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 $1,143 per month in Baghdad vs $574 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,702 per month in Baghdad vs $882 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,262 per month in Baghdad vs $1,189 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

Baghdad costs about 99% more than Ad Diwaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Baghdad and Ad Diwaniyah are more affordable than the global median – Baghdad 16% lower, Ad Diwaniyah 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.91 IQD 6,430

$3.32 IQD 4,342

47.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.26 IQD 44.9K

$11.67 IQD 15.3K

193.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 IQD 10.3K

$5.38 IQD 7,041

45.72%

Cappuccino

$3.08 IQD 4,033

$1.95 IQD 2,559

57.95%

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

$0.39 IQD 514

$0.37 IQD 481

5.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 IQD 342

$0.26 IQD 343

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.78 IQD 4,956

$3.91 IQD 5,121

-3.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 IQD 4,907

$3.84 IQD 5,024

-2.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 IQD 1,364

$1.04 IQD 1,368

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,090

$0.75 IQD 981

10.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 IQD 2,015

$1.37 IQD 1,796

12.41%

Eggs

$1.89 IQD 2,479

$1.91 IQD 2,495

-1.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.77 IQD 4,937

$3.93 IQD 5,152

-4.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.59 IQD 6,004

$3.73 IQD 4,882

23.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.44 IQD 18.9K

$11.42 IQD 14.9K

26.44%

Apples (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,480

$0.73 IQD 958

54.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,390

$0.78 IQD 1,020

35.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 IQD 1,345

$0.79 IQD 1,037

30.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 968

$0.78 IQD 1,027

-5.13%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 906

$0.70 IQD 922

-1.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 912

$0.64 IQD 838

9.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 IQD 838

$0.39 IQD 514

64.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 IQD 907

$0.65 IQD 854

6.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.78 IQD 2,336

$1.80 IQD 2,356

-1.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.81 IQD 18.1K

$3.79 IQD 4,966

264.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,806

$2.14 IQD 2,798

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 IQD 2,977

$2.17 IQD 2,841

4.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 IQD 905

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.15 IQD 30.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.23 IQD 2,918

$2.35 IQD 3,083

-5.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 IQD 2,021

$1.00 IQD 1,306

54.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.65 IQD 10.0K

$7.58 IQD 9,930

0.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.62 IQD 806

$0.33 IQD 430

87.88%

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

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

2.28%

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

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

$18.9K IQD 24.7M

2.43%

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

$213 IQD 279.2K

$37.82 IQD 49.5K

463.80%

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

$21.75 IQD 28.5K

$17.08 IQD 22.4K

27.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.04 IQD 53.7K

$38.02 IQD 49.8K

7.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.75 IQD 62.5K

$18.73 IQD 24.5K

154.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.22 IQD 27.8K

$7.76 IQD 10.2K

173.45%

Cinema Ticket

$10.68 IQD 14.0K

$7.56 IQD 9,897

41.27%

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

$169 IQD 221.7K

$74.9 IQD 98.1K

125.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,468 IQD 4.5M

$3,527 IQD 4.6M

-1.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.14 IQD 39.5K

$29.14 IQD 38.2K

3.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.41 IQD 50.3K

$37.50 IQD 49.1K

2.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.0 IQD 95.6K

$72.8 IQD 95.3K

0.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.87 IQD 62.7K

$47.48 IQD 62.2K

0.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$568 IQD 743.5K

$76.5 IQD 100.2K

641.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$351 IQD 459.9K

$114 IQD 149.8K

206.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$935 IQD 1.2M

$154 IQD 201.7K

506.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$692 IQD 905.7K

$226 IQD 295.9K

206.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,625 IQD 6.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,587 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$615 IQD 805.3K

$387 IQD 507.4K

58.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Baghdad: September 13, 2026

Last update for Ad Diwaniyah: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $568 in Baghdad versus $76.5 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 59% 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 $34.00 in Baghdad versus $12.00 in Ad Diwaniyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $187 vs $147 – 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 99%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,714 per month in Baghdad and $862 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,143 in Baghdad and $574 in Ad Diwaniyah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $169 per month in Baghdad and $74.9 in Ad Diwaniyah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ad Diwaniyah, where all-in costs run around $574, than in Baghdad at $1,143. 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.