Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Al-musayyib Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Al-musayyib

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,124 in Baghdad versus $703 in Al-musayyib.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,692 in Baghdad versus $1,023 in Al-musayyib.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,259 in Baghdad versus $1,344 in Al-musayyib.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 60% more expensive than in Al-musayyib, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 18% lower, Al-musayyib 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.74 IQD 6,209

$4.65 IQD 6,091

1.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.69 IQD 44.1K

$34.61 IQD 45.3K

-2.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 IQD 10.1K

$7.70 IQD 10.1K

0.65%

Cappuccino

$3.07 IQD 4,024

$3.18 IQD 4,163

-3.46%

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

$0.40 IQD 521

$0.39 IQD 514

2.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 IQD 313

$0.26 IQD 342

-7.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.87 IQD 5,071

$3.90 IQD 5,105

-0.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 IQD 4,911

$3.83 IQD 5,021

-2.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 IQD 1,423

$1.08 IQD 1,413

0.93%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 IQD 1,042

$0.77 IQD 1,014

3.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 IQD 1,982

$1.52 IQD 1,985

-0.66%

Eggs

$1.82 IQD 2,386

$1.56 IQD 2,047

16.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.90 IQD 5,106

$3.87 IQD 5,068

0.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.70 IQD 6,149

$3.83 IQD 5,016

22.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.34 IQD 18.8K

$11.30 IQD 14.8K

26.90%

Apples (1kg)

$1.12 IQD 1,465

$1.14 IQD 1,487

-1.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,389

$1.07 IQD 1,396

-0.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.07 IQD 1,400

$1.05 IQD 1,376

1.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 967

$0.54 IQD 711

37.04%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 860

$0.60 IQD 781

10.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 915

$0.59 IQD 768

18.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 813

$0.55 IQD 721

12.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 IQD 845

$0.36 IQD 474

80.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.78 IQD 2,333

$1.82 IQD 2,386

-2.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.68 IQD 17.9K

$13.77 IQD 18.0K

-0.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,798

$2.24 IQD 2,935

-4.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 IQD 2,971

$2.29 IQD 2,997

-0.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 IQD 838

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.99 IQD 30.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,941

$2.26 IQD 2,957

-0.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 IQD 1,944

$1.49 IQD 1,952

-0.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

$7.66 IQD 10.0K

1.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 877

$0.63 IQD 823

6.35%

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

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

1.90%

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

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

$19.1K IQD 25.1M

-0.19%

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

$214 IQD 280.5K

$212 IQD 277.1K

1.23%

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

$21.41 IQD 28.0K

$20.98 IQD 27.5K

2.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.10 IQD 55.1K

$41.50 IQD 54.3K

1.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.30 IQD 61.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.04 IQD 28.9K

Cinema Ticket

$10.76 IQD 14.1K

$10.68 IQD 14.0K

0.75%

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

$165 IQD 215.5K

$170 IQD 222.6K

-3.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,445 IQD 4.5M

$3,519 IQD 4.6M

-2.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.79 IQD 39.0K

$29.66 IQD 38.8K

0.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 IQD 50.2K

$37.55 IQD 49.2K

2.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.4 IQD 97.5K

$72.8 IQD 95.4K

2.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.59 IQD 62.3K

$46.52 IQD 60.9K

2.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$566 IQD 741.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 IQD 453.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$959 IQD 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$679 IQD 889.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,665 IQD 6.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,599 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$615 IQD 805.6K

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-musayyib: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $34.00 in Baghdad vs $35.00 in Al-musayyib. Groceries flip the comparison at $186 vs $167, with Al-musayyib 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-musayyib: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baghdad and Al-musayyib differ by about 60% in total monthly costs ($1,124 vs $703 including rent). Al-musayyib is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,687 in Baghdad and $1,054 in Al-musayyib to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Childcare runs $165 in Baghdad versus $170 in Al-musayyib. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Al-musayyib – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $34.00 in Baghdad. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $703 in Al-musayyib versus $1,124 in Baghdad, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Al-musayyib but tight or insufficient in Baghdad. The gap between the two cities makes Al-musayyib 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-musayyib 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.