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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,055 per month in Baghdad vs $750 in 'aqrah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,565 per month in Baghdad vs $1,160 in 'aqrah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,074 per month in Baghdad vs $1,570 in 'aqrah, rent included.

Baghdad costs about 41% more than 'aqrah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Baghdad and 'aqrah are more affordable than the global median – Baghdad 21% lower, 'aqrah 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.50 IQD 7,206

$4.13 IQD 5,408

33.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.22 IQD 47.4K

$24.77 IQD 32.4K

46.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.70 IQD 10.1K

$6.87 IQD 8,996

12.08%

Cappuccino

$2.98 IQD 3,903

$2.64 IQD 3,462

12.88%

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

$0.36 IQD 477

$0.40 IQD 522

-10.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 219

$0.19 IQD 250

-10.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 IQD 4,590

$2.89 IQD 3,783

21.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 IQD 3,839

$2.94 IQD 3,854

-0.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 IQD 1,768

$1.35 IQD 1,773

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,023

$0.78 IQD 1,017

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 IQD 2,076

$1.60 IQD 2,093

-0.63%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,338

$1.81 IQD 2,368

-1.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.58 IQD 5,999

$4.60 IQD 6,027

-0.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.81 IQD 6,296

$4.78 IQD 6,262

0.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.13 IQD 18.5K

$13.32 IQD 17.4K

6.08%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,612

$1.19 IQD 1,552

3.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 IQD 1,590

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 IQD 1,311

$1.06 IQD 1,389

-5.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 970

$0.71 IQD 929

4.23%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 854

$0.65 IQD 855

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 881

$0.66 IQD 869

1.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 817

$0.62 IQD 813

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 861

$0.52 IQD 682

26.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.05 IQD 2,690

$1.94 IQD 2,541

5.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.49 IQD 17.7K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,346

$1.83 IQD 2,401

-2.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,821

$2.07 IQD 2,706

3.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 IQD 976

$0.37 IQD 482

102.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.88 IQD 36.5K

$31.55 IQD 41.3K

-11.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.93 IQD 5,147

$2.24 IQD 2,928

75.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,922

$1.54 IQD 2,013

-4.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.50 IQD 9,826

$5.90 IQD 7,729

27.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 740

$0.54 IQD 701

3.70%

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

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

$19.3K IQD 25.2M

2.15%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

$19.7K IQD 25.7M

1.28%

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

$176 IQD 230.7K

$76.5 IQD 100.1K

130.38%

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

$25.81 IQD 33.8K

$17.41 IQD 22.8K

48.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.29 IQD 54.1K

$33.96 IQD 44.5K

21.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.14 IQD 55.2K

$36.59 IQD 47.9K

15.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

$16.49 IQD 21.6K

12.55%

Cinema Ticket

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

$7.50 IQD 9,817

3.60%

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

$168 IQD 220.3K

$150 IQD 197.1K

11.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,627 IQD 4.7M

$3,228 IQD 4.2M

12.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.92 IQD 36.6K

$27.10 IQD 35.5K

3.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.46 IQD 39.9K

$24.99 IQD 32.7K

21.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.9 IQD 85.0K

$61.3 IQD 80.2K

5.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.79 IQD 57.3K

$40.99 IQD 53.7K

6.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$554 IQD 725.1K

$243 IQD 318.8K

127.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$321 IQD 419.7K

$181 IQD 237.3K

76.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$839 IQD 1.1M

$583 IQD 763.3K

43.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$583 IQD 764.1K

$348 IQD 455.2K

67.85%

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 Baghdad: July 27, 2026

Last update for 'aqrah: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $554 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 $36.00 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 41% 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 $1,582 per month in Baghdad and $1,125 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 $1,055 in Baghdad and $750 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 $750, than in Baghdad at $1,055. 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.