Cost of Living Comparison Between Az Zubayr and Baghdad Cost of Living Comparison Between Az Zubayr and Baghdad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $728 in Az Zubayr versus $1,054 in Baghdad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,155 in Az Zubayr versus $1,592 in Baghdad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,582 in Az Zubayr versus $2,130 in Baghdad.

Living in Az Zubayr costs roughly 31% less than in Baghdad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Az Zubayr 46% lower, Baghdad 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.99 IQD 5,222

$5.48 IQD 7,181

-27.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.15 IQD 32.9K

$36.97 IQD 48.4K

-31.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.69 IQD 8,761

$7.57 IQD 9,909

-11.62%

Cappuccino

$2.67 IQD 3,493

$3.06 IQD 4,003

-12.75%

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

$0.37 IQD 484

$0.40 IQD 518

-7.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 217

$0.18 IQD 242

-5.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 IQD 3,829

$3.42 IQD 4,485

-14.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 IQD 3,679

$2.94 IQD 3,853

-4.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 IQD 1,709

$1.32 IQD 1,726

-1.52%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 IQD 1,113

$0.78 IQD 1,017

8.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 IQD 2,104

$1.65 IQD 2,166

-2.42%

Eggs

$1.81 IQD 2,365

$1.79 IQD 2,350

1.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.58 IQD 6,002

$4.40 IQD 5,763

4.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.76 IQD 6,237

$5.07 IQD 6,636

-6.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.90 IQD 16.9K

$14.34 IQD 18.8K

-10.04%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,508

$1.23 IQD 1,612

-6.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,530

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,333

$1.01 IQD 1,329

0.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 918

$0.70 IQD 922

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 904

$0.70 IQD 911

-1.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 869

$0.64 IQD 835

3.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 IQD 867

$0.63 IQD 822

4.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 IQD 742

$0.66 IQD 871

-13.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 IQD 2,575

$2.11 IQD 2,765

-6.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.35 IQD 17.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,348

$1.76 IQD 2,301

1.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,813

$2.15 IQD 2,815

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 477

$0.78 IQD 1,027

-53.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.38 IQD 41.1K

$28.60 IQD 37.4K

9.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 IQD 3,085

$3.88 IQD 5,087

-39.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 IQD 2,023

$1.47 IQD 1,923

5.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.02 IQD 7,878

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

-23.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 696

$0.56 IQD 737

-5.36%

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

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

-5.06%

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

$20.2K IQD 26.5M

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

1.65%

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

$78.0 IQD 102.1K

$181 IQD 237.4K

-56.99%

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

$17.86 IQD 23.4K

$25.40 IQD 33.3K

-29.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.04 IQD 45.9K

$40.16 IQD 52.6K

-12.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.70 IQD 48.1K

$41.29 IQD 54.1K

-11.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.76 IQD 21.9K

$18.43 IQD 24.1K

-9.06%

Cinema Ticket

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

$7.82 IQD 10.2K

-0.13%

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

$151 IQD 198.1K

$163 IQD 213.2K

-7.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,250 IQD 4.3M

$3,573 IQD 4.7M

-9.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.46 IQD 36.0K

$28.57 IQD 37.4K

-3.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.63 IQD 33.6K

$30.72 IQD 40.2K

-16.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.3 IQD 81.6K

$63.4 IQD 83.0K

-1.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.70 IQD 54.6K

$43.53 IQD 57.0K

-4.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$239 IQD 313.5K

$540 IQD 707.6K

-55.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 IQD 236.4K

$321 IQD 420.5K

-43.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$591 IQD 773.6K

$818 IQD 1.1M

-27.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$338 IQD 443.1K

$580 IQD 759.9K

-41.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,034 IQD 5.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,617 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$642 IQD 841.2K

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 Az Zubayr: May 30, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $239 in Az Zubayr and $540 in Baghdad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $25.00 in Az Zubayr vs $37.00 in Baghdad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $158 vs $191 per month, with Az Zubayr 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

Az Zubayr vs Baghdad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Az Zubayr and Baghdad differ by about 45% in total monthly costs ($728 vs $1,054 including rent). Az Zubayr is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,091 in Az Zubayr and $1,581 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 Az Zubayr versus $540 in Baghdad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Baghdad. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Az Zubayr – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $37.00 in Baghdad. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $728 in Az Zubayr versus $1,054 in Baghdad, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Az Zubayr but tight or insufficient in Baghdad. The gap between the two cities makes Az Zubayr 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 Az Zubayr gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.