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: $895 in As Samawah versus $1,074 in Baghdad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,362 in As Samawah versus $1,573 in Baghdad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,828 in As Samawah versus $2,073 in Baghdad.

Living in As Samawah costs roughly 17% less than in Baghdad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: As Samawah 33% lower, Baghdad 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.25 IQD 6,880

$5.27 IQD 6,895

-0.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.58 IQD 47.9K

$36.86 IQD 48.3K

-0.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.56 IQD 9,893

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

-2.83%

Cappuccino

$3.08 IQD 4,032

$2.98 IQD 3,909

3.36%

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

$0.39 IQD 517

$0.39 IQD 512

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 228

$0.17 IQD 216

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.50 IQD 4,585

$3.38 IQD 4,429

3.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 IQD 3,832

$2.89 IQD 3,785

1.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 IQD 1,770

$1.30 IQD 1,702

3.85%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,027

$0.83 IQD 1,087

-6.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 IQD 2,157

$1.67 IQD 2,181

-1.20%

Eggs

$1.63 IQD 2,139

$1.79 IQD 2,343

-8.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.63 IQD 6,061

$4.52 IQD 5,918

2.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.99 IQD 6,536

$4.84 IQD 6,342

3.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.23 IQD 18.6K

$14.04 IQD 18.4K

1.35%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 IQD 1,344

$1.28 IQD 1,680

-19.53%

Banana (1kg)

$0.98 IQD 1,280

$1.15 IQD 1,504

-14.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 935

$1.04 IQD 1,363

-31.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 IQD 672

$0.70 IQD 914

-27.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 845

$0.69 IQD 897

-7.25%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 889

$0.62 IQD 813

9.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 IQD 449

$0.67 IQD 883

-49.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 IQD 806

$0.63 IQD 824

-1.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.16 IQD 2,831

$2.13 IQD 2,786

1.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

$13.64 IQD 17.9K

-42.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 IQD 2,317

$1.79 IQD 2,348

-1.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 IQD 2,868

$2.15 IQD 2,812

1.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 519

$0.76 IQD 993

-47.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.96 IQD 40.5K

$28.16 IQD 36.9K

9.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.93 IQD 5,143

$3.78 IQD 4,954

3.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 IQD 1,952

$1.53 IQD 1,999

-2.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.83 IQD 10.3K

$7.54 IQD 9,868

3.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 IQD 746

$0.57 IQD 750

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

$20.2K IQD 26.5M

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

1.29%

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

$20.2K IQD 26.5M

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

-0.29%

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

$175 IQD 228.8K

$181 IQD 236.7K

-3.36%

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

$25.47 IQD 33.4K

$25.64 IQD 33.6K

-0.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.93 IQD 53.6K

$40.76 IQD 53.4K

0.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.29 IQD 47.5K

$41.00 IQD 53.7K

-11.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.89 IQD 22.1K

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

-9.00%

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

-1.54%

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

$164 IQD 215.1K

$166 IQD 217.8K

-1.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,589 IQD 4.7M

$3,523 IQD 4.6M

1.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.94 IQD 37.9K

$28.27 IQD 37.0K

2.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.14 IQD 40.8K

$30.19 IQD 39.5K

3.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.0 IQD 83.8K

$63.3 IQD 82.9K

1.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$44.11 IQD 57.8K

$43.71 IQD 57.2K

0.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$242 IQD 316.6K

$553 IQD 724.7K

-56.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.5K

$320 IQD 418.5K

-45.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$579 IQD 758.5K

$818 IQD 1.1M

-29.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$348 IQD 456.2K

$583 IQD 763.6K

-40.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,017 IQD 5.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,614 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$648 IQD 848.7K

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $242 in As Samawah and $553 in Baghdad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $37.00 in As Samawah vs $37.00 in Baghdad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $173 vs $190 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, Sport & Entertainment. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,343 in As Samawah and $1,610 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: $242 in As Samawah versus $553 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 $164 in As Samawah versus $166 in Baghdad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $895 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 20% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.