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 $671 in Al Kufah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Baghdad versus $1,041 in Al Kufah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,073 in Baghdad versus $1,411 in Al Kufah.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 60% more expensive than Al Kufah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 20% lower, Al Kufah 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.27 IQD 6,895

$5.45 IQD 7,133

-3.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.86 IQD 48.3K

$36.38 IQD 47.6K

1.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$7.60 IQD 9,956

2.37%

Cappuccino

$2.98 IQD 3,909

$2.94 IQD 3,856

1.36%

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

$0.39 IQD 512

$0.40 IQD 519

-2.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 216

$0.18 IQD 233

-5.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.38 IQD 4,429

$3.52 IQD 4,604

-3.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 IQD 3,785

$2.89 IQD 3,784

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 IQD 1,702

$1.11 IQD 1,459

17.12%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,087

$0.66 IQD 865

25.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 IQD 2,181

$1.65 IQD 2,166

1.21%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,343

$1.71 IQD 2,236

4.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.52 IQD 5,918

$2.22 IQD 2,910

103.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.84 IQD 6,342

$3.03 IQD 3,963

59.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.04 IQD 18.4K

$10.21 IQD 13.4K

37.51%

Apples (1kg)

$1.28 IQD 1,680

$0.49 IQD 637

161.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,504

$0.96 IQD 1,261

19.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,363

$0.68 IQD 891

52.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 914

$0.46 IQD 607

52.17%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 897

$0.40 IQD 530

72.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 813

$0.34 IQD 439

82.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 IQD 883

$0.63 IQD 824

6.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 IQD 824

$0.45 IQD 586

40.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.13 IQD 2,786

$2.03 IQD 2,662

4.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.64 IQD 17.9K

$13.53 IQD 17.7K

0.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,348

$1.76 IQD 2,310

1.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,812

$2.11 IQD 2,759

1.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 IQD 993

$0.37 IQD 489

105.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.16 IQD 36.9K

$31.49 IQD 41.2K

-10.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.78 IQD 4,954

$2.32 IQD 3,041

62.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 IQD 1,999

$1.54 IQD 2,018

-0.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.54 IQD 9,868

$7.47 IQD 9,783

0.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 IQD 750

$0.53 IQD 697

7.55%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

-1.60%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

0.13%

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

$181 IQD 236.7K

$40.56 IQD 53.1K

345.71%

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

$25.64 IQD 33.6K

$26.38 IQD 34.5K

-2.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.76 IQD 53.4K

$23.19 IQD 30.4K

75.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.00 IQD 53.7K

$26.04 IQD 34.1K

57.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

$17.05 IQD 22.3K

8.86%

Cinema Ticket

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

$7.62 IQD 9,982

2.49%

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

$166 IQD 217.8K

$86.3 IQD 113.0K

92.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,523 IQD 4.6M

$2,370 IQD 3.1M

48.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.27 IQD 37.0K

$21.20 IQD 27.8K

33.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.19 IQD 39.5K

$29.55 IQD 38.7K

2.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.3 IQD 82.9K

$20.10 IQD 26.3K

215.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.71 IQD 57.2K

$27.59 IQD 36.1K

58.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$553 IQD 724.7K

$213 IQD 278.8K

159.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$320 IQD 418.5K

$175 IQD 229.4K

82.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$818 IQD 1.1M

$427 IQD 558.7K

91.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$583 IQD 763.6K

$295 IQD 386.1K

97.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,017 IQD 5.3M

$3,258 IQD 4.3M

23.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,614 IQD 2.1M

$1,677 IQD 2.2M

-3.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$648 IQD 848.7K

$769 IQD 1.0M

-15.70%

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Al Kufah: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $553 in Baghdad and $213 in Al Kufah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Kufah pays 19% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $37.00 in Baghdad vs $36.00 in Al Kufah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $147 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. The 60% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Al Kufah earns 19% 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: $553 in Baghdad versus $213 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 $671 in Al Kufah – a 60% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $671 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 60% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.