.92 $2.92
-54.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 IQD 2,800
$3.46 $3.46
-46.53%
🚌 Getting Around
'aqrah
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.45 IQD 679
$1.49 $1.49
-69.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.50 IQD 26.4K
$41.72 $41.72
-58.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.89 IQD 2,859
$2.73 $2.73
-30.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.39 IQD 2,099
$1.66 $1.66
-16.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.15 IQD 7,788
$35.30 $35.30
-85.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.48 IQD 727
$0.95 $0.95
-49.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.9K IQD 25.5M
$36.0K $36.0K
-53.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K IQD 29.3M
$27.1K $27.1K
-28.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
'aqrah
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.2 IQD 121.1K
$229 $229
-65.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.58 IQD 20.5K
$59.4 $59.4
-77.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.25 IQD 41.2K
$69.9 $69.9
-61.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
'aqrah
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.01 IQD 55.9K
$57.2 $57.2
-35.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.33 $16.33
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.39 IQD 12.7K
$14.28 $14.28
-41.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
'aqrah
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$142 IQD 213.9K
$1,506 $1,506
-90.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,656 IQD 4.0M
$21.5K $21.5K
-87.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
'aqrah
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.08 IQD 33.4K
$52.8 $52.8
-58.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.85 IQD 36.0K
$43.82 $43.82
-45.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$47.26 IQD 71.4K
$84.8 $84.8
-44.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$31.06 IQD 46.9K
$103 $103
-69.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
'aqrah
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$184 IQD 277.8K
$1,907 $1,907
-90.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$141 IQD 213.2K
$1,274 $1,274
-88.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$358 IQD 541.4K
$3,664 $3,664
-90.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$278 IQD 419.4K
$2,538 $2,538
-89.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$779 IQD 1.2M
$7,614 $7,614
-89.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$642 IQD 970.8K
$3,157 $3,157
-79.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
'aqrah
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,121 $5,121
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.33
6.79
-50.96%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for 'aqrah: October 13, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
'aqrah
$160
Austin, TX
$405 153% $245
Accommodation & Living
'aqrah
$141
Austin, TX
$1.3K 803% $1.1K
Monthly Utilities & Internet
'aqrah
$121
Austin, TX
$358 196% $237
Eating Out
'aqrah
$101
Austin, TX
$354 251% $253
Clothing & Footwear
'aqrah
$56
Austin, TX
$128 129% $72
Sport & Entertainment
'aqrah
$54
Austin, TX
$86 59.5% $32
Getting Around
'aqrah
$28
Austin, TX
$59 109% $31

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $184 in 'aqrah and $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $22.00 in 'aqrah vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $160 vs $405 per month, with 'aqrah cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇶 'aqrah
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
06:20 6:20 AM
22:20 10:20 PM
8 h behind 'aqrah
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
68,100
974,447
💱 Currency
Iraqi Dinar IQD ع.د
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to IQD – Iraqi Dinar Converter

Iraqi Dinar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1,511 IQD (10,000 IQD = 6.62 USD). 1 EUR = 1,701 IQD (10,000 IQD = 5.88 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.13 USD (1 USD = 0.888 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • 'aqrah Austin, TX 11,560 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • 'aqrah
  • Austin, TX

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
'aqrah vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, 'aqrah or Austin, TX?
'aqrah wins on cost – living expenses run 303% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making 'aqrah the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in 'aqrah and in Austin, TX?
You'd need roughly $991 in 'aqrah and $3,995 in Austin, TX 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in 'aqrah compared to Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $184 in 'aqrah versus $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in 'aqrah compared to Austin, TX?
All in, you'll spend $661 per month in 'aqrah versus $2,663 in Austin, TX – a 303% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in 'aqrah compared to Austin, TX?
A monthly transit pass in 'aqrah runs roughly 138% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in 'aqrah or in Austin, TX?
At $661 in 'aqrah versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $1,000 budget is realistic in 'aqrah but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes 'aqrah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: 'aqrah or Austin, TX?
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.
How safe is 'aqrah compared to Austin, TX?
Safety-wise, 'aqrah and Austin, TX are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find 'aqrah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 303% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

'aqrah vs other spots: cost of living compared

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