Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and An Najaf Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and An Najaf

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,074 per month in Baghdad vs $677 in An Najaf, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Baghdad vs $997 in An Najaf, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,073 per month in Baghdad vs $1,317 in An Najaf, rent included.

Baghdad costs about 58% more than An Najaf, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Baghdad and An Najaf are more affordable than the global median – Baghdad 20% lower, An Najaf 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.27 IQD 6,895

$4.01 IQD 5,251

31.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.86 IQD 48.3K

$23.23 IQD 30.4K

58.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$4.82 IQD 6,311

61.41%

Cappuccino

$2.98 IQD 3,909

$2.67 IQD 3,500

11.61%

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

$0.39 IQD 512

$0.36 IQD 476

8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 216

$0.18 IQD 233

-5.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.38 IQD 4,429

$3.41 IQD 4,462

-0.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 IQD 3,785

$2.93 IQD 3,840

-1.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 IQD 1,702

$1.38 IQD 1,804

-5.80%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,087

$0.78 IQD 1,021

6.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 IQD 2,181

$1.57 IQD 2,058

6.37%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,343

$1.72 IQD 2,258

4.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.52 IQD 5,918

$2.38 IQD 3,121

89.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.84 IQD 6,342

$4.80 IQD 6,281

0.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.04 IQD 18.4K

$10.53 IQD 13.8K

33.33%

Apples (1kg)

$1.28 IQD 1,680

$1.27 IQD 1,658

0.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,504

$1.16 IQD 1,513

-0.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,363

$1.06 IQD 1,387

-1.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 914

$0.74 IQD 963

-5.41%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 897

$0.69 IQD 905

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 813

$0.68 IQD 889

-8.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 IQD 883

$0.62 IQD 806

8.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 IQD 824

$0.37 IQD 479

70.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.13 IQD 2,786

$1.49 IQD 1,951

42.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.64 IQD 17.9K

$13.65 IQD 17.9K

-0.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,348

$1.84 IQD 2,404

-2.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,812

$2.08 IQD 2,719

3.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 IQD 993

$0.40 IQD 522

90.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.16 IQD 36.9K

$34.74 IQD 45.5K

-18.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.78 IQD 4,954

$1.92 IQD 2,515

96.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 IQD 1,999

$1.48 IQD 1,939

3.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.54 IQD 9,868

$4.89 IQD 6,398

54.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 IQD 750

$0.48 IQD 632

18.75%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

$11.6K IQD 15.2M

72.12%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$19.6K IQD 25.7M

3.35%

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

$181 IQD 236.7K

$59.8 IQD 78.3K

202.51%

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

$25.64 IQD 33.6K

$22.94 IQD 30.0K

11.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.76 IQD 53.4K

$34.50 IQD 45.2K

18.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.00 IQD 53.7K

$29.33 IQD 38.4K

39.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

$15.05 IQD 19.7K

23.32%

Cinema Ticket

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

$7.67 IQD 10.0K

1.83%

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

$166 IQD 217.8K

$165 IQD 216.6K

0.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,523 IQD 4.6M

$917 IQD 1.2M

284.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.27 IQD 37.0K

$16.27 IQD 21.3K

73.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.19 IQD 39.5K

$25.45 IQD 33.3K

18.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.3 IQD 82.9K

$64.7 IQD 84.8K

-2.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.71 IQD 57.2K

$42.71 IQD 55.9K

2.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$553 IQD 724.7K

$238 IQD 311.7K

132.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$320 IQD 418.5K

$132 IQD 173.4K

141.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$818 IQD 1.1M

$383 IQD 501.1K

113.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$583 IQD 763.6K

$151 IQD 198.2K

285.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,017 IQD 5.3M

$1,276 IQD 1.7M

214.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,614 IQD 2.1M

$480 IQD 628.7K

236.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$648 IQD 848.7K

$752 IQD 984.2K

-13.77%

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for An Najaf: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $553 in Baghdad versus $238 in An Najaf. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 16% higher in An Najaf, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Baghdad versus $23.00 in An Najaf. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $170 – making An Najaf the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 An Najaf: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baghdad costs about 58% more than An Najaf, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,610 per month in Baghdad and $1,016 in An Najaf. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in An Najaf, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,074 in Baghdad and $677 in An Najaf. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 23% less in An Najaf. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in An Najaf, where all-in costs run around $677, than in Baghdad at $1,074. In An Najaf it covers expenses comfortably, while in Baghdad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward An Najaf – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with An Najaf. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Baghdad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.