Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and 'aqrah Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and 'aqrah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,074 per month in Baghdad vs $747 in 'aqrah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Baghdad vs $1,157 in 'aqrah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,073 per month in Baghdad vs $1,568 in 'aqrah, rent included.

Baghdad costs about 44% more than 'aqrah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Baghdad and 'aqrah are more affordable than the global median – Baghdad 20% lower, 'aqrah 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.27 IQD 6,895

$4.04 IQD 5,286

30.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.86 IQD 48.3K

$24.76 IQD 32.4K

48.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$6.84 IQD 8,959

13.74%

Cappuccino

$2.98 IQD 3,909

$2.60 IQD 3,410

14.62%

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

$0.39 IQD 512

$0.36 IQD 475

8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 216

$0.17 IQD 218

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.38 IQD 4,429

$2.82 IQD 3,697

19.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 IQD 3,785

$2.86 IQD 3,741

1.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 IQD 1,702

$1.33 IQD 1,739

-2.26%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,087

$0.84 IQD 1,100

-1.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 IQD 2,181

$1.60 IQD 2,100

4.37%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,343

$1.81 IQD 2,372

-1.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.52 IQD 5,918

$4.57 IQD 5,989

-1.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.84 IQD 6,342

$4.78 IQD 6,266

1.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.04 IQD 18.4K

$13.25 IQD 17.4K

5.96%

Apples (1kg)

$1.28 IQD 1,680

$1.19 IQD 1,558

7.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,504

$1.21 IQD 1,585

-4.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,363

$1.06 IQD 1,388

-1.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 914

$0.74 IQD 974

-5.41%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 897

$0.70 IQD 912

-1.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 813

$0.68 IQD 885

-8.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 IQD 883

$0.63 IQD 823

6.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 IQD 824

$0.53 IQD 690

18.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.13 IQD 2,786

$1.97 IQD 2,575

8.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.64 IQD 17.9K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,348

$1.76 IQD 2,307

1.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,812

$2.16 IQD 2,832

-0.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 IQD 993

$0.39 IQD 512

94.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.16 IQD 36.9K

$31.75 IQD 41.6K

-11.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.78 IQD 4,954

$2.26 IQD 2,954

67.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 IQD 1,999

$1.50 IQD 1,959

2.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.54 IQD 9,868

$6.16 IQD 8,065

22.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 IQD 750

$0.54 IQD 702

5.56%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

$18.9K IQD 24.7M

5.84%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$19.8K IQD 26.0M

2.37%

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

$181 IQD 236.7K

$78.7 IQD 103.1K

129.71%

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

$25.64 IQD 33.6K

$17.29 IQD 22.6K

48.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.76 IQD 53.4K

$34.72 IQD 45.5K

17.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.00 IQD 53.7K

$36.58 IQD 47.9K

12.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

$16.65 IQD 21.8K

11.47%

Cinema Ticket

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

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

$166 IQD 217.8K

$149 IQD 195.7K

11.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,523 IQD 4.6M

$3,313 IQD 4.3M

6.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.27 IQD 37.0K

$27.58 IQD 36.1K

2.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.19 IQD 39.5K

$24.89 IQD 32.6K

21.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.3 IQD 82.9K

$60.1 IQD 78.7K

5.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.71 IQD 57.2K

$40.61 IQD 53.2K

7.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$553 IQD 724.7K

$245 IQD 320.2K

126.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$320 IQD 418.5K

$176 IQD 230.7K

81.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$818 IQD 1.1M

$571 IQD 747.7K

43.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$583 IQD 763.6K

$350 IQD 458.5K

66.53%

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 Baghdad: June 9, 2026

Last update for 'aqrah: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $553 in Baghdad versus $245 in 'aqrah. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Baghdad versus $25.00 in 'aqrah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $159 – making 'aqrah the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Baghdad vs 'aqrah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baghdad costs about 44% more than 'aqrah, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,610 per month in Baghdad and $1,120 in 'aqrah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in 'aqrah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,074 in Baghdad and $747 in 'aqrah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 13% less in 'aqrah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in 'aqrah, where all-in costs run around $747, than in Baghdad at $1,074. In 'aqrah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Baghdad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward 'aqrah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with 'aqrah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Baghdad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.