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 $1,054 per month in Baghdad vs $792 in An Nasiriyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,592 per month in Baghdad vs $1,150 in An Nasiriyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,130 per month in Baghdad vs $1,508 in An Nasiriyah, rent included.

Baghdad costs about 33% more than An Nasiriyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Baghdad and An Nasiriyah are more affordable than the global median – Baghdad 21% lower, An Nasiriyah 41% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Baghdad
An Nasiriyah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.48 IQD 7,181
$3.21 IQD 4,199
70.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.97 IQD 48.4K
$12.44 IQD 16.3K
197.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.57 IQD 9,909
$6.77 IQD 8,869
11.82%
Cappuccino
$3.06 IQD 4,003
$2.73 IQD 3,576
12.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 IQD 518
$0.37 IQD 478
8.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18 IQD 242
$0.17 IQD 228
5.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.42 IQD 4,485
$3.45 IQD 4,521
-0.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 IQD 3,853
$2.91 IQD 3,812
1.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Baghdad
An Nasiriyah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.32 IQD 1,726
$0.86 IQD 1,123
53.49%
White Bread (500g)
$0.78 IQD 1,017
$0.77 IQD 1,014
1.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.65 IQD 2,166
$1.39 IQD 1,826
18.71%
Eggs
$1.79 IQD 2,350
$1.66 IQD 2,176
7.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.40 IQD 5,763
$3.16 IQD 4,138
39.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.07 IQD 6,636
$3.84 IQD 5,029
32.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.34 IQD 18.8K
$8.78 IQD 11.5K
63.33%
Apples (1kg)
$1.23 IQD 1,612
$1.28 IQD 1,671
-3.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 IQD 1,530
$1.20 IQD 1,568
-2.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.01 IQD 1,329
$0.81 IQD 1,055
24.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.70 IQD 922
$0.40 IQD 526
75.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.70 IQD 911
$0.41 IQD 536
70.73%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 IQD 835
$0.51 IQD 669
25.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.63 IQD 822
$0.52 IQD 676
21.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 IQD 871
$0.43 IQD 565
53.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.11 IQD 2,765
$1.53 IQD 2,001
37.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.35 IQD 17.5K
$13.56 IQD 17.8K
-1.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 IQD 2,301
$1.77 IQD 2,318
-0.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 IQD 2,815
$2.08 IQD 2,724
3.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Baghdad
An Nasiriyah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.78 IQD 1,027
$0.23 IQD 302
239.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.60 IQD 37.4K
$30.81 IQD 40.4K
-7.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.88 IQD 5,087
$2.28 IQD 2,980
70.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.47 IQD 1,923
$1.54 IQD 2,020
-4.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 IQD 10.3K
$3.05 IQD 3,989
157.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.56 IQD 737
$0.54 IQD 707
3.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.3K IQD 26.6M
$20.0K IQD 26.1M
1.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.9K IQD 26.1M
$15.3K IQD 20.0M
30.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baghdad
An Nasiriyah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$181 IQD 237.4K
$175 IQD 228.9K
3.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.40 IQD 33.3K
$26.39 IQD 34.6K
-3.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.16 IQD 52.6K
$40.42 IQD 52.9K
-0.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Baghdad
An Nasiriyah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.29 IQD 54.1K
$18.82 IQD 24.6K
119.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.43 IQD 24.1K
$16.73 IQD 21.9K
10.16%
Cinema Ticket
$7.82 IQD 10.2K
$7.66 IQD 10.0K
2.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Baghdad
An Nasiriyah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$163 IQD 213.2K
$168 IQD 220.1K
-3.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,573 IQD 4.7M
$3,534 IQD 4.6M
1.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Baghdad
An Nasiriyah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.57 IQD 37.4K
$11.66 IQD 15.3K
145.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.72 IQD 40.2K
$30.08 IQD 39.4K
2.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$63.4 IQD 83.0K
$26.92 IQD 35.3K
135.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$43.53 IQD 57.0K
$38.21 IQD 50.0K
13.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Baghdad
An Nasiriyah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$540 IQD 707.6K
$247 IQD 323.6K
118.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$321 IQD 420.5K
$179 IQD 234.2K
79.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$818 IQD 1.1M
$577 IQD 756.0K
41.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$580 IQD 759.9K
$341 IQD 447.0K
70.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,034 IQD 5.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,617 IQD 2.1M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Baghdad
An Nasiriyah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$642 IQD 841.2K
$776 IQD 1.0M
-17.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.67
5.67
-

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

Last update for Baghdad: May 31, 2026

Last update for An Nasiriyah: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $540 in Baghdad versus $247 in An Nasiriyah. 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 21% 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 $37.00 in Baghdad versus $12.00 in An Nasiriyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $191 vs $152 – 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
How do living costs in Baghdad and An Nasiriyah compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,054 in Baghdad, $792 in An Nasiriyah – roughly 33% apart. Baghdad costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Baghdad compared to An Nasiriyah?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,581 per month in Baghdad and $1,189 in An Nasiriyah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Baghdad and An Nasiriyah?
Rent is clearly cheaper in An Nasiriyah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Baghdad and An Nasiriyah?
Public transport costs about 8% less in An Nasiriyah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Baghdad and An Nasiriyah?
Kindergarten costs $163 per month in Baghdad and $168 in An Nasiriyah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in An Nasiriyah, where all-in costs run around $792, than in Baghdad at $1,054. In An Nasiriyah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Baghdad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Baghdad or An Nasiriyah?
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.
How do I decide between Baghdad and An Nasiriyah?
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.

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