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 $1,055 per month in Baghdad vs $680 in An Najaf, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,565 per month in Baghdad vs $999 in An Najaf, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,074 per month in Baghdad vs $1,319 in An Najaf, rent included.

Baghdad costs about 55% more than An Najaf, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Baghdad and An Najaf are more affordable than the global median – Baghdad 21% lower, An Najaf 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.50 IQD 7,206

$4.00 IQD 5,232

37.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.22 IQD 47.4K

$22.74 IQD 29.8K

59.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.70 IQD 10.1K

$4.71 IQD 6,173

63.48%

Cappuccino

$2.98 IQD 3,903

$2.76 IQD 3,617

7.97%

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

$0.36 IQD 477

$0.36 IQD 478

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 219

$0.20 IQD 268

-15.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 IQD 4,590

$3.45 IQD 4,521

1.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 IQD 3,839

$2.92 IQD 3,828

0.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 IQD 1,768

$1.32 IQD 1,732

2.27%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,023

$0.82 IQD 1,077

-4.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 IQD 2,076

$1.64 IQD 2,153

-3.05%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,338

$1.74 IQD 2,276

2.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.58 IQD 5,999

$2.37 IQD 3,110

93.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.81 IQD 6,296

$4.99 IQD 6,536

-3.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.13 IQD 18.5K

$10.52 IQD 13.8K

34.32%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,612

$1.23 IQD 1,605

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 IQD 1,590

$1.20 IQD 1,573

0.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 IQD 1,311

$1.06 IQD 1,388

-5.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 970

$0.73 IQD 962

1.37%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 854

$0.65 IQD 855

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 881

$0.67 IQD 883

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 817

$0.65 IQD 846

-4.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 861

$0.39 IQD 514

69.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.05 IQD 2,690

$1.51 IQD 1,983

35.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.49 IQD 17.7K

$13.38 IQD 17.5K

0.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,346

$1.79 IQD 2,338

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,821

$2.09 IQD 2,733

2.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 IQD 976

$0.36 IQD 475

108.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.88 IQD 36.5K

$33.79 IQD 44.3K

-17.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.93 IQD 5,147

$1.96 IQD 2,561

100.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,922

$1.53 IQD 1,999

-3.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.50 IQD 9,826

$5.12 IQD 6,706

46.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 740

$0.47 IQD 619

19.15%

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

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

$11.3K IQD 14.8M

74.20%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

$20.2K IQD 26.5M

-1.47%

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

$176 IQD 230.7K

$60.1 IQD 78.7K

193.03%

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

$25.81 IQD 33.8K

$23.36 IQD 30.6K

10.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.29 IQD 54.1K

$34.30 IQD 44.9K

20.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.14 IQD 55.2K

$29.48 IQD 38.6K

42.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

$14.89 IQD 19.5K

24.65%

Cinema Ticket

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

$7.43 IQD 9,726

4.58%

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

$168 IQD 220.3K

$169 IQD 221.0K

-0.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,627 IQD 4.7M

$929 IQD 1.2M

290.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.92 IQD 36.6K

$16.63 IQD 21.8K

67.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.46 IQD 39.9K

$25.08 IQD 32.8K

21.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.9 IQD 85.0K

$64.7 IQD 84.7K

0.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.79 IQD 57.3K

$43.02 IQD 56.3K

1.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$554 IQD 725.1K

$238 IQD 311.3K

132.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$321 IQD 419.7K

$135 IQD 176.3K

138.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$839 IQD 1.1M

$378 IQD 495.3K

121.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$583 IQD 764.1K

$156 IQD 204.3K

274.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,745 IQD 6.2M

$1,242 IQD 1.6M

282.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,597 IQD 2.1M

$495 IQD 648.3K

222.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$612 IQD 800.9K

$734 IQD 961.5K

-16.70%

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 27, 2026

Last update for An Najaf: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $554 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 20% 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 $36.00 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 55% 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 $1,582 per month in Baghdad and $1,019 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 $1,055 in Baghdad and $680 in An Najaf. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 21% 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 $680, than in Baghdad at $1,055. 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.