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: $1,055 in Baghdad versus $667 in Al Kufah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,565 in Baghdad versus $1,063 in Al Kufah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,074 in Baghdad versus $1,460 in Al Kufah.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 21% lower, Al Kufah 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.50 IQD 7,206

$5.30 IQD 6,938

3.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.22 IQD 47.4K

$36.29 IQD 47.5K

-0.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.70 IQD 10.1K

$7.45 IQD 9,759

3.36%

Cappuccino

$2.98 IQD 3,903

$2.96 IQD 3,871

0.68%

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

$0.36 IQD 477

$0.36 IQD 476

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 219

$0.19 IQD 244

-10.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 IQD 4,590

$3.50 IQD 4,580

0.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 IQD 3,839

$2.88 IQD 3,773

1.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 IQD 1,768

$1.12 IQD 1,470

20.54%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,023

$0.61 IQD 801

27.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 IQD 2,076

$1.60 IQD 2,096

-0.63%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,338

$1.75 IQD 2,290

2.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.58 IQD 5,999

$2.30 IQD 3,017

99.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.81 IQD 6,296

$2.96 IQD 3,882

62.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.13 IQD 18.5K

$10.08 IQD 13.2K

40.18%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,612

$0.48 IQD 632

156.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 IQD 1,590

$0.94 IQD 1,226

28.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 IQD 1,311

$0.68 IQD 885

47.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 970

$0.50 IQD 655

48.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 854

$0.37 IQD 488

75.68%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 881

$0.31 IQD 402

116.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 817

$0.63 IQD 829

-1.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 861

$0.45 IQD 589

46.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.05 IQD 2,690

$1.98 IQD 2,588

3.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.49 IQD 17.7K

$13.68 IQD 17.9K

-1.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,346

$1.86 IQD 2,439

-3.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,821

$2.12 IQD 2,772

1.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 IQD 976

$0.38 IQD 495

97.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.88 IQD 36.5K

$30.80 IQD 40.3K

-9.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.93 IQD 5,147

$2.25 IQD 2,941

74.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,922

$1.49 IQD 1,949

-1.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.50 IQD 9,826

$7.80 IQD 10.2K

-3.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 740

$0.50 IQD 661

12.00%

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

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

$20.2K IQD 26.5M

-2.63%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

1.06%

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

$176 IQD 230.7K

$40.44 IQD 52.9K

335.63%

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

$25.81 IQD 33.8K

$26.03 IQD 34.1K

-0.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.29 IQD 54.1K

$23.39 IQD 30.6K

76.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.14 IQD 55.2K

$25.75 IQD 33.7K

63.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

$17.14 IQD 22.4K

8.28%

Cinema Ticket

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

$7.49 IQD 9,804

3.74%

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

$168 IQD 220.3K

$86.2 IQD 112.9K

95.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,627 IQD 4.7M

$2,396 IQD 3.1M

51.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.92 IQD 36.6K

$21.08 IQD 27.6K

32.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.46 IQD 39.9K

$29.78 IQD 39.0K

2.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.9 IQD 85.0K

$19.61 IQD 25.7K

231.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.79 IQD 57.3K

$27.17 IQD 35.6K

61.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$554 IQD 725.1K

$214 IQD 280.1K

158.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$321 IQD 419.7K

$176 IQD 230.6K

82.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$839 IQD 1.1M

$423 IQD 553.3K

98.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$583 IQD 764.1K

$295 IQD 385.7K

98.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,745 IQD 6.2M

$1,317 IQD 1.7M

260.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,597 IQD 2.1M

$383 IQD 502.0K

316.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$612 IQD 800.9K

$1,031 IQD 1.3M

-40.67%

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 27, 2026

Last update for Al Kufah: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $554 in Baghdad and $214 in Al Kufah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Kufah pays 69% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $36.00 in Baghdad vs $36.00 in Al Kufah. Groceries flip the comparison at $190 vs $147, with Al Kufah 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 Kufah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

On paper, salaries run 69% lower in Al Kufah. 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: $554 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 $36.00 in Baghdad. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,055 per month in Baghdad versus $667 in Al Kufah – a 58% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $667 in Al Kufah versus $1,055 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.