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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,124 per month in Baghdad vs $645 in An Nasiriyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,692 per month in Baghdad vs $885 in An Nasiriyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,259 per month in Baghdad vs $1,125 in An Nasiriyah, rent included.

Baghdad costs about 74% more than An Nasiriyah, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Baghdad and An Nasiriyah are more affordable than the global median – Baghdad 18% lower, An Nasiriyah 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.74 IQD 6,209

$3.31 IQD 4,336

43.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.69 IQD 44.1K

$12.35 IQD 16.2K

172.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 IQD 10.1K

$7.02 IQD 9,194

10.40%

Cappuccino

$3.07 IQD 4,024

$2.66 IQD 3,478

15.41%

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

$0.40 IQD 521

$0.37 IQD 484

8.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 IQD 313

$0.17 IQD 228

41.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.87 IQD 5,071

$3.90 IQD 5,107

-0.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 IQD 4,911

$3.79 IQD 4,963

-1.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 IQD 1,423

$0.98 IQD 1,282

11.22%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 IQD 1,042

$0.79 IQD 1,029

1.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 IQD 1,982

$1.04 IQD 1,364

45.19%

Eggs

$1.82 IQD 2,386

$1.82 IQD 2,378

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.90 IQD 5,106

$2.93 IQD 3,836

33.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.70 IQD 6,149

$4.51 IQD 5,903

4.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.34 IQD 18.8K

$9.62 IQD 12.6K

49.06%

Apples (1kg)

$1.12 IQD 1,465

$1.12 IQD 1,469

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,389

$1.08 IQD 1,414

-1.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.07 IQD 1,400

$0.82 IQD 1,068

30.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 967

$0.47 IQD 613

57.45%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 860

$0.36 IQD 477

83.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 915

$0.59 IQD 775

18.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 813

$0.56 IQD 732

10.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 IQD 845

$0.50 IQD 650

30.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.78 IQD 2,333

$1.48 IQD 1,945

20.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.68 IQD 17.9K

$13.76 IQD 18.0K

-0.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,798

$2.16 IQD 2,830

-0.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 IQD 2,971

$2.22 IQD 2,901

2.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 IQD 838

$0.28 IQD 361

128.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.99 IQD 30.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,941

$2.35 IQD 3,073

-4.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 IQD 1,944

$1.54 IQD 2,021

-3.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

$2.35 IQD 3,072

230.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 877

$0.61 IQD 798

9.84%

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

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

0.31%

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

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

$18.7K IQD 24.4M

2.38%

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

$214 IQD 280.5K

$216 IQD 283.0K

-0.89%

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

$21.41 IQD 28.0K

$21.76 IQD 28.5K

-1.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.10 IQD 55.1K

$42.42 IQD 55.5K

-0.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.30 IQD 61.9K

$18.86 IQD 24.7K

150.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.04 IQD 28.9K

Cinema Ticket

$10.76 IQD 14.1K

$10.60 IQD 13.9K

1.51%

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

$165 IQD 215.5K

$170 IQD 222.4K

-3.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,445 IQD 4.5M

$3,508 IQD 4.6M

-1.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.79 IQD 39.0K

$11.35 IQD 14.9K

162.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 IQD 50.2K

$37.87 IQD 49.6K

1.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.4 IQD 97.5K

$26.51 IQD 34.7K

180.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.59 IQD 62.3K

$38.23 IQD 50.1K

24.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$566 IQD 741.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 IQD 453.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$959 IQD 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$679 IQD 889.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,665 IQD 6.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,599 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$615 IQD 805.6K

$770 IQD 1.0M

-20.07%

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: September 6, 2026

Last update for An Nasiriyah: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 25% higher in An Nasiriyah, 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 $34.00 in Baghdad versus $12.00 in An Nasiriyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $186 vs $160 – making An Nasiriyah 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 Nasiriyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,124 in Baghdad, $645 in An Nasiriyah – roughly 74% apart. Baghdad costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,687 per month in Baghdad and $968 in An Nasiriyah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,124 in Baghdad and $645 in An Nasiriyah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $165 per month in Baghdad and $170 in An Nasiriyah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in An Nasiriyah, where all-in costs run around $645, than in Baghdad at $1,124. In An Nasiriyah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Baghdad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

If budget matters most, go with An Nasiriyah. 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.