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: $892 in As Samawah versus $1,055 in Baghdad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,353 in As Samawah versus $1,565 in Baghdad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,814 in As Samawah versus $2,074 in Baghdad.

Living in As Samawah costs roughly 15% less than in Baghdad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: As Samawah 33% lower, Baghdad 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.24 IQD 6,866

$5.50 IQD 7,206

-4.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.43 IQD 47.7K

$36.22 IQD 47.4K

0.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.73 IQD 10.1K

$7.70 IQD 10.1K

0.39%

Cappuccino

$3.04 IQD 3,987

$2.98 IQD 3,903

2.01%

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

$0.37 IQD 484

$0.36 IQD 477

2.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 265

$0.17 IQD 219

17.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.48 IQD 4,553

$3.51 IQD 4,590

-0.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 IQD 3,837

$2.93 IQD 3,839

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 IQD 1,799

$1.35 IQD 1,768

1.48%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 IQD 1,074

$0.78 IQD 1,023

5.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 IQD 2,089

$1.59 IQD 2,076

0.63%

Eggs

$1.64 IQD 2,146

$1.79 IQD 2,338

-8.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.60 IQD 6,022

$4.58 IQD 5,999

0.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.83 IQD 6,329

$4.81 IQD 6,296

0.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.18 IQD 18.6K

$14.13 IQD 18.5K

0.35%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 IQD 1,347

$1.23 IQD 1,612

-16.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,339

$1.21 IQD 1,590

-15.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 893

$1.00 IQD 1,311

-32.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 IQD 673

$0.74 IQD 970

-31.08%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 916

$0.65 IQD 854

7.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 817

$0.67 IQD 881

-7.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 IQD 411

$0.62 IQD 817

-50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 IQD 806

$0.66 IQD 861

-6.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 IQD 2,723

$2.05 IQD 2,690

1.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.73 IQD 10.1K

$13.49 IQD 17.7K

-42.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 IQD 2,352

$1.79 IQD 2,346

0.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 IQD 2,716

$2.15 IQD 2,821

-3.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 516

$0.75 IQD 976

-48.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.89 IQD 40.5K

$27.88 IQD 36.5K

10.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.91 IQD 5,117

$3.93 IQD 5,147

-0.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 IQD 2,021

$1.47 IQD 1,922

4.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.62 IQD 9,979

$7.50 IQD 9,826

1.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 734

$0.56 IQD 740

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

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

0.27%

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

$19.8K IQD 26.0M

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

-0.38%

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

$179 IQD 234.3K

$176 IQD 230.7K

1.56%

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

$26.15 IQD 34.2K

$25.81 IQD 33.8K

1.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.39 IQD 52.9K

$41.29 IQD 54.1K

-2.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.08 IQD 47.2K

$42.14 IQD 55.2K

-14.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.91 IQD 22.1K

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

-8.89%

Cinema Ticket

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

-0.77%

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

$169 IQD 220.9K

$168 IQD 220.3K

0.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,635 IQD 4.8M

$3,627 IQD 4.7M

0.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.02 IQD 36.7K

$27.92 IQD 36.6K

0.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.35 IQD 39.7K

$30.46 IQD 39.9K

-0.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.5 IQD 83.1K

$64.9 IQD 85.0K

-2.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.10 IQD 56.4K

$43.79 IQD 57.3K

-1.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$239 IQD 312.9K

$554 IQD 725.1K

-56.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 IQD 238.1K

$321 IQD 419.7K

-43.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$579 IQD 758.4K

$839 IQD 1.1M

-30.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$349 IQD 457.2K

$583 IQD 764.1K

-40.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,745 IQD 6.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,597 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$612 IQD 800.9K

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $239 in As Samawah and $554 in Baghdad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $36.00 in As Samawah vs $36.00 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, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,338 in As Samawah and $1,582 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: $239 in As Samawah versus $554 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 11% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $169 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 $892 in As Samawah versus $1,055 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 18% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.