Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Ba'qubah Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Ba'qubah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,124 in Baghdad versus $579 in Ba'qubah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,692 in Baghdad versus $745 in Ba'qubah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,259 in Baghdad versus $910 in Ba'qubah.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 94% more expensive than in Ba'qubah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 18% lower, Ba'qubah 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.74 IQD 6,209

$4.86 IQD 6,358

-2.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.69 IQD 44.1K

$15.24 IQD 20.0K

121.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 IQD 10.1K

$6.54 IQD 8,565

18.50%

Cappuccino

$3.07 IQD 4,024

$1.12 IQD 1,463

174.11%

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

$0.40 IQD 521

$0.56 IQD 728

-28.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 IQD 313

$0.19 IQD 248

26.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.87 IQD 5,071

$1.97 IQD 2,575

96.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 IQD 4,911

$4.47 IQD 5,858

-16.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 IQD 1,423

$1.14 IQD 1,486

-4.39%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 IQD 1,042

$0.55 IQD 718

45.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 IQD 1,982

$1.12 IQD 1,471

34.82%

Eggs

$1.82 IQD 2,386

$1.49 IQD 1,955

22.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.90 IQD 5,106

$2.26 IQD 2,956

72.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.70 IQD 6,149

$2.54 IQD 3,327

85.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.34 IQD 18.8K

$10.56 IQD 13.8K

35.80%

Apples (1kg)

$1.12 IQD 1,465

$0.99 IQD 1,301

13.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,389

$1.14 IQD 1,493

-7.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.07 IQD 1,400

$0.93 IQD 1,224

15.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 967

$0.60 IQD 780

23.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 860

$0.59 IQD 777

11.86%

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 915

$0.65 IQD 851

7.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 813

$0.50 IQD 654

24.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 IQD 845

$0.19 IQD 248

242.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.78 IQD 2,333

$2.53 IQD 3,313

-29.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.68 IQD 17.9K

$12.47 IQD 16.3K

9.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,798

$1.71 IQD 2,237

25.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 IQD 2,971

$2.14 IQD 2,800

6.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 IQD 838

$0.78 IQD 1,021

-17.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.99 IQD 30.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,941

$1.94 IQD 2,543

15.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 IQD 1,944

$1.73 IQD 2,270

-14.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

$5.31 IQD 6,959

46.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 877

$0.35 IQD 464

91.43%

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

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

$18.2K IQD 23.9M

6.35%

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

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

-6.06%

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

$214 IQD 280.5K

$59.4 IQD 77.7K

260.85%

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

$21.41 IQD 28.0K

$13.91 IQD 18.2K

53.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.10 IQD 55.1K

$26.87 IQD 35.2K

56.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.30 IQD 61.9K

$19.12 IQD 25.0K

147.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.04 IQD 28.9K

Cinema Ticket

$10.76 IQD 14.1K

$3.89 IQD 5,094

176.61%

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

$165 IQD 215.5K

$26.53 IQD 34.7K

520.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,445 IQD 4.5M

$639 IQD 836.3K

439.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.79 IQD 39.0K

$19.30 IQD 25.3K

54.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 IQD 50.2K

$19.21 IQD 25.2K

99.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.4 IQD 97.5K

$68.2 IQD 89.3K

9.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.59 IQD 62.3K

$27.02 IQD 35.4K

76.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$566 IQD 741.8K

$269 IQD 351.9K

110.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 IQD 453.5K

$135 IQD 176.4K

157.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$959 IQD 1.3M

$499 IQD 653.3K

92.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$679 IQD 889.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,665 IQD 6.1M

$768 IQD 1.0M

507.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,599 IQD 2.1M

$189 IQD 247.5K

745.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$615 IQD 805.6K

$711 IQD 931.4K

-13.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

2.53

62.85%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Baghdad: September 6, 2026

Last update for Ba'qubah: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $566 in Baghdad and $269 in Ba'qubah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ba'qubah pays 16% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $34.00 in Baghdad vs $15.00 in Ba'qubah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $186 vs $142 per month, with Ba'qubah 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 Ba'qubah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ba'qubah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 94% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 16% lower in Ba'qubah. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $566 in Baghdad versus $269 in Ba'qubah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $165 in Baghdad versus $26.53 in Ba'qubah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Ba'qubah – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $34.00 in Baghdad. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $579 in Ba'qubah versus $1,124 in Baghdad, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ba'qubah but tight or insufficient in Baghdad. The gap between the two cities makes Ba'qubah 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 Ba'qubah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 94% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.