Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Al-Rumaitha

For one person, living is cheaper in Al-Rumaitha: $650 a month against $1,001 in Baghdad, rent and utilities included – about $4,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

49

Cost of Living Index in Baghdad
Learn more

Baghdad Living Index
32

Cost of Living Index in Al-Rumaitha
Learn more

Al-Rumaitha Living Index

Jump to prices

Baghdad

🇮🇶 Iraq

$1,001

/mo nomad

Al-Rumaitha

🇮🇶 Iraq

$650

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Baghdad and in Al-Rumaitha

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Baghdad and in Al-Rumaitha actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,001 in Baghdad versus $650 in Al-Rumaitha.

Baghdad $1,001
Al-Rumaitha $650

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,472 in Baghdad versus $1,027 in Al-Rumaitha.

Baghdad $1,472
Al-Rumaitha $1,027

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,943 in Baghdad versus $1,403 in Al-Rumaitha.

Baghdad $1,943
Al-Rumaitha $1,403

Living in Baghdad is roughly 54% more expensive than in Al-Rumaitha, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 26% lower, Al-Rumaitha 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.27 IQD 6,445

$3.62 IQD 5,465

17.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.18 IQD 44.1K

$23.11 IQD 34.9K

26.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.77 IQD 10.2K

$7.08 IQD 10.7K

-4.38%

Cappuccino

$2.65 IQD 4,003

$2.33 IQD 3,523

13.73%

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

$0.35 IQD 530

$0.31 IQD 471

12.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 302

$0.19 IQD 286

5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.26 IQD 4,927

$2.91 IQD 4,398

12.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 IQD 4,868

$2.60 IQD 3,936

23.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 IQD 1,466

$0.86 IQD 1,298

12.79%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 IQD 1,097

$0.78 IQD 1,185

-6.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 IQD 2,003

$1.37 IQD 2,063

-2.92%

Eggs

$1.68 IQD 2,534

$1.58 IQD 2,392

6.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.25 IQD 4,912

$4.09 IQD 6,174

-20.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.10 IQD 6,192

$3.61 IQD 5,449

13.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.41 IQD 18.8K

$12.06 IQD 18.2K

2.90%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,523

$0.92 IQD 1,384

9.78%

Banana (1kg)

$0.98 IQD 1,487

$0.95 IQD 1,428

3.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.96 IQD 1,444

$0.84 IQD 1,268

14.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 1,045

$0.66 IQD 1,002

4.55%

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 IQD 842

$0.56 IQD 844

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 IQD 855

$0.56 IQD 849

1.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 IQD 806

$0.56 IQD 839

-5.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 IQD 943

$0.47 IQD 717

31.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.68 IQD 2,534

$1.63 IQD 2,468

3.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.61 IQD 17.5K

$10.70 IQD 16.2K

8.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 IQD 2,863

$1.40 IQD 2,120

35.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 IQD 2,876

$1.78 IQD 2,691

6.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 IQD 858

$0.42 IQD 639

35.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.12 IQD 30.4K

$22.08 IQD 33.4K

-8.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.01 IQD 3,038

$1.80 IQD 2,724

11.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 IQD 2,029

$1.34 IQD 2,031

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.54 IQD 9,887

$4.81 IQD 7,268

35.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 IQD 810

$0.51 IQD 766

5.88%

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

$16.3K IQD 24.6M

$14.9K IQD 22.6M

9.14%

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

$16.6K IQD 25.1M

$16.9K IQD 25.5M

-1.74%

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

$189 IQD 285.6K

$88.6 IQD 133.9K

113.32%

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

$17.44 IQD 26.4K

$12.11 IQD 18.3K

44.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.40 IQD 55.0K

$24.88 IQD 37.6K

46.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.49 IQD 62.7K

$37.29 IQD 56.3K

11.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.51 IQD 28.0K

$3.39 IQD 5,120

446.02%

Cinema Ticket

$9.64 IQD 14.6K

$9.20 IQD 13.9K

4.78%

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

$145 IQD 218.9K

$128 IQD 193.8K

12.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,046 IQD 4.6M

$2,684 IQD 4.1M

13.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.78 IQD 37.4K

$20.77 IQD 31.4K

19.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.66 IQD 43.3K

$21.12 IQD 31.9K

35.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.8 IQD 90.4K

$46.80 IQD 70.7K

27.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.64 IQD 62.9K

$30.79 IQD 46.5K

35.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 IQD 774.7K

$178 IQD 269.0K

188.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$322 IQD 485.8K

$128 IQD 194.1K

150.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$881 IQD 1.3M

$373 IQD 564.1K

135.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$595 IQD 899.0K

$308 IQD 465.9K

92.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,336 IQD 6.6M

$629 IQD 951.1K

588.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,443 IQD 2.2M

$532 IQD 803.7K

171.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$499 IQD 753.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

3.33

23.72%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Baghdad: October 12, 2026

Last update for Al-Rumaitha: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Baghdad

$322 32.1%

Al-Rumaitha

$128 19.8% 60.1% $193

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Baghdad

$243 24.3%

Al-Rumaitha

$126 19.3% 48.3% $117

Groceries & Markets

Baghdad

$164 16.4%

Al-Rumaitha

$154 23.7% 5.7% $9.3

Eating Out

Baghdad

$111 11.1%

Al-Rumaitha

$100 15.4% 10.1% $11

Clothing & Footwear

Baghdad

$70 7%

Al-Rumaitha

$54 8.3% 22.9% $16

Sport & Entertainment

Baghdad

$61 6.1%

Al-Rumaitha

$56 8.6% 8.4% $5.1

Getting Around

Baghdad

$31 3.1%

Al-Rumaitha

$32 5% 3.8% $1.2

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $513 in Baghdad and $178 in Al-Rumaitha. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $29.00 in Baghdad vs $23.00 in Al-Rumaitha for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $164 vs $154 per month, with Al-Rumaitha cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇮🇶 Baghdad

🇮🇶 Al-Rumaitha

🕒 Local time

16:57 4:57 PM

Same time as Baghdad

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

7,216,040 Capital

115,431

💱 Currency

Iraqi Dinar IQD ع.د

📈 Exchange rate

10,000 IQD = 6.62 USD

10,000 IQD = 5.89 EUR

10,000 IQD = 6.62 USD

10,000 IQD = 5.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Baghdad Al-Rumaitha 210 km

From you

Baghdad
Al-Rumaitha

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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, eating out, and clothing. The 54% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,501 in Baghdad and $975 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: $513 in Baghdad versus $178 in Al-Rumaitha. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,001 per month in Baghdad versus $650 in Al-Rumaitha – a 54% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Al-Rumaitha runs roughly 10% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $650 in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,001 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 54% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.