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 $1,054 per month in Baghdad vs $819 in Al Hillah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,592 per month in Baghdad vs $1,263 in Al Hillah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,130 per month in Baghdad vs $1,708 in Al Hillah, rent included.

Baghdad costs about 29% more than Al Hillah, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Baghdad and Al Hillah are more affordable than the global median – Baghdad 21% lower, Al Hillah 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.48 IQD 7,181

$5.28 IQD 6,917

3.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.97 IQD 48.4K

$30.53 IQD 40.0K

21.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.57 IQD 9,909

$6.00 IQD 7,851

26.17%

Cappuccino

$3.06 IQD 4,003

$3.11 IQD 4,073

-1.61%

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

$0.40 IQD 518

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 242

$0.20 IQD 265

-10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.42 IQD 4,485

$2.97 IQD 3,896

15.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 IQD 3,853

$2.83 IQD 3,706

3.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,726

$1.31 IQD 1,713

0.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,017

$0.74 IQD 967

5.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 IQD 2,166

$1.64 IQD 2,151

0.61%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,350

$1.74 IQD 2,280

2.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 IQD 5,763

$4.38 IQD 5,733

0.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.07 IQD 6,636

$5.06 IQD 6,623

0.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.34 IQD 18.8K

$13.96 IQD 18.3K

2.72%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,612

$1.28 IQD 1,673

-3.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,530

$1.16 IQD 1,516

0.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,329

$1.06 IQD 1,385

-4.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 922

$0.70 IQD 920

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 911

$0.66 IQD 862

6.06%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 835

$0.68 IQD 890

-5.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 822

$0.55 IQD 720

14.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 871

$0.55 IQD 722

20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.11 IQD 2,765

$1.95 IQD 2,552

8.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.35 IQD 17.5K

$13.56 IQD 17.8K

-1.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 IQD 2,301

$1.76 IQD 2,300

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,815

$2.19 IQD 2,863

-1.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 IQD 1,027

$0.40 IQD 522

95.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.60 IQD 37.4K

$63.8 IQD 83.6K

-55.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.88 IQD 5,087

$2.26 IQD 2,957

71.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,923

$1.54 IQD 2,016

-4.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

$3.33 IQD 4,358

135.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 737

$0.53 IQD 689

5.66%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$17.0K IQD 22.2M

19.60%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

-0.82%

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

$181 IQD 237.4K

$76.0 IQD 99.6K

138.43%

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

$25.40 IQD 33.3K

$15.24 IQD 20.0K

66.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.16 IQD 52.6K

$37.99 IQD 49.8K

5.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 IQD 54.1K

$23.35 IQD 30.6K

76.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.43 IQD 24.1K

$19.37 IQD 25.4K

-4.85%

Cinema Ticket

$7.82 IQD 10.2K

$7.55 IQD 9,883

3.58%

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

$163 IQD 213.2K

$96.5 IQD 126.4K

68.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,573 IQD 4.7M

$754 IQD 986.7K

374.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.57 IQD 37.4K

$27.29 IQD 35.7K

4.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.72 IQD 40.2K

$27.83 IQD 36.4K

10.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.4 IQD 83.0K

$61.2 IQD 80.1K

3.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.53 IQD 57.0K

$43.90 IQD 57.5K

-0.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$540 IQD 707.6K

$378 IQD 494.8K

43.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$321 IQD 420.5K

$191 IQD 249.6K

68.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$818 IQD 1.1M

$662 IQD 867.5K

23.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$580 IQD 759.9K

$322 IQD 422.1K

80.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,034 IQD 5.3M

$1,702 IQD 2.2M

136.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,617 IQD 2.1M

$562 IQD 736.0K

187.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$642 IQD 841.2K

$515 IQD 674.7K

24.68%

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 Hillah: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $540 in Baghdad versus $378 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 25% 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: $191 vs $188 – 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 29%, 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 $1,581 per month in Baghdad and $1,228 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 123% less in Al Hillah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $163 per month in Baghdad and $96.5 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 $819, than in Baghdad at $1,054. 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.