Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Baghdadi Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Baghdadi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,074 in Baghdad versus $743 in Baghdadi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,581 in Baghdad versus $1,118 in Baghdadi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,088 in Baghdad versus $1,492 in Baghdadi.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 44% more expensive than Baghdadi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 20% lower, Baghdadi 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.26 IQD 6,893

$5.03 IQD 6,588

4.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.91 IQD 48.4K

$17.32 IQD 22.7K

113.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.46 IQD 9,779

$6.91 IQD 9,057

7.96%

Cappuccino

$3.01 IQD 3,940

$1.75 IQD 2,287

72.00%

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

$0.36 IQD 477

$0.42 IQD 553

-14.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 230

$0.24 IQD 314

-25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 IQD 4,597

$2.98 IQD 3,905

17.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 IQD 3,707

$2.79 IQD 3,658

1.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 IQD 1,785

$1.09 IQD 1,432

24.77%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 IQD 1,042

$0.62 IQD 819

29.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 IQD 2,103

$2.29 IQD 2,996

-29.69%

Eggs

$1.72 IQD 2,248

$1.76 IQD 2,310

-2.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 IQD 5,760

$5.76 IQD 7,545

-23.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.87 IQD 6,374

$4.53 IQD 5,931

7.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.88 IQD 18.2K

$9.42 IQD 12.3K

47.35%

Apples (1kg)

$1.28 IQD 1,678

$1.03 IQD 1,346

24.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,523

$1.01 IQD 1,329

14.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,323

$1.02 IQD 1,330

-0.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 921

$0.53 IQD 691

32.08%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 895

$0.54 IQD 707

25.93%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 831

$0.67 IQD 884

-5.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 824

$0.64 IQD 835

-1.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 867

$0.48 IQD 631

37.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.07 IQD 2,714

$1.77 IQD 2,316

16.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.58 IQD 17.8K

$13.64 IQD 17.9K

-0.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 IQD 2,413

$1.79 IQD 2,349

2.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 IQD 2,712

$2.17 IQD 2,844

-4.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 IQD 964

$0.37 IQD 480

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.32 IQD 37.1K

$31.34 IQD 41.1K

-9.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.90 IQD 5,114

$2.34 IQD 3,068

66.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,923

$1.53 IQD 2,011

-3.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.61 IQD 9,966

$5.98 IQD 7,839

27.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 701

$0.53 IQD 699

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

$19.9K IQD 26.0M

$19.2K IQD 25.2M

3.19%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

$19.9K IQD 26.0M

0.46%

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

$179 IQD 234.4K

$77.0 IQD 100.9K

132.35%

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

$25.76 IQD 33.7K

$17.90 IQD 23.5K

43.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.94 IQD 53.6K

$34.87 IQD 45.7K

17.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.54 IQD 54.4K

$37.02 IQD 48.5K

12.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.57 IQD 24.3K

$16.75 IQD 21.9K

10.87%

Cinema Ticket

$7.66 IQD 10.0K

$7.75 IQD 10.2K

-1.16%

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

$168 IQD 220.4K

$153 IQD 200.9K

9.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,533 IQD 4.6M

$3,309 IQD 4.3M

6.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.32 IQD 37.1K

$27.55 IQD 36.1K

2.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.84 IQD 40.4K

$25.49 IQD 33.4K

20.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.0 IQD 85.2K

$61.3 IQD 80.3K

6.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.91 IQD 57.5K

$41.54 IQD 54.4K

5.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$557 IQD 730.1K

$246 IQD 321.7K

126.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$324 IQD 424.9K

$177 IQD 231.7K

83.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 IQD 1.1M

$574 IQD 752.4K

43.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$594 IQD 778.1K

$345 IQD 452.1K

72.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,867 IQD 5.1M

$1,479 IQD 1.9M

161.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,428 IQD 1.9M

$502 IQD 658.2K

184.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$622 IQD 814.6K

$491 IQD 643.8K

26.53%

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 Baghdadi: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $557 in Baghdad and $246 in Baghdadi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 27% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $37.00 in Baghdad vs $17.00 in Baghdadi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $189 vs $171 per month, with Baghdadi 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 Baghdadi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baghdadi wins on cost – living expenses run 44% lower than in Baghdad. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baghdadi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Baghdad pays 27% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $557 in Baghdad versus $246 in Baghdadi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Baghdadi 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 $153 in Baghdadi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $743 in Baghdadi versus $1,074 in Baghdad, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Baghdadi but tight or insufficient in Baghdad. The gap between the two cities makes Baghdadi 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 Baghdadi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.