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 $1,074 per month in Baghdad vs $621 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,581 per month in Baghdad vs $872 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,088 per month in Baghdad vs $1,123 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

Baghdad costs about 73% 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 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.26 IQD 6,893

$3.04 IQD 3,984

73.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.91 IQD 48.4K

$11.37 IQD 14.9K

224.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.46 IQD 9,779

$5.31 IQD 6,963

40.49%

Cappuccino

$3.01 IQD 3,940

$1.49 IQD 1,948

102.01%

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

$0.36 IQD 477

$0.40 IQD 521

-10.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 230

$0.19 IQD 249

-5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 IQD 4,597

$2.97 IQD 3,886

18.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 IQD 3,707

$2.81 IQD 3,678

0.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 IQD 1,785

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 IQD 1,042

$0.75 IQD 983

6.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 IQD 2,103

$1.35 IQD 1,768

19.26%

Eggs

$1.72 IQD 2,248

$1.74 IQD 2,284

-1.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 IQD 5,760

$4.40 IQD 5,762

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.87 IQD 6,374

$5.05 IQD 6,621

-3.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.88 IQD 18.2K

$10.21 IQD 13.4K

35.95%

Apples (1kg)

$1.28 IQD 1,678

$0.81 IQD 1,067

58.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,523

$0.92 IQD 1,201

26.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,323

$0.89 IQD 1,172

13.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 921

$0.60 IQD 787

16.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 895

$0.64 IQD 844

6.25%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 831

$0.62 IQD 816

1.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 824

$0.45 IQD 586

40.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 867

$0.66 IQD 859

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.07 IQD 2,714

$1.96 IQD 2,565

5.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.58 IQD 17.8K

$7.02 IQD 9,199

93.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 IQD 2,413

$1.82 IQD 2,389

1.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 IQD 2,712

$2.15 IQD 2,820

-3.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 IQD 964

$0.36 IQD 474

105.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.32 IQD 37.1K

$30.64 IQD 40.1K

-7.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.90 IQD 5,114

$1.94 IQD 2,542

101.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,923

$1.25 IQD 1,632

17.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.61 IQD 9,966

$7.87 IQD 10.3K

-3.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 701

$0.38 IQD 498

39.47%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.0M

$9,902 IQD 13.0M

100.52%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

$17.9K IQD 23.4M

11.69%

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

$179 IQD 234.4K

$37.55 IQD 49.2K

376.40%

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

$25.76 IQD 33.7K

$17.19 IQD 22.5K

49.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.94 IQD 53.6K

$38.47 IQD 50.4K

6.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.54 IQD 54.4K

$17.10 IQD 22.4K

142.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.57 IQD 24.3K

$8.85 IQD 11.6K

109.83%

Cinema Ticket

$7.66 IQD 10.0K

$5.62 IQD 7,364

36.30%

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

$168 IQD 220.4K

$92.9 IQD 121.7K

81.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,533 IQD 4.6M

$738 IQD 966.2K

379.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.32 IQD 37.1K

$20.20 IQD 26.5K

40.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.84 IQD 40.4K

$30.87 IQD 40.4K

-0.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.0 IQD 85.2K

$20.14 IQD 26.4K

222.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.91 IQD 57.5K

$25.08 IQD 32.9K

75.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$557 IQD 730.1K

$138 IQD 180.2K

305.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$324 IQD 424.9K

$181 IQD 237.2K

79.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 IQD 1.1M

$241 IQD 315.1K

241.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$594 IQD 778.1K

$199 IQD 261.0K

198.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,867 IQD 5.1M

$757 IQD 991.2K

411.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,428 IQD 1.9M

$302 IQD 395.4K

373.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$622 IQD 814.6K

$481 IQD 630.1K

29.27%

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 Ad Diwaniyah: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $557 in Baghdad versus $138 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 29% 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 $11.00 in Ad Diwaniyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $189 vs $159 – 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 73%, 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 $1,611 per month in Baghdad and $931 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 $92.9 in Ad Diwaniyah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 19% 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 $621, than in Baghdad at $1,074. 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.