Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Ar Ramadi Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Ar Ramadi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,074 per month in Baghdad vs $711 in Ar Ramadi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Baghdad vs $1,104 in Ar Ramadi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,073 per month in Baghdad vs $1,497 in Ar Ramadi, rent included.

Baghdad costs about 51% more than Ar Ramadi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Baghdad and Ar Ramadi are more affordable than the global median – Baghdad 20% lower, Ar Ramadi 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.27 IQD 6,895

$4.09 IQD 5,359

28.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.86 IQD 48.3K

$25.30 IQD 33.1K

45.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$6.82 IQD 8,925

14.08%

Cappuccino

$2.98 IQD 3,909

$2.59 IQD 3,392

15.06%

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

$0.39 IQD 512

$0.39 IQD 511

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 216

$0.20 IQD 265

-15.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.38 IQD 4,430

$2.92 IQD 3,829

15.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 IQD 3,785

$2.80 IQD 3,670

3.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 IQD 1,702

$0.92 IQD 1,198

41.30%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,087

$0.78 IQD 1,027

6.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 IQD 2,181

$1.72 IQD 2,254

-2.91%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,343

$1.89 IQD 2,471

-5.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.52 IQD 5,918

$3.83 IQD 5,012

18.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.84 IQD 6,342

$2.33 IQD 3,048

107.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.04 IQD 18.4K

$10.16 IQD 13.3K

38.19%

Apples (1kg)

$1.28 IQD 1,680

$1.06 IQD 1,388

20.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,504

$1.09 IQD 1,422

5.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,363

$1.09 IQD 1,422

-4.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 914

$0.60 IQD 788

16.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 897

$0.52 IQD 680

32.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 813

$0.46 IQD 603

34.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 IQD 883

$0.72 IQD 948

-6.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 IQD 824

$0.47 IQD 615

34.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.13 IQD 2,786

$1.94 IQD 2,535

9.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.64 IQD 17.9K

$3.80 IQD 4,978

258.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,348

$1.74 IQD 2,275

2.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,812

$2.08 IQD 2,722

3.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 IQD 993

$0.37 IQD 478

105.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.16 IQD 36.9K

$31.23 IQD 40.9K

-9.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.78 IQD 4,954

$2.33 IQD 3,051

62.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 IQD 1,999

$1.55 IQD 2,023

-1.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.54 IQD 9,868

$6.13 IQD 8,022

23.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 IQD 750

$0.54 IQD 701

5.56%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

4.52%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$19.6K IQD 25.7M

3.58%

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

$181 IQD 236.7K

$76.5 IQD 100.2K

136.28%

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

$25.64 IQD 33.6K

$17.78 IQD 23.3K

44.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.76 IQD 53.4K

$33.97 IQD 44.5K

19.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.00 IQD 53.7K

$37.25 IQD 48.8K

10.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

$16.95 IQD 22.2K

9.50%

Cinema Ticket

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

$7.87 IQD 10.3K

-0.76%

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

$166 IQD 217.9K

$151 IQD 197.6K

10.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,523 IQD 4.6M

$3,215 IQD 4.2M

9.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.27 IQD 37.0K

$26.84 IQD 35.2K

5.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.19 IQD 39.5K

$25.00 IQD 32.7K

20.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.3 IQD 83.0K

$60.9 IQD 79.7K

4.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.71 IQD 57.2K

$41.08 IQD 53.8K

6.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$553 IQD 724.7K

$243 IQD 317.7K

128.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$320 IQD 418.5K

$180 IQD 235.1K

77.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$818 IQD 1.1M

$583 IQD 763.8K

40.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$583 IQD 763.6K

$348 IQD 455.4K

67.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,017 IQD 5.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,614 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$648 IQD 848.7K

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 Ar Ramadi: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $553 in Baghdad versus $243 in Ar Ramadi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Baghdad versus $25.00 in Ar Ramadi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $136 – making Ar Ramadi 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 Ar Ramadi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baghdad costs about 51% more than Ar Ramadi, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,066 in Ar Ramadi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ar Ramadi, 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 $711 in Ar Ramadi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 11% less in Ar Ramadi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ar Ramadi, where all-in costs run around $711, than in Baghdad at $1,074. In Ar Ramadi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Baghdad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ar Ramadi – 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 Ar Ramadi. 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.