Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and 'aqrah

For one person, living is cheaper in 'aqrah: $661 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $24,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

130

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
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Austin, TX Living Index
32

Cost of Living Index in 'aqrah
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'aqrah Living Index

Jump to prices

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,663

/mo nomad

'aqrah

🇮🇶 Iraq

$661

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in 'aqrah

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Austin, TX and in 'aqrah actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $661 in 'aqrah.

Austin, TX $2,663
'aqrah $661

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $1,015 in 'aqrah.

Austin, TX $4,133
'aqrah $1,015

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $1,369 in 'aqrah.

Austin, TX $5,603
'aqrah $1,369

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 303% more expensive than in 'aqrah, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 97% above, 'aqrah is 51% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.77 $20.77

$3.62 IQD 5,467

473.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 $84.6

$21.82 IQD 33.0K

287.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.32 $12.32

$6.82 IQD 10.3K

80.65%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$2.38 IQD 3,602

136.55%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$0.32 IQD 485

1062.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$0.18 IQD 273

1288.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.05 $8.05

$3.11 IQD 4,706

158.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.01 $9.01

$2.61 IQD 3,945

245.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$0.94 IQD 1,416

19.15%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$0.72 IQD 1,086

420.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$1.46 IQD 2,205

123.29%

Eggs

$4.17 $4.17

$1.70 IQD 2,573

145.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.90 $12.90

$3.48 IQD 5,252

270.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.16 $14.16

$4.16 IQD 6,291

240.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.22 $16.22

$13.31 IQD 20.1K

21.86%

Apples (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$0.92 IQD 1,383

370.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

$0.91 IQD 1,375

60.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$0.77 IQD 1,161

485.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$0.66 IQD 990

557.58%

Potato (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$0.54 IQD 809

377.78%

Onion (1kg)

$2.35 $2.35

$0.64 IQD 965

267.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.78 $1.78

$0.51 IQD 776

249.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$0.50 IQD 756

344.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.88 $9.88

$1.57 IQD 2,368

529.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.08 $15.08

$10.92 IQD 16.5K

38.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.33 IQD 2,003

119.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 $3.46

$1.85 IQD 2,800

87.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$0.45 IQD 679

231.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.72 $41.72

$17.50 IQD 26.4K

138.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 $2.73

$1.89 IQD 2,859

44.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.39 IQD 2,099

19.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.30 $35.30

$5.15 IQD 7,788

585.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.48 IQD 727

97.92%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$16.9K IQD 25.5M

113.45%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$19.4K IQD 29.3M

39.63%

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

$229 $229

$80.2 IQD 121.1K

185.70%

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

$59.4 $59.4

$13.58 IQD 20.5K

337.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.9 $69.9

$27.25 IQD 41.2K

156.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.2 $57.2

$37.01 IQD 55.9K

54.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.33 $16.33

Cinema Ticket

$14.28 $14.28

$8.39 IQD 12.7K

70.20%

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

$1,506 $1,506

$142 IQD 213.9K

963.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.5K $21.5K

$2,656 IQD 4.0M

707.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.8 $52.8

$22.08 IQD 33.4K

139.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.82 $43.82

$23.85 IQD 36.0K

83.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 $84.8

$47.26 IQD 71.4K

79.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$31.06 IQD 46.9K

231.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,907 $1,907

$184 IQD 277.8K

937.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,274 $1,274

$141 IQD 213.2K

803.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,664 $3,664

$358 IQD 541.4K

922.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,538 $2,538

$278 IQD 419.4K

814.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,614 $7,614

$779 IQD 1.2M

877.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,157 $3,157

$642 IQD 970.8K

391.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,121 $5,121

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.79

3.33

103.90%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for 'aqrah: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Austin, TX

$1.3K 47.8%

'aqrah

$141 21.4% 88.9% $1.1K

Groceries & Markets

Austin, TX

$405 15.2%

'aqrah

$160 24.2% 60.5% $245

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Austin, TX

$358 13.5%

'aqrah

$121 18.3% 66.2% $237

Eating Out

Austin, TX

$354 13.3%

'aqrah

$101 15.3% 71.5% $253

Clothing & Footwear

Austin, TX

$128 4.8%

'aqrah

$56 8.5% 56.3% $72

Sport & Entertainment

Austin, TX

$86 3.2%

'aqrah

$54 8.1% 37.3% $32

Getting Around

Austin, TX

$59 2.2%

'aqrah

$28 4.3% 52.1% $31

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,907 in Austin, TX and $184 in 'aqrah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $22.00 in 'aqrah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $160 per month, with 'aqrah cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🇮🇶 'aqrah

🕒 Local time

22:56 10:56 PM

06:56 6:56 AM

8 h ahead of Austin, TX

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

974,447

68,100

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

Iraqi Dinar IQD ع.د

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.888 EUR

10,000 IQD = 6.62 USD

10,000 IQD = 5.88 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

IQD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

🇮🇶 Iraqi Dinar (ع.د)

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.13 USD (1 USD = 0.888 EUR).

Iraqi Dinar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1,511 IQD (10,000 IQD = 6.62 USD). 1 EUR = 1,701 IQD (10,000 IQD = 5.88 EUR).

IQD to USD in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Austin, TX 'aqrah 11,560 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight

From you

Austin, TX
'aqrah

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Austin, TX vs 'aqrah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

'aqrah wins on cost – living expenses run 303% lower than in Austin, TX. 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 $3,995 in Austin, TX and $991 in 'aqrah 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: $1,907 in Austin, TX versus $184 in 'aqrah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,663 per month in Austin, TX versus $661 in 'aqrah – a 303% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in 'aqrah runs roughly 138% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $661 in 'aqrah versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $1,000 budget is realistic in 'aqrah but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. 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, Austin, TX and 'aqrah 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 303% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.