Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Ad Diwaniyah Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Ad Diwaniyah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,072 per month in Baghdad vs $629 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,582 per month in Baghdad vs $871 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,092 per month in Baghdad vs $1,113 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

Baghdad costs about 71% more than Ad Diwaniyah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Baghdad and Ad Diwaniyah are more affordable than the global median – Baghdad 20% lower, Ad Diwaniyah 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.33 IQD 6,975

$2.93 IQD 3,830

81.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.02 IQD 48.5K

$11.51 IQD 15.1K

221.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.72 IQD 10.1K

$5.15 IQD 6,738

49.90%

Cappuccino

$3.10 IQD 4,056

$1.44 IQD 1,882

115.28%

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

$0.40 IQD 520

$0.39 IQD 514

2.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 228

$0.19 IQD 243

-10.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.34 IQD 4,371

$2.97 IQD 3,888

12.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 IQD 3,690

$2.93 IQD 3,834

-3.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 IQD 1,771

$1.31 IQD 1,721

3.05%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 IQD 1,079

$0.74 IQD 972

10.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 IQD 2,163

$1.34 IQD 1,761

23.13%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,341

$1.78 IQD 2,332

0.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.43 IQD 5,795

$4.44 IQD 5,818

-0.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.89 IQD 6,400

$5.04 IQD 6,602

-2.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.90 IQD 18.2K

$10.10 IQD 13.2K

37.62%

Apples (1kg)

$1.27 IQD 1,660

$0.75 IQD 980

69.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,512

$0.95 IQD 1,249

21.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,384

$0.89 IQD 1,171

19.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 916

$0.55 IQD 724

27.27%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 916

$0.64 IQD 835

9.37%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 868

$0.62 IQD 813

6.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 817

$0.45 IQD 593

37.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 860

$0.65 IQD 851

1.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.06 IQD 2,697

$1.96 IQD 2,566

5.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.72 IQD 18.0K

$6.86 IQD 8,982

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 IQD 2,438

$1.84 IQD 2,408

1.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 IQD 2,773

$2.10 IQD 2,748

0.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 IQD 993

$0.37 IQD 483

105.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.11 IQD 36.8K

$30.89 IQD 40.4K

-9.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.82 IQD 5,001

$2.02 IQD 2,649

89.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,926

$1.19 IQD 1,558

23.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.45 IQD 9,761

$7.76 IQD 10.2K

-3.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 735

$0.39 IQD 508

43.59%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$10.2K IQD 13.3M

99.78%

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

$19.7K IQD 25.9M

$17.6K IQD 23.1M

11.91%

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

$175 IQD 229.5K

$38.68 IQD 50.6K

353.13%

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

$25.51 IQD 33.4K

$17.25 IQD 22.6K

47.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.13 IQD 53.9K

$37.52 IQD 49.1K

9.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.38 IQD 54.2K

$16.96 IQD 22.2K

143.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.70 IQD 24.5K

$8.87 IQD 11.6K

110.82%

Cinema Ticket

$7.50 IQD 9,825

$5.69 IQD 7,457

31.81%

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

$168 IQD 219.8K

$94.9 IQD 124.3K

76.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,639 IQD 4.8M

$762 IQD 998.1K

377.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.64 IQD 37.5K

$20.39 IQD 26.7K

40.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.05 IQD 40.7K

$30.76 IQD 40.3K

0.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.2 IQD 85.3K

$19.82 IQD 26.0K

228.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.30 IQD 56.7K

$25.38 IQD 33.2K

70.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$557 IQD 729.9K

$141 IQD 184.1K

296.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$315 IQD 412.5K

$177 IQD 231.3K

78.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 IQD 1.1M

$236 IQD 308.9K

248.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$599 IQD 784.8K

$197 IQD 257.8K

204.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,987 IQD 5.2M

$746 IQD 976.6K

434.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,654 IQD 2.2M

$303 IQD 396.8K

445.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$657 IQD 860.3K

$496 IQD 649.8K

32.40%

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 14, 2026

Last update for Ad Diwaniyah: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $557 in Baghdad versus $141 in Ad Diwaniyah. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 32% higher in Baghdad, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Baghdad versus $12.00 in Ad Diwaniyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $191 vs $158 – making Ad Diwaniyah 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 Ad Diwaniyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Baghdad is pricier by about 71%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,608 per month in Baghdad and $943 in Ad Diwaniyah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $168 per month in Baghdad and $94.9 in Ad Diwaniyah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 21% more in Baghdad, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ad Diwaniyah, where all-in costs run around $629, than in Baghdad at $1,072. In Ad Diwaniyah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Baghdad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

If budget matters most, go with Ad Diwaniyah. 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.