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 $1,054 per month in Baghdad vs $684 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,592 per month in Baghdad vs $1,091 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,130 per month in Baghdad vs $1,498 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

Baghdad costs about 54% more than Al-'amarah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Baghdad and Al-'amarah are more affordable than the global median – Baghdad 21% lower, Al-'amarah 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.48 IQD 7,181

$3.98 IQD 5,217

37.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.97 IQD 48.4K

$24.81 IQD 32.5K

49.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.57 IQD 9,909

$7.00 IQD 9,165

8.14%

Cappuccino

$3.06 IQD 4,003

$2.56 IQD 3,348

19.53%

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

$0.40 IQD 518

$0.39 IQD 515

2.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 242

$0.18 IQD 239

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.42 IQD 4,485

$2.95 IQD 3,863

15.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 IQD 3,853

$2.84 IQD 3,723

3.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,726

$1.79 IQD 2,342

-26.26%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,017

$0.75 IQD 977

4.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 IQD 2,166

$1.08 IQD 1,416

52.78%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,350

$1.53 IQD 2,005

16.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 IQD 5,763

$4.58 IQD 5,996

-3.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.07 IQD 6,636

$4.80 IQD 6,285

5.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.34 IQD 18.8K

$13.12 IQD 17.2K

9.30%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,612

$0.85 IQD 1,118

44.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,530

$1.05 IQD 1,375

11.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,329

$0.86 IQD 1,125

17.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 922

$0.37 IQD 483

89.19%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 911

$0.70 IQD 922

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 835

$0.34 IQD 450

88.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 822

$0.67 IQD 882

-5.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 871

$0.47 IQD 612

40.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.11 IQD 2,765

$1.94 IQD 2,534

8.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.35 IQD 17.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 IQD 2,301

$1.85 IQD 2,417

-4.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,815

$2.18 IQD 2,854

-1.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 IQD 1,027

$0.39 IQD 512

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.60 IQD 37.4K

$30.94 IQD 40.5K

-7.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.88 IQD 5,087

$1.68 IQD 2,206

130.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,923

$1.52 IQD 1,994

-3.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

$6.04 IQD 7,907

29.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 737

$0.31 IQD 402

80.65%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

7.36%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

-0.27%

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

$181 IQD 237.4K

$77.0 IQD 100.9K

135.34%

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

$25.40 IQD 33.3K

$17.77 IQD 23.3K

42.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.16 IQD 52.6K

$34.12 IQD 44.7K

17.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 IQD 54.1K

$22.53 IQD 29.5K

83.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.43 IQD 24.1K

$17.00 IQD 22.3K

8.41%

Cinema Ticket

$7.82 IQD 10.2K

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

1.69%

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

$163 IQD 213.2K

$149 IQD 195.4K

9.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,573 IQD 4.7M

$3,247 IQD 4.3M

10.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.57 IQD 37.4K

$27.00 IQD 35.4K

5.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.72 IQD 40.2K

$24.83 IQD 32.5K

23.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.4 IQD 83.0K

$60.4 IQD 79.1K

5.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.53 IQD 57.0K

$40.70 IQD 53.3K

6.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$540 IQD 707.6K

$333 IQD 435.4K

62.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$321 IQD 420.5K

$133 IQD 173.6K

142.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$818 IQD 1.1M

$448 IQD 586.7K

82.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$580 IQD 759.9K

$347 IQD 453.8K

67.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,034 IQD 5.3M

$583 IQD 763.6K

591.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,617 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$642 IQD 841.2K

$494 IQD 647.3K

29.96%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Al-'amarah: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $540 in Baghdad versus $333 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 30% 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: $191 vs $153 – 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 54%, 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 $1,581 per month in Baghdad and $1,026 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 24% 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 $684, than in Baghdad at $1,054. 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.