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 $1,055 per month in Baghdad vs $720 in Ar Ramadi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,565 per month in Baghdad vs $1,096 in Ar Ramadi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,074 per month in Baghdad vs $1,471 in Ar Ramadi, rent included.

Baghdad costs about 47% more than Ar Ramadi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Baghdad and Ar Ramadi are more affordable than the global median – Baghdad 21% lower, Ar Ramadi 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.50 IQD 7,206

$4.16 IQD 5,453

32.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.22 IQD 47.4K

$25.12 IQD 32.9K

44.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.70 IQD 10.1K

$6.80 IQD 8,910

13.24%

Cappuccino

$2.98 IQD 3,903

$2.65 IQD 3,466

12.45%

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

$0.36 IQD 477

$0.37 IQD 484

-2.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 219

$0.21 IQD 278

-19.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 IQD 4,590

$2.88 IQD 3,776

21.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 IQD 3,839

$2.86 IQD 3,745

2.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 IQD 1,768

$0.84 IQD 1,101

60.71%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,023

$0.83 IQD 1,081

-6.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 IQD 2,076

$1.72 IQD 2,255

-7.56%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,338

$1.88 IQD 2,466

-4.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.58 IQD 5,999

$3.80 IQD 4,971

20.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.81 IQD 6,296

$2.37 IQD 3,098

102.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.13 IQD 18.5K

$10.26 IQD 13.4K

37.72%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,612

$1.04 IQD 1,359

18.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 IQD 1,590

$1.09 IQD 1,424

11.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 IQD 1,311

$1.04 IQD 1,367

-3.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 970

$0.61 IQD 793

21.31%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 854

$0.56 IQD 735

16.07%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 881

$0.42 IQD 549

59.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 817

$0.66 IQD 866

-6.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 861

$0.46 IQD 604

43.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.05 IQD 2,690

$1.90 IQD 2,485

7.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.49 IQD 17.7K

$3.93 IQD 5,151

243.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,346

$1.71 IQD 2,237

4.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,821

$2.10 IQD 2,751

2.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 IQD 976

$0.36 IQD 476

108.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.88 IQD 36.5K

$30.82 IQD 40.4K

-9.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.93 IQD 5,147

$2.25 IQD 2,941

74.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,922

$1.48 IQD 1,934

-0.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.50 IQD 9,826

$5.86 IQD 7,680

27.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 740

$0.57 IQD 748

-1.75%

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

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

3.89%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

$19.5K IQD 25.6M

1.84%

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

$176 IQD 230.7K

$77.6 IQD 101.6K

127.05%

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

$25.81 IQD 33.8K

$17.83 IQD 23.3K

44.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.29 IQD 54.1K

$34.81 IQD 45.6K

18.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.14 IQD 55.2K

$37.21 IQD 48.7K

13.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

$16.64 IQD 21.8K

11.54%

Cinema Ticket

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

$7.67 IQD 10.0K

1.30%

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

$168 IQD 220.3K

$152 IQD 198.7K

10.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,627 IQD 4.7M

$3,255 IQD 4.3M

11.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.92 IQD 36.6K

$26.82 IQD 35.1K

4.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.46 IQD 39.9K

$24.78 IQD 32.4K

22.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.9 IQD 85.0K

$61.8 IQD 81.0K

5.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.79 IQD 57.3K

$41.96 IQD 54.9K

4.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$554 IQD 725.1K

$238 IQD 311.2K

133.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$321 IQD 419.7K

$179 IQD 234.7K

78.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$839 IQD 1.1M

$578 IQD 757.5K

45.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$583 IQD 764.1K

$340 IQD 444.7K

71.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,745 IQD 6.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,597 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$612 IQD 800.9K

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 Ar Ramadi: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $554 in Baghdad versus $238 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 $36.00 in Baghdad versus $25.00 in Ar Ramadi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $135 – 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 47% 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 $1,582 per month in Baghdad and $1,080 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 $1,055 in Baghdad and $720 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 $720, than in Baghdad at $1,055. 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.