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: $1,074 in Baghdad versus $886 in As Samawah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,581 in Baghdad versus $1,349 in As Samawah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,088 in Baghdad versus $1,813 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 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.26 IQD 6,893

$5.37 IQD 7,038

-2.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.91 IQD 48.4K

$35.74 IQD 46.8K

3.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.46 IQD 9,779

$7.63 IQD 10.0K

-2.23%

Cappuccino

$3.01 IQD 3,940

$3.00 IQD 3,925

0.33%

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

$0.36 IQD 477

$0.39 IQD 513

-7.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 230

$0.17 IQD 216

5.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 IQD 4,597

$3.51 IQD 4,594

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 IQD 3,707

$2.91 IQD 3,816

-2.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 IQD 1,785

$1.31 IQD 1,719

3.82%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 IQD 1,042

$0.82 IQD 1,080

-2.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 IQD 2,103

$1.63 IQD 2,136

-1.23%

Eggs

$1.72 IQD 2,248

$1.61 IQD 2,110

6.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 IQD 5,760

$4.39 IQD 5,746

0.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.87 IQD 6,374

$5.06 IQD 6,625

-3.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.88 IQD 18.2K

$13.83 IQD 18.1K

0.36%

Apples (1kg)

$1.28 IQD 1,678

$1.02 IQD 1,333

25.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,523

$0.99 IQD 1,294

17.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,323

$0.69 IQD 903

46.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 921

$0.49 IQD 639

42.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 895

$0.66 IQD 862

3.03%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 831

$0.63 IQD 822

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 824

$0.32 IQD 418

96.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 867

$0.67 IQD 878

-1.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.07 IQD 2,714

$2.11 IQD 2,765

-1.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.58 IQD 17.8K

$7.59 IQD 9,945

78.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 IQD 2,413

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 IQD 2,712

$2.18 IQD 2,858

-5.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 IQD 964

$0.40 IQD 521

85.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.32 IQD 37.1K

$31.26 IQD 40.9K

-9.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.90 IQD 5,114

$3.73 IQD 4,885

4.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,923

$1.54 IQD 2,019

-4.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.61 IQD 9,966

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

-1.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 701

$0.54 IQD 704

-1.85%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.0M

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

-0.59%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

-0.46%

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

$179 IQD 234.4K

$176 IQD 230.0K

1.89%

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

$25.76 IQD 33.7K

$25.49 IQD 33.4K

1.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.94 IQD 53.6K

$40.86 IQD 53.5K

0.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.54 IQD 54.4K

$37.44 IQD 49.0K

10.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.57 IQD 24.3K

$16.54 IQD 21.7K

12.27%

Cinema Ticket

$7.66 IQD 10.0K

$7.82 IQD 10.2K

-2.05%

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

$168 IQD 220.4K

$166 IQD 217.7K

1.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,533 IQD 4.6M

$3,567 IQD 4.7M

-0.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.32 IQD 37.1K

$28.20 IQD 36.9K

0.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.84 IQD 40.4K

$31.03 IQD 40.6K

-0.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.0 IQD 85.2K

$65.3 IQD 85.5K

-0.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.91 IQD 57.5K

$43.89 IQD 57.5K

0.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$557 IQD 730.1K

$243 IQD 318.0K

129.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$324 IQD 424.9K

$176 IQD 230.2K

84.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 IQD 1.1M

$576 IQD 755.1K

42.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$594 IQD 778.1K

$347 IQD 455.0K

71.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,867 IQD 5.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,428 IQD 1.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$622 IQD 814.6K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for As Samawah: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $557 in Baghdad and $243 in As Samawah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $37.00 in Baghdad vs $36.00 in As Samawah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $189 vs $172 per month, with As Samawah cheaper across the board.

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, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,611 in Baghdad and $1,329 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 $243 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 10% 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 $166 in As Samawah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $886 in As Samawah versus $1,074 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.