Cost of Living Comparison Between As Samawah and Baghdad Cost of Living Comparison Between As Samawah and Baghdad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $886 in As Samawah versus $1,074 in Baghdad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,349 in As Samawah versus $1,581 in Baghdad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,813 in As Samawah versus $2,088 in Baghdad.

Living in As Samawah costs roughly 18% less than in Baghdad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: As Samawah 34% lower, Baghdad 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.37 IQD 7,038

$5.26 IQD 6,893

2.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.74 IQD 46.8K

$36.91 IQD 48.4K

-3.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.63 IQD 10.0K

$7.46 IQD 9,779

2.28%

Cappuccino

$3.00 IQD 3,925

$3.01 IQD 3,940

-0.33%

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

$0.39 IQD 513

$0.36 IQD 477

8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 216

$0.18 IQD 230

-5.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 IQD 4,594

$3.51 IQD 4,597

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 IQD 3,816

$2.83 IQD 3,707

2.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,719

$1.36 IQD 1,785

-3.68%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 IQD 1,080

$0.80 IQD 1,042

2.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 IQD 2,136

$1.61 IQD 2,103

1.24%

Eggs

$1.61 IQD 2,110

$1.72 IQD 2,248

-6.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 IQD 5,746

$4.40 IQD 5,760

-0.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.06 IQD 6,625

$4.87 IQD 6,374

3.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.83 IQD 18.1K

$13.88 IQD 18.2K

-0.36%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,333

$1.28 IQD 1,678

-20.31%

Banana (1kg)

$0.99 IQD 1,294

$1.16 IQD 1,523

-14.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 903

$1.01 IQD 1,323

-31.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 IQD 639

$0.70 IQD 921

-30.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 862

$0.68 IQD 895

-2.94%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 822

$0.63 IQD 831

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.32 IQD 418

$0.63 IQD 824

-49.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 IQD 878

$0.66 IQD 867

1.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.11 IQD 2,765

$2.07 IQD 2,714

1.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.59 IQD 9,945

$13.58 IQD 17.8K

-44.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 IQD 2,413

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 IQD 2,858

$2.07 IQD 2,712

5.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 521

$0.74 IQD 964

-45.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.26 IQD 40.9K

$28.32 IQD 37.1K

10.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.73 IQD 4,885

$3.90 IQD 5,114

-4.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 IQD 2,019

$1.47 IQD 1,923

4.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

$7.61 IQD 9,966

1.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 IQD 704

$0.53 IQD 701

1.89%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

$19.9K IQD 26.0M

0.60%

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

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

0.46%

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

$176 IQD 230.0K

$179 IQD 234.4K

-1.86%

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

$25.49 IQD 33.4K

$25.76 IQD 33.7K

-1.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.86 IQD 53.5K

$40.94 IQD 53.6K

-0.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.44 IQD 49.0K

$41.54 IQD 54.4K

-9.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.54 IQD 21.7K

$18.57 IQD 24.3K

-10.93%

Cinema Ticket

$7.82 IQD 10.2K

$7.66 IQD 10.0K

2.09%

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

$166 IQD 217.7K

$168 IQD 220.4K

-1.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,567 IQD 4.7M

$3,533 IQD 4.6M

0.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.20 IQD 36.9K

$28.32 IQD 37.1K

-0.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.03 IQD 40.6K

$30.84 IQD 40.4K

0.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.3 IQD 85.5K

$65.0 IQD 85.2K

0.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.89 IQD 57.5K

$43.91 IQD 57.5K

-0.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$243 IQD 318.0K

$557 IQD 730.1K

-56.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 IQD 230.2K

$324 IQD 424.9K

-45.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$576 IQD 755.1K

$822 IQD 1.1M

-29.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$347 IQD 455.0K

$594 IQD 778.1K

-41.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,867 IQD 5.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,428 IQD 1.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$622 IQD 814.6K

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 As Samawah: April 25, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $243 in As Samawah and $557 in Baghdad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $36.00 in As Samawah vs $37.00 in Baghdad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $172 vs $189 per month, with As Samawah cheaper across the board.

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

As Samawah vs Baghdad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

As Samawah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,329 in As Samawah and $1,611 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: $243 in As Samawah versus $557 in Baghdad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in As Samawah runs roughly 10% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $166 in As Samawah versus $168 in Baghdad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $886 in As Samawah versus $1,074 in Baghdad, a $1,500 budget is realistic in As Samawah but tight or insufficient in Baghdad. The gap between the two cities makes As Samawah 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.

Expats usually find As Samawah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.