Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between 'aqrah and Baghdad

For one person, living is cheaper in 'aqrah: $661 a month against $1,001 in Baghdad, rent and utilities included – about $4,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

32

Cost of Living Index in 'aqrah
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'aqrah Living Index
49

Cost of Living Index in Baghdad
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Baghdad Living Index

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'aqrah

🇮🇶 Iraq

$661

/mo nomad

Baghdad

🇮🇶 Iraq

$1,001

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in 'aqrah and in Baghdad

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 Baghdad actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $661 in 'aqrah versus $1,001 in Baghdad.

'aqrah $661
Baghdad $1,001

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,015 in 'aqrah versus $1,472 in Baghdad.

'aqrah $1,015
Baghdad $1,472

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,369 in 'aqrah versus $1,943 in Baghdad.

'aqrah $1,369
Baghdad $1,943

Living in 'aqrah costs roughly 34% less than in Baghdad, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities sit below the global median: 'aqrah 51% lower, Baghdad 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.62 IQD 5,467

$4.27 IQD 6,445

-15.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.82 IQD 33.0K

$29.18 IQD 44.1K

-25.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.82 IQD 10.3K

$6.77 IQD 10.2K

0.74%

Cappuccino

$2.38 IQD 3,602

$2.65 IQD 4,003

-10.19%

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

$0.32 IQD 485

$0.35 IQD 530

-8.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 273

$0.20 IQD 302

-10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.11 IQD 4,706

$3.26 IQD 4,927

-4.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 IQD 3,945

$3.22 IQD 4,868

-18.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 IQD 1,416

$0.97 IQD 1,466

-3.09%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 IQD 1,086

$0.73 IQD 1,097

-1.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.46 IQD 2,205

$1.33 IQD 2,003

9.77%

Eggs

$1.70 IQD 2,573

$1.68 IQD 2,534

1.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.48 IQD 5,252

$3.25 IQD 4,912

7.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.16 IQD 6,291

$4.10 IQD 6,192

1.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.31 IQD 20.1K

$12.41 IQD 18.8K

7.25%

Apples (1kg)

$0.92 IQD 1,383

$1.01 IQD 1,523

-8.91%

Banana (1kg)

$0.91 IQD 1,375

$0.98 IQD 1,487

-7.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.77 IQD 1,161

$0.96 IQD 1,444

-19.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 990

$0.69 IQD 1,045

-4.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.54 IQD 809

$0.56 IQD 842

-3.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 965

$0.57 IQD 855

12.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.51 IQD 776

$0.53 IQD 806

-3.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 IQD 756

$0.62 IQD 943

-19.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.57 IQD 2,368

$1.68 IQD 2,534

-6.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.92 IQD 16.5K

$11.61 IQD 17.5K

-5.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 IQD 2,003

$1.89 IQD 2,863

-29.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 IQD 2,800

$1.90 IQD 2,876

-2.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 IQD 679

$0.57 IQD 858

-21.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.50 IQD 26.4K

$20.12 IQD 30.4K

-13.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.89 IQD 2,859

$2.01 IQD 3,038

-5.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 IQD 2,099

$1.34 IQD 2,029

3.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.15 IQD 7,788

$6.54 IQD 9,887

-21.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 IQD 727

$0.54 IQD 810

-11.11%

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

$16.9K IQD 25.5M

$16.3K IQD 24.6M

3.57%

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

$19.4K IQD 29.3M

$16.6K IQD 25.1M

16.92%

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

$80.2 IQD 121.1K

$189 IQD 285.6K

-57.59%

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

$13.58 IQD 20.5K

$17.44 IQD 26.4K

-22.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.25 IQD 41.2K

$36.40 IQD 55.0K

-25.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.01 IQD 55.9K

$41.49 IQD 62.7K

-10.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.51 IQD 28.0K

Cinema Ticket

$8.39 IQD 12.7K

$9.64 IQD 14.6K

-12.97%

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

$142 IQD 213.9K

$145 IQD 218.9K

-2.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,656 IQD 4.0M

$3,046 IQD 4.6M

-12.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.08 IQD 33.4K

$24.78 IQD 37.4K

-10.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.85 IQD 36.0K

$28.66 IQD 43.3K

-16.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.26 IQD 71.4K

$59.8 IQD 90.4K

-21.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.06 IQD 46.9K

$41.64 IQD 62.9K

-25.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$184 IQD 277.8K

$513 IQD 774.7K

-64.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$141 IQD 213.2K

$322 IQD 485.8K

-56.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$358 IQD 541.4K

$881 IQD 1.3M

-59.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$278 IQD 419.4K

$595 IQD 899.0K

-53.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$779 IQD 1.2M

$4,336 IQD 6.6M

-82.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$642 IQD 970.8K

$1,443 IQD 2.2M

-55.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$499 IQD 753.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.33

4.12

-19.17%

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

Last update for 'aqrah: October 13, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

'aqrah

$160 24.2%

Baghdad

$164 16.4% 2.3% $3.7

Accommodation & Living

'aqrah

$141 21.4%

Baghdad

$322 32.1% 128% $180

Monthly Utilities & Internet

'aqrah

$121 18.3%

Baghdad

$243 24.3% 101% $122

Eating Out

'aqrah

$101 15.3%

Baghdad

$111 11.1% 10.3% $10

Clothing & Footwear

'aqrah

$56 8.5%

Baghdad

$70 7% 24.7% $14

Sport & Entertainment

'aqrah

$54 8.1%

Baghdad

$61 6.1% 13% $7

Getting Around

'aqrah

$28 4.3%

Baghdad

$31 3.1% 10.6% $3

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $184 in 'aqrah and $513 in Baghdad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $22.00 in 'aqrah vs $29.00 in Baghdad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $160 vs $164 per month, with 'aqrah cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇮🇶 'aqrah

🇮🇶 Baghdad

🕒 Local time

03:46 3:46 AM

Same time as 'aqrah

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

68,100

7,216,040 Capital

💱 Currency

Iraqi Dinar IQD ع.د

📈 Exchange rate

10,000 IQD = 6.62 USD

10,000 IQD = 5.88 EUR

10,000 IQD = 6.62 USD

10,000 IQD = 5.88 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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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 Baghdad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

'aqrah wins on cost – living expenses run 51% lower than in Baghdad. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making 'aqrah the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $991 in 'aqrah and $1,501 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: $184 in 'aqrah versus $513 in Baghdad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $661 per month in 'aqrah versus $1,001 in Baghdad – a 51% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in 'aqrah runs roughly 15% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $661 in 'aqrah versus $1,001 in Baghdad, a $1,000 budget is realistic in 'aqrah but tight or insufficient in Baghdad. The gap between the two cities makes 'aqrah 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.

Safety-wise, 'aqrah and Baghdad are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find 'aqrah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.