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: $1,124 in Baghdad versus $630 in Al Kufah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,692 in Baghdad versus $1,038 in Al Kufah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,259 in Baghdad versus $1,446 in Al Kufah.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 79% more expensive than in Al Kufah, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 18% lower, Al Kufah 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.74 IQD 6,209

$4.83 IQD 6,320

-1.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.69 IQD 44.1K

$34.07 IQD 44.6K

-1.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 IQD 10.1K

$7.48 IQD 9,795

3.61%

Cappuccino

$3.07 IQD 4,024

$3.20 IQD 4,191

-4.06%

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

$0.40 IQD 521

$0.36 IQD 474

11.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 IQD 313

$0.24 IQD 312

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.87 IQD 5,071

$3.86 IQD 5,055

0.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 IQD 4,911

$3.89 IQD 5,100

-3.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 IQD 1,423

$1.03 IQD 1,347

5.83%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 IQD 1,042

$0.79 IQD 1,035

1.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 IQD 1,982

$1.52 IQD 1,993

-0.66%

Eggs

$1.82 IQD 2,386

$1.82 IQD 2,390

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.90 IQD 5,106

$2.33 IQD 3,046

67.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.70 IQD 6,149

$4.57 IQD 5,980

2.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.34 IQD 18.8K

$9.29 IQD 12.2K

54.36%

Apples (1kg)

$1.12 IQD 1,465

$0.75 IQD 976

49.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,389

$1.05 IQD 1,370

0.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.07 IQD 1,400

$0.61 IQD 801

75.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 967

$0.56 IQD 739

32.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 860

$0.51 IQD 668

29.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 915

$0.33 IQD 431

112.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 813

$0.20 IQD 267

210.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 IQD 845

$0.55 IQD 716

18.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.78 IQD 2,333

$1.59 IQD 2,077

11.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.68 IQD 17.9K

$13.80 IQD 18.1K

-0.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,798

$2.22 IQD 2,908

-3.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 IQD 2,971

$2.21 IQD 2,893

2.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 IQD 838

$0.37 IQD 482

72.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.99 IQD 30.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,941

$2.22 IQD 2,909

1.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 IQD 1,944

$1.55 IQD 2,027

-4.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

1.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 877

$0.58 IQD 762

15.52%

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

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

-0.16%

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

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

$19.6K IQD 25.6M

-2.36%

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

$214 IQD 280.5K

$218 IQD 285.9K

-1.87%

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

$21.41 IQD 28.0K

$21.02 IQD 27.5K

1.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.10 IQD 55.1K

$22.69 IQD 29.7K

85.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.30 IQD 61.9K

$15.54 IQD 20.3K

204.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.04 IQD 28.9K

Cinema Ticket

$10.76 IQD 14.1K

$9.96 IQD 13.0K

8.03%

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

$165 IQD 215.5K

$72.7 IQD 95.2K

126.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,445 IQD 4.5M

$2,401 IQD 3.1M

43.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.79 IQD 39.0K

$9.86 IQD 12.9K

202.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 IQD 50.2K

$29.84 IQD 39.1K

28.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.4 IQD 97.5K

$20.17 IQD 26.4K

269.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.59 IQD 62.3K

$34.50 IQD 45.2K

37.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$566 IQD 741.8K

$189 IQD 247.3K

199.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 IQD 453.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$959 IQD 1.3M

$250 IQD 327.9K

283.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$679 IQD 889.1K

$204 IQD 266.8K

233.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,665 IQD 6.1M

$1,333 IQD 1.7M

249.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,599 IQD 2.1M

$382 IQD 499.8K

318.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$615 IQD 805.6K

$1,017 IQD 1.3M

-39.50%

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 6, 2026

Last update for Al Kufah: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $566 in Baghdad and $189 in Al Kufah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Kufah pays 65% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $34.00 in Baghdad vs $34.00 in Al Kufah. Groceries flip the comparison at $186 vs $157, 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, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 79% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 65% 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: $566 in Baghdad versus $189 in Al Kufah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 19% higher in Baghdad. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,124 per month in Baghdad versus $630 in Al Kufah – a 79% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $630 in Al Kufah versus $1,124 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 79% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.