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 $743 in 'aqrah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,581 per month in Baghdad vs $1,157 in 'aqrah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,088 per month in Baghdad vs $1,571 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

$5.26 IQD 6,893

$4.12 IQD 5,395

27.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.91 IQD 48.4K

$25.25 IQD 33.1K

46.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.46 IQD 9,779

$7.04 IQD 9,226

5.97%

Cappuccino

$3.01 IQD 3,940

$2.59 IQD 3,398

16.22%

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

$0.36 IQD 477

$0.39 IQD 516

-7.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 230

$0.22 IQD 282

-18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 IQD 4,597

$2.84 IQD 3,720

23.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 IQD 3,707

$2.84 IQD 3,717

-0.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 IQD 1,785

$1.36 IQD 1,786

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 IQD 1,042

$0.78 IQD 1,028

2.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 IQD 2,103

$1.65 IQD 2,159

-2.42%

Eggs

$1.72 IQD 2,248

$1.79 IQD 2,342

-3.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 IQD 5,760

$4.43 IQD 5,806

-0.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.87 IQD 6,374

$4.78 IQD 6,262

1.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.88 IQD 18.2K

$13.06 IQD 17.1K

6.28%

Apples (1kg)

$1.28 IQD 1,678

$1.20 IQD 1,567

6.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,523

$1.15 IQD 1,509

0.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,323

$1.05 IQD 1,378

-3.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 921

$0.76 IQD 990

-7.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 895

$0.64 IQD 841

6.25%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 831

$0.63 IQD 824

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 824

$0.62 IQD 812

1.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 867

$0.53 IQD 690

24.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.07 IQD 2,714

$1.89 IQD 2,478

9.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.58 IQD 17.8K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 IQD 2,413

$1.86 IQD 2,442

-1.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 IQD 2,712

$2.11 IQD 2,763

-1.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 IQD 964

$0.40 IQD 520

85.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.32 IQD 37.1K

$30.94 IQD 40.5K

-8.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.90 IQD 5,114

$2.26 IQD 2,959

72.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,923

$1.48 IQD 1,939

-0.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.61 IQD 9,966

$6.17 IQD 8,077

23.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 701

$0.53 IQD 696

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

$19.9K IQD 26.0M

$19.2K IQD 25.2M

3.31%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

-0.50%

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

$179 IQD 234.4K

$76.8 IQD 100.7K

132.81%

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

$25.76 IQD 33.7K

$17.87 IQD 23.4K

44.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.94 IQD 53.6K

$34.74 IQD 45.5K

17.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.54 IQD 54.4K

$37.42 IQD 49.0K

11.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.57 IQD 24.3K

$17.00 IQD 22.3K

9.24%

Cinema Ticket

$7.66 IQD 10.0K

$7.47 IQD 9,781

2.54%

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

$168 IQD 220.4K

$151 IQD 197.3K

11.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,533 IQD 4.6M

$3,295 IQD 4.3M

7.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.32 IQD 37.1K

$26.67 IQD 34.9K

6.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.84 IQD 40.4K

$25.37 IQD 33.2K

21.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.0 IQD 85.2K

$62.0 IQD 81.3K

4.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.91 IQD 57.5K

$40.81 IQD 53.5K

7.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$557 IQD 730.1K

$243 IQD 318.4K

129.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$324 IQD 424.9K

$178 IQD 232.9K

82.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 IQD 1.1M

$588 IQD 770.5K

39.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$594 IQD 778.1K

$341 IQD 447.2K

73.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,867 IQD 5.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,428 IQD 1.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$622 IQD 814.6K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for 'aqrah: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $557 in Baghdad versus $243 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: $189 vs $158 – 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 $1,611 per month in Baghdad and $1,115 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 $743 in 'aqrah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 9% 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 $743, 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.