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: $675 in As Samawah versus $1,143 in Baghdad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $969 in As Samawah versus $1,702 in Baghdad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,263 in As Samawah versus $2,262 in Baghdad.

Living in As Samawah costs roughly 41% less than in Baghdad, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: As Samawah 51% lower, Baghdad 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.84 IQD 6,334

$4.91 IQD 6,423

-1.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.74 IQD 45.4K

$34.26 IQD 44.8K

1.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.56 IQD 9,889

$7.84 IQD 10.3K

-3.57%

Cappuccino

$3.08 IQD 4,031

$3.08 IQD 4,029

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

$0.40 IQD 521

$0.39 IQD 513

2.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 IQD 254

$0.26 IQD 342

-26.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.72 IQD 4,872

$3.78 IQD 4,951

-1.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 IQD 4,877

$3.75 IQD 4,901

-0.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 IQD 1,408

$1.04 IQD 1,362

3.85%

White Bread (500g)

$0.77 IQD 1,012

$0.83 IQD 1,089

-7.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 IQD 1,976

$1.54 IQD 2,012

-1.95%

Eggs

$1.75 IQD 2,295

$1.89 IQD 2,476

-7.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$1.51 IQD 1,974

$3.77 IQD 4,931

-59.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.83 IQD 6,313

$4.59 IQD 5,997

5.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.91 IQD 18.2K

$14.44 IQD 18.9K

-3.67%

Apples (1kg)

$1.09 IQD 1,429

$1.13 IQD 1,478

-3.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 IQD 1,416

$1.06 IQD 1,388

1.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.94 IQD 1,235

$1.03 IQD 1,344

-8.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.42 IQD 547

$0.74 IQD 967

-43.24%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 IQD 718

$0.69 IQD 905

-20.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 873

$0.70 IQD 911

-4.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 IQD 883

$0.64 IQD 837

4.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 IQD 892

$0.69 IQD 906

-1.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.85 IQD 2,418

$1.78 IQD 2,333

3.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.48 IQD 9,782

$13.81 IQD 18.1K

-45.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 IQD 2,907

$2.14 IQD 2,803

3.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 IQD 2,960

$2.27 IQD 2,974

-0.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 IQD 904

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.50 IQD 29.4K

$23.15 IQD 30.3K

-2.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 IQD 2,926

$2.23 IQD 2,914

0.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 IQD 1,944

$1.54 IQD 2,019

-3.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 IQD 4,092

$7.65 IQD 10.0K

-59.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.62 IQD 810

$0.62 IQD 805

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

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

$19.4K IQD 25.3M

-2.87%

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

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

-2.69%

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

$82.3 IQD 107.7K

$213 IQD 278.9K

-61.40%

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

$19.13 IQD 25.0K

$21.75 IQD 28.4K

-12.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.37 IQD 25.3K

$41.04 IQD 53.7K

-52.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$7.80 IQD 10.2K

$47.75 IQD 62.5K

-83.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.36 IQD 25.3K

$21.22 IQD 27.8K

-8.77%

Cinema Ticket

$9.14 IQD 11.9K

$10.68 IQD 14.0K

-14.42%

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

$57.4 IQD 75.1K

$169 IQD 221.4K

-66.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,506 IQD 2.0M

$3,468 IQD 4.5M

-56.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.18 IQD 38.2K

$30.14 IQD 39.4K

-3.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.61 IQD 49.2K

$38.41 IQD 50.2K

-2.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.7 IQD 97.7K

$73.0 IQD 95.5K

2.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.79 IQD 62.5K

$47.87 IQD 62.6K

-0.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$122 IQD 159.0K

$568 IQD 742.6K

-78.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$117 IQD 152.6K

$351 IQD 459.4K

-66.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$180 IQD 235.0K

$935 IQD 1.2M

-80.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$692 IQD 904.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,625 IQD 6.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,587 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$615 IQD 804.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

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

Last update for As Samawah: September 14, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $122 in As Samawah and $568 in Baghdad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $35.00 in As Samawah vs $34.00 in Baghdad. Groceries flip the comparison at $164 vs $187, with As Samawah cheaper for home cooking.

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, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 69% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,013 in As Samawah and $1,714 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: $122 in As Samawah versus $568 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 3% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $57.4 in As Samawah versus $169 in Baghdad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $675 in As Samawah versus $1,143 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 69% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.