Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Al Fallujah Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Al Fallujah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,074 in Baghdad versus $928 in Al Fallujah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Baghdad versus $1,408 in Al Fallujah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,073 in Baghdad versus $1,889 in Al Fallujah.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 16% more expensive than Al Fallujah, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 20% lower, Al Fallujah 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.27 IQD 6,895

$5.35 IQD 7,001

-1.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.86 IQD 48.3K

$35.88 IQD 47.0K

2.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$7.61 IQD 9,966

2.23%

Cappuccino

$2.98 IQD 3,909

$3.07 IQD 4,020

-2.93%

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

$0.39 IQD 512

$0.36 IQD 477

8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 216

$0.19 IQD 246

-10.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.38 IQD 4,429

$3.39 IQD 4,445

-0.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 IQD 3,785

$2.85 IQD 3,729

1.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 IQD 1,702

$1.36 IQD 1,785

-4.41%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,087

$0.80 IQD 1,043

3.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 IQD 2,181

$1.66 IQD 2,175

0.60%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,343

$1.78 IQD 2,336

0.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.52 IQD 5,918

$4.54 IQD 5,947

-0.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.84 IQD 6,342

$4.90 IQD 6,422

-1.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.04 IQD 18.4K

$14.26 IQD 18.7K

-1.54%

Apples (1kg)

$1.28 IQD 1,680

$1.23 IQD 1,608

4.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,504

$1.17 IQD 1,530

-1.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,363

$1.06 IQD 1,388

-1.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 914

$0.73 IQD 956

-4.11%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 897

$0.64 IQD 836

7.81%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 813

$0.67 IQD 878

-7.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 IQD 883

$0.68 IQD 884

-1.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 IQD 824

$0.67 IQD 878

-5.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.13 IQD 2,786

$2.13 IQD 2,789

Wine (Bottle)

$13.64 IQD 17.9K

$13.46 IQD 17.6K

1.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,348

$1.86 IQD 2,434

-3.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,812

$2.17 IQD 2,843

-0.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 IQD 993

$0.36 IQD 474

111.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.16 IQD 36.9K

$31.19 IQD 40.8K

-9.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.78 IQD 4,954

$3.75 IQD 4,913

0.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 IQD 1,999

$1.55 IQD 2,029

-1.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.54 IQD 9,868

$7.74 IQD 10.1K

-2.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 IQD 750

$0.53 IQD 689

7.55%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

1.32%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$20.3K IQD 26.5M

0.23%

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

$181 IQD 236.7K

$179 IQD 234.3K

1.05%

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

$25.64 IQD 33.6K

$26.20 IQD 34.3K

-2.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.76 IQD 53.4K

$40.33 IQD 52.8K

1.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.00 IQD 53.7K

$37.46 IQD 49.1K

9.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

$16.70 IQD 21.9K

11.14%

Cinema Ticket

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

$7.70 IQD 10.1K

1.43%

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

$166 IQD 217.8K

$167 IQD 218.7K

-0.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,523 IQD 4.6M

$3,548 IQD 4.6M

-0.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.27 IQD 37.0K

$28.50 IQD 37.3K

-0.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.19 IQD 39.5K

$30.82 IQD 40.4K

-2.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.3 IQD 82.9K

$65.0 IQD 85.1K

-2.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.71 IQD 57.2K

$43.45 IQD 56.9K

0.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$553 IQD 724.7K

$247 IQD 323.5K

123.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$320 IQD 418.5K

$177 IQD 231.1K

81.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$818 IQD 1.1M

$574 IQD 751.7K

42.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$583 IQD 763.6K

$347 IQD 454.4K

68.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,017 IQD 5.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,614 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$648 IQD 848.7K

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 9, 2026

Last update for Al Fallujah: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $553 in Baghdad and $247 in Al Fallujah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $37.00 in Baghdad vs $36.00 in Al Fallujah. Groceries flip the comparison at $190 vs $192, with Baghdad cheaper for home cooking.

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 Fallujah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al Fallujah wins on cost – living expenses run 16% lower than in Baghdad. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Al Fallujah the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,610 in Baghdad and $1,391 in Al Fallujah to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $553 in Baghdad versus $247 in Al Fallujah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $166 in Baghdad versus $167 in Al Fallujah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Shoppers in Baghdad pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

At $928 in Al Fallujah versus $1,074 in Baghdad, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Al Fallujah but tight or insufficient in Baghdad. The gap between the two cities makes Al Fallujah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Al Fallujah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.