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: $1,055 in Baghdad versus $892 in As Samawah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,565 in Baghdad versus $1,353 in As Samawah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,074 in Baghdad versus $1,814 in As Samawah.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 18% more expensive than in As Samawah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 21% lower, As Samawah 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.50 IQD 7,206

$5.24 IQD 6,866

4.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.22 IQD 47.4K

$36.43 IQD 47.7K

-0.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.70 IQD 10.1K

$7.73 IQD 10.1K

-0.39%

Cappuccino

$2.98 IQD 3,903

$3.04 IQD 3,987

-1.97%

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

$0.20 IQD 265

-15.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 IQD 4,590

$3.48 IQD 4,553

0.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 IQD 3,839

$2.93 IQD 3,837

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 IQD 1,768

$1.37 IQD 1,799

-1.46%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,023

$0.82 IQD 1,074

-4.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 IQD 2,076

$1.60 IQD 2,089

-0.63%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,338

$1.64 IQD 2,146

9.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.58 IQD 5,999

$4.60 IQD 6,022

-0.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.81 IQD 6,296

$4.83 IQD 6,329

-0.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.13 IQD 18.5K

$14.18 IQD 18.6K

-0.35%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,612

$1.03 IQD 1,347

19.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 IQD 1,590

$1.02 IQD 1,339

18.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 IQD 1,311

$0.68 IQD 893

47.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 970

$0.51 IQD 673

45.10%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 854

$0.70 IQD 916

-7.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 881

$0.62 IQD 817

8.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 817

$0.31 IQD 411

100.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 861

$0.62 IQD 806

6.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.05 IQD 2,690

$2.08 IQD 2,723

-1.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.49 IQD 17.7K

$7.73 IQD 10.1K

74.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,346

$1.80 IQD 2,352

-0.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,821

$2.07 IQD 2,716

3.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 IQD 976

$0.39 IQD 516

92.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.88 IQD 36.5K

$30.89 IQD 40.5K

-9.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.93 IQD 5,147

$3.91 IQD 5,117

0.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,922

$1.54 IQD 2,021

-4.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.50 IQD 9,826

$7.62 IQD 9,979

-1.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 740

$0.56 IQD 734

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

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

-0.26%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

$19.8K IQD 26.0M

0.38%

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

$176 IQD 230.7K

$179 IQD 234.3K

-1.54%

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

$25.81 IQD 33.8K

$26.15 IQD 34.2K

-1.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.29 IQD 54.1K

$40.39 IQD 52.9K

2.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.14 IQD 55.2K

$36.08 IQD 47.2K

16.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

$16.91 IQD 22.1K

9.76%

Cinema Ticket

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

0.78%

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

$168 IQD 220.3K

$169 IQD 220.9K

-0.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,627 IQD 4.7M

$3,635 IQD 4.8M

-0.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.92 IQD 36.6K

$28.02 IQD 36.7K

-0.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.46 IQD 39.9K

$30.35 IQD 39.7K

0.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.9 IQD 85.0K

$63.5 IQD 83.1K

2.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.79 IQD 57.3K

$43.10 IQD 56.4K

1.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$554 IQD 725.1K

$239 IQD 312.9K

131.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$321 IQD 419.7K

$182 IQD 238.1K

76.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$839 IQD 1.1M

$579 IQD 758.4K

44.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$583 IQD 764.1K

$349 IQD 457.2K

67.11%

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 As Samawah: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $554 in Baghdad and $239 in As Samawah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $36.00 in Baghdad vs $36.00 in As Samawah. Groceries flip the comparison at $190 vs $173, 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,582 in Baghdad and $1,338 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: $554 in Baghdad versus $239 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 11% 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 $169 in As Samawah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $892 in As Samawah versus $1,055 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 18% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.