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: $1,054 in Baghdad versus $766 in Al-Rumaitha.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,592 in Baghdad versus $1,181 in Al-Rumaitha.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,130 in Baghdad versus $1,596 in Al-Rumaitha.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 21% lower, Al-Rumaitha 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.48 IQD 7,181

$4.07 IQD 5,330

34.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.97 IQD 48.4K

$24.66 IQD 32.3K

49.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.57 IQD 9,909

$6.94 IQD 9,087

9.08%

Cappuccino

$3.06 IQD 4,003

$2.57 IQD 3,369

19.07%

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

$0.40 IQD 518

$0.39 IQD 516

2.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 242

$0.16 IQD 216

12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.42 IQD 4,485

$2.86 IQD 3,743

19.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 IQD 3,853

$2.95 IQD 3,869

-0.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,726

$1.33 IQD 1,736

-0.75%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,017

$0.85 IQD 1,112

-8.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 IQD 2,166

$1.57 IQD 2,060

5.10%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,350

$1.78 IQD 2,329

0.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 IQD 5,763

$4.38 IQD 5,740

0.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.07 IQD 6,636

$4.73 IQD 6,192

7.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.34 IQD 18.8K

$12.99 IQD 17.0K

10.39%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,612

$1.20 IQD 1,577

2.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,530

$1.15 IQD 1,500

1.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,329

$1.06 IQD 1,383

-4.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 922

$0.70 IQD 918

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 911

$0.70 IQD 920

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 835

$0.63 IQD 830

1.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 822

$0.64 IQD 835

-1.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 871

$0.55 IQD 722

20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.11 IQD 2,765

$1.94 IQD 2,546

8.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.35 IQD 17.5K

$13.18 IQD 17.3K

1.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 IQD 2,301

$1.84 IQD 2,414

-4.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,815

$2.14 IQD 2,806

0.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 IQD 1,027

$0.37 IQD 483

110.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.60 IQD 37.4K

$31.62 IQD 41.4K

-9.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.88 IQD 5,087

$2.34 IQD 3,070

65.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,923

$1.48 IQD 1,935

-0.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

$6.14 IQD 8,044

27.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 737

$0.54 IQD 703

3.70%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

8.28%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

-0.34%

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

$181 IQD 237.4K

$76.9 IQD 100.7K

135.77%

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

$25.40 IQD 33.3K

$17.44 IQD 22.8K

45.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.16 IQD 52.6K

$34.89 IQD 45.7K

15.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 IQD 54.1K

$36.96 IQD 48.4K

11.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.43 IQD 24.1K

$16.50 IQD 21.6K

11.70%

Cinema Ticket

$7.82 IQD 10.2K

$7.64 IQD 10.0K

2.36%

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

$163 IQD 213.2K

$150 IQD 196.0K

8.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,573 IQD 4.7M

$3,219 IQD 4.2M

11.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.57 IQD 37.4K

$27.34 IQD 35.8K

4.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.72 IQD 40.2K

$25.62 IQD 33.6K

19.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.4 IQD 83.0K

$62.5 IQD 81.9K

1.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.53 IQD 57.0K

$40.65 IQD 53.2K

7.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$540 IQD 707.6K

$244 IQD 319.4K

121.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$321 IQD 420.5K

$176 IQD 229.9K

82.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$818 IQD 1.1M

$570 IQD 746.9K

43.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$580 IQD 759.9K

$343 IQD 449.5K

69.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,034 IQD 5.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,617 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$642 IQD 841.2K

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Al-Rumaitha: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $540 in Baghdad and $244 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 $191 vs $184 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 $1,581 in Baghdad and $1,150 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: $540 in Baghdad versus $244 in Al-Rumaitha. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,054 per month in Baghdad versus $766 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 11% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $766 in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,054 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.