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: $1,148 in Baghdad versus $388 in Al-Rumaitha.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,708 in Baghdad versus $1,246 in Al-Rumaitha.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,269 in Baghdad versus $2,105 in Al-Rumaitha.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 196% more expensive than in Al-Rumaitha, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 16% lower, Al-Rumaitha 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.81 IQD 6,302

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.76 IQD 44.2K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.68 IQD 10.1K

Cappuccino

$3.07 IQD 4,018

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

$0.40 IQD 520

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 IQD 342

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.89 IQD 5,091

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 IQD 4,906

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 IQD 1,424

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,091

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 IQD 2,005

$0.78 IQD 1,015

96.15%

Eggs

$1.89 IQD 2,473

$1.80 IQD 2,355

5.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.80 IQD 4,971

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.58 IQD 5,992

$1.95 IQD 2,549

134.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.59 IQD 19.1K

$10.57 IQD 13.8K

38.03%

Apples (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,492

$0.75 IQD 982

52.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 IQD 1,399

$0.78 IQD 1,027

37.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,391

$0.77 IQD 1,011

37.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 971

$0.36 IQD 476

105.56%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 860

$0.40 IQD 520

65.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 843

$0.39 IQD 515

64.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 827

$0.39 IQD 512

61.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 IQD 920

$0.39 IQD 512

79.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.83 IQD 2,400

$1.50 IQD 1,965

22.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.65 IQD 17.9K

$12.76 IQD 16.7K

6.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 IQD 2,890

$1.55 IQD 2,027

42.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 IQD 2,861

$2.31 IQD 3,031

-5.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 IQD 854

$0.36 IQD 475

80.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.62 IQD 29.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.32 IQD 3,037

$2.32 IQD 3,040

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 IQD 2,025

$0.77 IQD 1,009

101.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.79 IQD 10.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 IQD 801

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

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

$19.2K IQD 25.1M

$9,188 IQD 12.0M

108.48%

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

$213 IQD 278.8K

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

$20.99 IQD 27.5K

$75.0 IQD 98.3K

-72.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.26 IQD 55.3K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.87 IQD 61.4K

$26.91 IQD 35.2K

74.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.00 IQD 28.8K

$3.87 IQD 5,073

468.48%

Cinema Ticket

$10.57 IQD 13.8K

$11.47 IQD 15.0K

-7.85%

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

$165 IQD 216.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,462 IQD 4.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.18 IQD 39.5K

$11.28 IQD 14.8K

167.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.06 IQD 49.8K

$14.99 IQD 19.6K

153.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 IQD 95.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.63 IQD 62.4K

$22.81 IQD 29.9K

108.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$575 IQD 753.1K

$150 IQD 196.8K

282.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$350 IQD 457.9K

$114 IQD 149.6K

206.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$959 IQD 1.3M

$229 IQD 300.4K

317.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$687 IQD 899.8K

$1,537 IQD 2.0M

-55.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,743 IQD 6.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,576 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$604 IQD 791.2K

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: August 30, 2026

Last update for Al-Rumaitha: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $575 in Baghdad and $150 in Al-Rumaitha. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

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, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 196% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,722 in Baghdad and $582 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: $575 in Baghdad versus $150 in Al-Rumaitha. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 69% higher in Baghdad. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,148 per month in Baghdad versus $388 in Al-Rumaitha – a 196% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $388 in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,148 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 196% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.