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 $925 in Al Fallujah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,581 in Baghdad versus $1,379 in Al Fallujah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,088 in Baghdad versus $1,833 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

$5.26 IQD 6,892

$5.50 IQD 7,205

-4.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.91 IQD 48.3K

$36.07 IQD 47.2K

2.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.46 IQD 9,777

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

-3.24%

Cappuccino

$3.01 IQD 3,939

$2.98 IQD 3,903

1.01%

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

$0.36 IQD 477

$0.39 IQD 514

-7.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 230

$0.16 IQD 214

12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 IQD 4,596

$3.46 IQD 4,526

1.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 IQD 3,706

$2.81 IQD 3,685

0.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 IQD 1,784

$1.32 IQD 1,729

3.03%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 IQD 1,042

$0.77 IQD 1,008

3.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 IQD 2,102

$1.64 IQD 2,154

-1.83%

Eggs

$1.72 IQD 2,247

$1.80 IQD 2,361

-4.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 IQD 5,759

$4.49 IQD 5,878

-2.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.87 IQD 6,373

$4.80 IQD 6,281

1.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.88 IQD 18.2K

$13.86 IQD 18.2K

0.14%

Apples (1kg)

$1.28 IQD 1,678

$1.26 IQD 1,656

1.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,523

$1.21 IQD 1,580

-4.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,323

$1.01 IQD 1,326

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 920

$0.74 IQD 964

-5.41%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 895

$0.68 IQD 893

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 831

$0.64 IQD 838

-1.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 823

$0.68 IQD 887

-7.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 867

$0.65 IQD 852

1.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.07 IQD 2,713

$2.08 IQD 2,723

-0.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.58 IQD 17.8K

$13.34 IQD 17.5K

1.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 IQD 2,413

$1.82 IQD 2,384

1.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 IQD 2,712

$2.15 IQD 2,813

-3.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 IQD 964

$0.36 IQD 473

105.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.32 IQD 37.1K

$30.93 IQD 40.5K

-8.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.90 IQD 5,113

$3.76 IQD 4,927

3.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,923

$1.55 IQD 2,028

-5.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.61 IQD 9,964

$7.45 IQD 9,762

2.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 700

$0.53 IQD 693

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

$19.9K IQD 26.0M

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

-0.36%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

$19.6K IQD 25.6M

2.03%

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

$179 IQD 234.3K

$180 IQD 235.4K

-0.46%

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

$25.76 IQD 33.7K

$25.68 IQD 33.6K

0.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.94 IQD 53.6K

$40.08 IQD 52.5K

2.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.54 IQD 54.4K

$36.26 IQD 47.5K

14.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.57 IQD 24.3K

$16.68 IQD 21.8K

11.33%

Cinema Ticket

$7.66 IQD 10.0K

$7.46 IQD 9,774

2.68%

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

$168 IQD 220.3K

$164 IQD 215.2K

2.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,533 IQD 4.6M

$3,582 IQD 4.7M

-1.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.32 IQD 37.1K

$28.67 IQD 37.6K

-1.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.84 IQD 40.4K

$30.29 IQD 39.7K

1.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.0 IQD 85.1K

$65.1 IQD 85.3K

-0.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.91 IQD 57.5K

$42.69 IQD 55.9K

2.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$557 IQD 729.9K

$242 IQD 316.9K

130.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$324 IQD 424.8K

$177 IQD 232.3K

82.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 IQD 1.1M

$587 IQD 769.2K

39.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$594 IQD 777.9K

$338 IQD 443.1K

75.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,867 IQD 5.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,428 IQD 1.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$622 IQD 814.4K

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 Al Fallujah: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $557 in Baghdad and $242 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 $189 vs $189, 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 $1,611 in Baghdad and $1,387 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: $557 in Baghdad versus $242 in Al Fallujah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $168 in Baghdad versus $164 in Al Fallujah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Baghdad. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $925 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.