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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,066 in Baghdad versus $777 in Al-Rumaitha.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,598 in Baghdad versus $1,176 in Al-Rumaitha.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,130 in Baghdad versus $1,574 in Al-Rumaitha.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 37% more expensive than in Al-Rumaitha, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 20% lower, Al-Rumaitha 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.30 IQD 6,947

$4.00 IQD 5,239

32.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.81 IQD 48.2K

$25.15 IQD 32.9K

46.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$6.71 IQD 8,785

15.95%

Cappuccino

$3.11 IQD 4,074

$2.60 IQD 3,408

19.62%

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

$0.40 IQD 522

$0.39 IQD 515

2.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 233

$0.20 IQD 265

-10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.49 IQD 4,576

$2.86 IQD 3,745

22.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 IQD 3,686

$2.91 IQD 3,809

-3.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,722

$1.33 IQD 1,738

-1.50%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 IQD 1,100

$0.79 IQD 1,031

6.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 IQD 2,152

$1.66 IQD 2,168

-1.20%

Eggs

$1.81 IQD 2,364

$1.74 IQD 2,274

4.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.52 IQD 5,923

$4.37 IQD 5,727

3.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.86 IQD 6,364

$4.61 IQD 6,039

5.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.16 IQD 18.5K

$13.31 IQD 17.4K

6.39%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,615

$1.20 IQD 1,570

2.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,519

$1.15 IQD 1,507

0.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,366

$1.02 IQD 1,330

1.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 984

$0.74 IQD 964

1.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 843

$0.65 IQD 845

-1.54%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 873

$0.67 IQD 872

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 828

$0.62 IQD 813

1.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 858

$0.55 IQD 722

20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.07 IQD 2,707

$1.89 IQD 2,479

9.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.33 IQD 17.5K

$12.90 IQD 16.9K

3.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 IQD 2,354

$1.85 IQD 2,421

-2.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 IQD 2,762

$2.08 IQD 2,727

1.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 IQD 965

$0.36 IQD 478

105.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.86 IQD 36.5K

$31.29 IQD 41.0K

-10.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.72 IQD 4,870

$2.33 IQD 3,054

59.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 IQD 2,026

$1.49 IQD 1,957

4.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.49 IQD 9,803

$5.92 IQD 7,756

26.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 700

$0.57 IQD 751

-7.02%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

$19.2K IQD 25.2M

4.14%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$19.6K IQD 25.7M

3.76%

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

$175 IQD 229.3K

$78.1 IQD 102.3K

124.10%

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

$26.17 IQD 34.3K

$17.49 IQD 22.9K

49.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.52 IQD 53.1K

$34.43 IQD 45.1K

17.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.04 IQD 55.1K

$36.84 IQD 48.2K

14.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.31 IQD 24.0K

$17.12 IQD 22.4K

6.95%

Cinema Ticket

$7.49 IQD 9,813

$7.63 IQD 9,995

-1.83%

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

$166 IQD 217.8K

$153 IQD 200.1K

8.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,526 IQD 4.6M

$3,328 IQD 4.4M

5.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.00 IQD 36.7K

$26.81 IQD 35.1K

4.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.12 IQD 39.4K

$25.05 IQD 32.8K

20.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.9 IQD 83.7K

$62.3 IQD 81.5K

2.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.06 IQD 56.4K

$40.45 IQD 53.0K

6.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$548 IQD 717.9K

$239 IQD 313.3K

129.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$323 IQD 422.7K

$179 IQD 234.9K

79.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$834 IQD 1.1M

$584 IQD 764.6K

42.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$597 IQD 781.1K

$338 IQD 442.7K

76.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,734 IQD 6.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,570 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$629 IQD 823.2K

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 14, 2026

Last update for Al-Rumaitha: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $548 in Baghdad and $239 in Al-Rumaitha. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $37.00 in Baghdad vs $25.00 in Al-Rumaitha for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $183 per month, with Al-Rumaitha 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-Rumaitha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al-Rumaitha is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 37% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,600 in Baghdad and $1,165 in Al-Rumaitha 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $548 in Baghdad versus $239 in Al-Rumaitha. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,066 per month in Baghdad versus $777 in Al-Rumaitha – a 37% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Al-Rumaitha runs roughly 12% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $777 in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,066 in Baghdad, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al-Rumaitha but tight or insufficient in Baghdad. The gap between the two cities makes Al-Rumaitha 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-Rumaitha gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.