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 $1,066 per month in Baghdad vs $810 in Al Hillah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,598 per month in Baghdad vs $1,264 in Al Hillah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,130 per month in Baghdad vs $1,718 in Al Hillah, rent included.

Baghdad costs about 32% more than Al Hillah, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Baghdad and Al Hillah are more affordable than the global median – Baghdad 20% lower, Al Hillah 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.30 IQD 6,947

$5.45 IQD 7,132

-2.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.81 IQD 48.2K

$31.09 IQD 40.7K

18.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$6.12 IQD 8,019

27.12%

Cappuccino

$3.11 IQD 4,074

$3.06 IQD 4,005

1.63%

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

$0.40 IQD 522

$0.40 IQD 518

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 233

$0.18 IQD 242

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.49 IQD 4,576

$2.93 IQD 3,833

19.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 IQD 3,686

$2.90 IQD 3,793

-2.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,722

$1.37 IQD 1,800

-4.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 IQD 1,100

$0.74 IQD 963

13.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 IQD 2,152

$1.65 IQD 2,156

-0.61%

Eggs

$1.81 IQD 2,364

$1.80 IQD 2,359

0.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.52 IQD 5,923

$4.49 IQD 5,874

0.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.86 IQD 6,364

$4.80 IQD 6,290

1.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.16 IQD 18.5K

$14.01 IQD 18.3K

1.07%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,615

$1.23 IQD 1,607

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,519

$1.19 IQD 1,564

-2.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,366

$1.04 IQD 1,368

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 984

$0.69 IQD 899

8.70%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 843

$0.66 IQD 863

-3.03%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 873

$0.63 IQD 820

6.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 828

$0.59 IQD 778

6.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 858

$0.55 IQD 721

20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.07 IQD 2,707

$1.90 IQD 2,485

8.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.33 IQD 17.5K

$13.82 IQD 18.1K

-3.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 IQD 2,354

$1.84 IQD 2,415

-2.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 IQD 2,762

$2.17 IQD 2,840

-2.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 IQD 965

$0.40 IQD 520

85.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.86 IQD 36.5K

$65.4 IQD 85.6K

-57.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.72 IQD 4,870

$2.36 IQD 3,092

57.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 IQD 2,026

$1.55 IQD 2,031

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.49 IQD 9,803

$3.37 IQD 4,414

122.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 700

$0.54 IQD 703

-1.85%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

$17.4K IQD 22.8M

14.95%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$20.3K IQD 26.5M

0.31%

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

$175 IQD 229.3K

$75.8 IQD 99.3K

130.87%

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

$26.17 IQD 34.3K

$15.12 IQD 19.8K

73.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.52 IQD 53.1K

$39.00 IQD 51.1K

3.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.04 IQD 55.1K

$23.41 IQD 30.7K

79.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.31 IQD 24.0K

$19.19 IQD 25.1K

-4.59%

Cinema Ticket

$7.49 IQD 9,813

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

-3.60%

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

$166 IQD 217.8K

$95.6 IQD 125.2K

73.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,526 IQD 4.6M

$779 IQD 1.0M

352.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.00 IQD 36.7K

$27.22 IQD 35.6K

2.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.12 IQD 39.4K

$27.73 IQD 36.3K

8.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.9 IQD 83.7K

$61.6 IQD 80.7K

3.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.06 IQD 56.4K

$43.71 IQD 57.2K

-1.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$548 IQD 717.9K

$364 IQD 476.8K

50.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$323 IQD 422.7K

$196 IQD 256.8K

64.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$834 IQD 1.1M

$667 IQD 874.0K

24.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$597 IQD 781.1K

$313 IQD 410.0K

90.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,734 IQD 6.2M

$1,746 IQD 2.3M

171.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,570 IQD 2.1M

$545 IQD 713.5K

188.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$629 IQD 823.2K

$517 IQD 677.5K

21.50%

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 Hillah: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $548 in Baghdad versus $364 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 22% 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 $31.00 in Al Hillah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $189 – 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 32%, 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 $1,600 per month in Baghdad and $1,215 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 135% less in Al Hillah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $166 per month in Baghdad and $95.6 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 $810, than in Baghdad at $1,066. 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.