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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,074 in Baghdad versus $679 in Al Kufah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,581 in Baghdad versus $1,052 in Al Kufah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,088 in Baghdad versus $1,425 in Al Kufah.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 58% more expensive than Al Kufah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 20% lower, Al Kufah 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.26 IQD 6,892

$5.28 IQD 6,918

-0.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.91 IQD 48.3K

$35.99 IQD 47.1K

2.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.46 IQD 9,777

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

-2.99%

Cappuccino

$3.01 IQD 3,939

$3.11 IQD 4,078

-3.22%

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

$0.36 IQD 477

$0.39 IQD 516

-7.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 230

$0.20 IQD 262

-10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 IQD 4,596

$3.35 IQD 4,391

4.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 IQD 3,706

$2.95 IQD 3,860

-4.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 IQD 1,784

$1.11 IQD 1,456

22.52%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 IQD 1,042

$0.61 IQD 794

31.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 IQD 2,102

$1.64 IQD 2,151

-1.83%

Eggs

$1.72 IQD 2,247

$1.78 IQD 2,333

-3.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 IQD 5,759

$2.32 IQD 3,035

89.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.87 IQD 6,373

$3.04 IQD 3,982

60.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.88 IQD 18.2K

$9.75 IQD 12.8K

42.36%

Apples (1kg)

$1.28 IQD 1,678

$0.52 IQD 686

146.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,523

$0.99 IQD 1,291

17.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,323

$0.67 IQD 882

50.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 920

$0.49 IQD 643

42.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 895

$0.38 IQD 492

78.95%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 831

$0.31 IQD 403

103.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 823

$0.66 IQD 867

-4.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 867

$0.45 IQD 586

46.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.07 IQD 2,713

$2.01 IQD 2,633

2.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.58 IQD 17.8K

$13.79 IQD 18.1K

-1.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 IQD 2,413

$1.80 IQD 2,353

2.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 IQD 2,712

$2.08 IQD 2,719

-0.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 IQD 964

$0.35 IQD 458

111.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.32 IQD 37.1K

$30.80 IQD 40.3K

-8.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.90 IQD 5,113

$2.36 IQD 3,089

65.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,923

$1.54 IQD 2,021

-4.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.61 IQD 9,964

$7.63 IQD 9,991

-0.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 700

$0.54 IQD 711

-1.85%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.0M

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

0.24%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

$19.8K IQD 26.0M

0.61%

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

$179 IQD 234.3K

$40.64 IQD 53.2K

340.18%

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

$25.76 IQD 33.7K

$25.83 IQD 33.8K

-0.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.94 IQD 53.6K

$22.68 IQD 29.7K

80.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.54 IQD 54.4K

$25.24 IQD 33.1K

64.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.57 IQD 24.3K

$16.58 IQD 21.7K

12.00%

Cinema Ticket

$7.66 IQD 10.0K

$7.46 IQD 9,770

2.68%

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

$168 IQD 220.3K

$88.3 IQD 115.7K

90.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,533 IQD 4.6M

$2,403 IQD 3.1M

47.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.32 IQD 37.1K

$21.19 IQD 27.8K

33.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.84 IQD 40.4K

$30.53 IQD 40.0K

1.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.0 IQD 85.1K

$19.61 IQD 25.7K

231.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.91 IQD 57.5K

$28.02 IQD 36.7K

56.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$557 IQD 729.9K

$214 IQD 280.1K

160.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$324 IQD 424.8K

$181 IQD 237.3K

79.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 IQD 1.1M

$432 IQD 566.3K

90.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$594 IQD 777.9K

$287 IQD 376.5K

106.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,867 IQD 5.1M

$3,265 IQD 4.3M

18.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,428 IQD 1.9M

$1,674 IQD 2.2M

-14.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$622 IQD 814.4K

$768 IQD 1.0M

-19.08%

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 Kufah: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $557 in Baghdad and $214 in Al Kufah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Kufah pays 24% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $37 in Baghdad vs $36 in Al Kufah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $189 vs $146 per month, with Al Kufah cheaper across the board.

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 Kufah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al Kufah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 58% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Al Kufah earns 24% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $557 in Baghdad versus $214 in Al Kufah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Al Kufah – a meal for two runs $36.00 versus $37.00 in Baghdad. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,074 per month in Baghdad versus $679 in Al Kufah – a 58% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $679 in Al Kufah versus $1,074 in Baghdad, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al Kufah but tight or insufficient in Baghdad. The gap between the two cities makes Al Kufah 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 Kufah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.