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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,143 per month in Baghdad vs $791 in Al Hillah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,702 per month in Baghdad vs $1,214 in Al Hillah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,262 per month in Baghdad vs $1,636 in Al Hillah, rent included.

Baghdad costs about 44% more than Al Hillah, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Baghdad and Al Hillah are more affordable than the global median – Baghdad 16% lower, Al Hillah 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.91 IQD 6,430

$4.86 IQD 6,367

1.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.26 IQD 44.9K

$30.43 IQD 39.8K

12.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 IQD 10.3K

$5.95 IQD 7,788

31.76%

Cappuccino

$3.08 IQD 4,033

$3.05 IQD 3,993

0.98%

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

$0.39 IQD 514

$0.37 IQD 480

5.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 IQD 342

$0.22 IQD 289

18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.78 IQD 4,957

$2.83 IQD 3,705

33.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 IQD 4,907

$3.93 IQD 5,144

-4.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 IQD 1,364

$1.09 IQD 1,426

-4.59%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,090

$0.78 IQD 1,018

6.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 IQD 2,015

$1.53 IQD 2,009

0.65%

Eggs

$1.89 IQD 2,479

$1.81 IQD 2,368

4.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.77 IQD 4,937

$3.97 IQD 5,203

-5.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.59 IQD 6,004

$4.74 IQD 6,202

-3.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.44 IQD 18.9K

$14.24 IQD 18.6K

1.40%

Apples (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,480

$1.18 IQD 1,549

-4.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,390

$1.08 IQD 1,412

-1.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 IQD 1,345

$1.06 IQD 1,393

-2.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 968

$0.78 IQD 1,017

-5.13%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 906

$0.66 IQD 866

4.55%

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 912

$0.64 IQD 835

9.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 IQD 838

$0.56 IQD 730

14.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 IQD 907

$0.59 IQD 768

16.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.78 IQD 2,336

$1.83 IQD 2,400

-2.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.81 IQD 18.1K

$13.64 IQD 17.9K

1.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,806

$2.24 IQD 2,937

-4.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 IQD 2,977

$2.20 IQD 2,875

3.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 IQD 905

$0.39 IQD 513

76.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.15 IQD 30.3K

$64.3 IQD 84.2K

-64.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.23 IQD 2,918

$2.26 IQD 2,960

-1.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 IQD 2,021

$1.52 IQD 1,988

1.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.65 IQD 10.0K

$3.46 IQD 4,532

121.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.62 IQD 806

$0.57 IQD 749

8.77%

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

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

$17.1K IQD 22.4M

13.03%

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

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

1.53%

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

$213 IQD 279.2K

$76.2 IQD 99.8K

179.68%

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

$21.75 IQD 28.5K

$15.14 IQD 19.8K

43.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.04 IQD 53.7K

$38.51 IQD 50.4K

6.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.75 IQD 62.5K

$22.95 IQD 30.1K

108.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.22 IQD 27.8K

$19.40 IQD 25.4K

9.38%

Cinema Ticket

$10.68 IQD 14.0K

$7.55 IQD 9,889

41.46%

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

$169 IQD 221.7K

$94.9 IQD 124.3K

78.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,468 IQD 4.5M

$766 IQD 1.0M

352.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.14 IQD 39.5K

$22.31 IQD 29.2K

35.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.41 IQD 50.3K

$24.74 IQD 32.4K

55.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.0 IQD 95.6K

$67.1 IQD 87.8K

8.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.87 IQD 62.7K

$47.37 IQD 62.0K

1.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$568 IQD 743.5K

$281 IQD 368.6K

101.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$351 IQD 459.9K

$180 IQD 235.5K

95.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$935 IQD 1.2M

$495 IQD 648.4K

88.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$692 IQD 905.7K

$291 IQD 380.8K

137.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,625 IQD 6.1M

$1,717 IQD 2.2M

169.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,587 IQD 2.1M

$555 IQD 726.2K

186.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$615 IQD 805.3K

$514 IQD 673.3K

19.60%

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 Al Hillah: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $568 in Baghdad versus $281 in Al Hillah. 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 20% 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 $30.00 in Al Hillah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $187 vs $186 – making Al Hillah 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 Hillah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Baghdad is pricier by about 44%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $1,187 in Al Hillah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 178% less in Al Hillah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $169 per month in Baghdad and $94.9 in Al Hillah. 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 Al Hillah, where all-in costs run around $791, than in Baghdad at $1,143. In Al Hillah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Baghdad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Al Hillah – 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 Al Hillah. 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.