Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Al-'amarah Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Al-'amarah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,066 per month in Baghdad vs $683 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,598 per month in Baghdad vs $1,105 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,130 per month in Baghdad vs $1,526 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

Baghdad costs about 56% more than Al-'amarah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Baghdad and Al-'amarah are more affordable than the global median – Baghdad 20% lower, Al-'amarah 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.30 IQD 6,947

$3.95 IQD 5,168

34.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.81 IQD 48.2K

$25.27 IQD 33.1K

45.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$6.96 IQD 9,120

11.78%

Cappuccino

$3.11 IQD 4,074

$2.59 IQD 3,397

20.08%

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

$0.40 IQD 522

$0.37 IQD 479

8.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 233

$0.20 IQD 260

-10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.49 IQD 4,576

$2.93 IQD 3,842

19.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 IQD 3,686

$2.80 IQD 3,671

0.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,722

$1.86 IQD 2,436

-29.57%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 IQD 1,100

$0.73 IQD 951

15.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 IQD 2,152

$1.08 IQD 1,416

51.85%

Eggs

$1.81 IQD 2,364

$1.54 IQD 2,014

17.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.52 IQD 5,923

$4.40 IQD 5,766

2.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.86 IQD 6,364

$4.62 IQD 6,048

5.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.16 IQD 18.5K

$13.12 IQD 17.2K

7.93%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,615

$0.92 IQD 1,204

33.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,519

$1.08 IQD 1,415

7.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,366

$0.85 IQD 1,111

22.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 984

$0.37 IQD 484

102.70%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 843

$0.71 IQD 929

-9.86%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 873

$0.37 IQD 488

81.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 828

$0.62 IQD 811

1.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 858

$0.44 IQD 570

50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.07 IQD 2,707

$1.95 IQD 2,554

6.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.33 IQD 17.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 IQD 2,354

$1.78 IQD 2,335

1.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 IQD 2,762

$2.08 IQD 2,728

1.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 IQD 965

$0.39 IQD 513

89.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.86 IQD 36.5K

$31.25 IQD 40.9K

-10.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.72 IQD 4,870

$1.61 IQD 2,114

131.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 IQD 2,026

$1.55 IQD 2,032

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.49 IQD 9,803

$6.05 IQD 7,921

23.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 700

$0.31 IQD 405

70.97%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

5.14%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

2.77%

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

$175 IQD 229.3K

$78.8 IQD 103.2K

122.09%

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

$26.17 IQD 34.3K

$17.95 IQD 23.5K

45.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.52 IQD 53.1K

$34.13 IQD 44.7K

18.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.04 IQD 55.1K

$22.91 IQD 30.0K

83.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.31 IQD 24.0K

$16.78 IQD 22.0K

9.12%

Cinema Ticket

$7.49 IQD 9,813

$7.72 IQD 10.1K

-2.98%

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

$166 IQD 217.8K

$154 IQD 201.4K

8.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,526 IQD 4.6M

$3,260 IQD 4.3M

8.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.00 IQD 36.7K

$26.76 IQD 35.0K

4.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.12 IQD 39.4K

$24.81 IQD 32.5K

21.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.9 IQD 83.7K

$62.0 IQD 81.2K

3.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.06 IQD 56.4K

$40.86 IQD 53.5K

5.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$548 IQD 717.9K

$329 IQD 431.3K

66.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$323 IQD 422.7K

$134 IQD 175.3K

141.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$834 IQD 1.1M

$454 IQD 594.7K

83.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$597 IQD 781.1K

$342 IQD 447.8K

74.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,734 IQD 6.2M

$567 IQD 741.9K

735.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,570 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$629 IQD 823.2K

$491 IQD 643.0K

28.04%

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 14, 2026

Last update for Al-'amarah: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $548 in Baghdad versus $329 in Al-'amarah. 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 28% 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 $25.00 in Al-'amarah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $152 – making Al-'amarah 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 Al-'amarah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Baghdad is pricier by about 56%, 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 $1,600 per month in Baghdad and $1,025 in Al-'amarah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 25% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Baghdad and $25.00 in Al-'amarah. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al-'amarah, where all-in costs run around $683, than in Baghdad at $1,066. In Al-'amarah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Baghdad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Al-'amarah – 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 Al-'amarah. 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.