Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and As Samawah Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and As Samawah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,072 in Baghdad versus $887 in As Samawah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,582 in Baghdad versus $1,339 in As Samawah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,092 in Baghdad versus $1,792 in As Samawah.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 21% more expensive than As Samawah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 20% lower, As Samawah 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.33 IQD 6,975

$5.27 IQD 6,898

1.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.02 IQD 48.5K

$37.03 IQD 48.5K

-0.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.72 IQD 10.1K

$7.48 IQD 9,798

3.21%

Cappuccino

$3.10 IQD 4,056

$3.00 IQD 3,929

3.33%

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

$0.40 IQD 520

$0.39 IQD 512

2.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 228

$0.18 IQD 242

-5.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.34 IQD 4,371

$3.38 IQD 4,425

-1.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 IQD 3,690

$2.81 IQD 3,682

0.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 IQD 1,771

$1.36 IQD 1,779

-0.74%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 IQD 1,079

$0.79 IQD 1,036

3.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 IQD 2,163

$1.65 IQD 2,158

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,341

$1.62 IQD 2,122

10.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.43 IQD 5,795

$4.37 IQD 5,727

1.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.89 IQD 6,400

$4.86 IQD 6,369

0.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.90 IQD 18.2K

$14.28 IQD 18.7K

-2.66%

Apples (1kg)

$1.27 IQD 1,660

$1.02 IQD 1,334

24.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,512

$0.97 IQD 1,271

18.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,384

$0.73 IQD 955

45.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 916

$0.52 IQD 677

34.62%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 916

$0.65 IQD 850

7.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 868

$0.67 IQD 873

-1.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 817

$0.35 IQD 454

77.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 860

$0.67 IQD 874

-1.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.06 IQD 2,697

$2.11 IQD 2,769

-2.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.72 IQD 18.0K

$7.55 IQD 9,890

81.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 IQD 2,438

$1.76 IQD 2,301

5.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 IQD 2,773

$2.11 IQD 2,769

0.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 IQD 993

$0.40 IQD 519

90.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.11 IQD 36.8K

$30.69 IQD 40.2K

-8.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.82 IQD 5,001

$3.86 IQD 5,060

-1.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,926

$1.48 IQD 1,939

-0.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.45 IQD 9,761

$7.52 IQD 9,841

-0.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 735

$0.53 IQD 688

5.66%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

3.20%

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

$19.7K IQD 25.9M

$19.9K IQD 26.0M

-0.58%

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

$175 IQD 229.5K

$181 IQD 236.9K

-3.10%

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

$25.51 IQD 33.4K

$26.37 IQD 34.5K

-3.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.13 IQD 53.9K

$41.14 IQD 53.9K

-0.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.38 IQD 54.2K

$37.29 IQD 48.8K

10.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.70 IQD 24.5K

$16.61 IQD 21.8K

12.58%

Cinema Ticket

$7.50 IQD 9,825

$7.58 IQD 9,923

-1.06%

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

$168 IQD 219.8K

$165 IQD 215.7K

1.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,639 IQD 4.8M

$3,615 IQD 4.7M

0.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.64 IQD 37.5K

$27.99 IQD 36.6K

2.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.05 IQD 40.7K

$30.93 IQD 40.5K

0.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.2 IQD 85.3K

$64.7 IQD 84.7K

0.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.30 IQD 56.7K

$44.13 IQD 57.8K

-1.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$557 IQD 729.9K

$242 IQD 316.7K

130.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$315 IQD 412.5K

$181 IQD 236.6K

74.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 IQD 1.1M

$577 IQD 756.1K

42.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$599 IQD 784.8K

$351 IQD 459.9K

70.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,987 IQD 5.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,654 IQD 2.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$657 IQD 860.3K

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 14, 2026

Last update for As Samawah: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $557 in Baghdad and $242 in As Samawah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $37.00 in Baghdad vs $37.00 in As Samawah. Groceries flip the comparison at $191 vs $172, with As Samawah cheaper for home cooking.

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 As Samawah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

As Samawah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,608 in Baghdad and $1,331 in As Samawah to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $557 in Baghdad versus $242 in As Samawah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in As Samawah runs roughly 9% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $168 in Baghdad versus $165 in As Samawah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $887 in As Samawah versus $1,072 in Baghdad, a $1,500 budget is realistic in As Samawah but tight or insufficient in Baghdad. The gap between the two cities makes As Samawah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find As Samawah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.