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 $737 in Baghdadi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Baghdad versus $1,137 in Baghdadi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,073 in Baghdad versus $1,537 in Baghdadi.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 46% more expensive than Baghdadi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 20% lower, Baghdadi 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.27 IQD 6,895

$4.88 IQD 6,388

7.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.86 IQD 48.3K

$16.69 IQD 21.9K

120.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$6.90 IQD 9,042

12.75%

Cappuccino

$2.98 IQD 3,909

$1.76 IQD 2,308

69.32%

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

$0.39 IQD 512

$0.42 IQD 549

-7.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 216

$0.24 IQD 313

-29.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.38 IQD 4,429

$2.92 IQD 3,827

15.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 IQD 3,785

$2.85 IQD 3,735

1.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 IQD 1,702

$1.14 IQD 1,490

14.04%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,087

$0.63 IQD 826

31.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 IQD 2,181

$2.24 IQD 2,935

-25.45%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,343

$1.69 IQD 2,219

5.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.52 IQD 5,918

$5.74 IQD 7,517

-21.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.84 IQD 6,342

$4.38 IQD 5,735

10.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.04 IQD 18.4K

$9.05 IQD 11.9K

55.14%

Apples (1kg)

$1.28 IQD 1,680

$0.97 IQD 1,273

31.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,504

$0.98 IQD 1,288

17.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,363

$1.01 IQD 1,328

2.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 914

$0.57 IQD 744

22.81%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 897

$0.56 IQD 737

23.21%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 813

$0.63 IQD 829

-1.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 IQD 883

$0.70 IQD 920

-4.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 IQD 824

$0.48 IQD 629

31.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.13 IQD 2,786

$1.80 IQD 2,357

18.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.64 IQD 17.9K

$15.12 IQD 19.8K

-9.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,348

$1.82 IQD 2,385

-1.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,812

$2.16 IQD 2,826

-0.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 IQD 993

$0.36 IQD 477

111.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.16 IQD 36.9K

$30.64 IQD 40.1K

-8.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.78 IQD 4,954

$2.31 IQD 3,030

63.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 IQD 1,999

$1.48 IQD 1,932

3.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.54 IQD 9,868

$5.98 IQD 7,835

26.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 IQD 750

$0.57 IQD 740

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

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

$19.3K IQD 25.2M

3.67%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$20.2K IQD 26.4M

0.69%

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

$181 IQD 236.7K

$77.4 IQD 101.4K

133.54%

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

$25.64 IQD 33.6K

$17.78 IQD 23.3K

44.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.76 IQD 53.4K

$34.54 IQD 45.2K

18.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.00 IQD 53.7K

$36.46 IQD 47.7K

12.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

$17.04 IQD 22.3K

8.92%

Cinema Ticket

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

$7.75 IQD 10.2K

0.77%

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

$166 IQD 217.8K

$149 IQD 194.9K

11.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,523 IQD 4.6M

$3,218 IQD 4.2M

9.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.27 IQD 37.0K

$27.30 IQD 35.7K

3.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.19 IQD 39.5K

$25.13 IQD 32.9K

20.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.3 IQD 82.9K

$60.7 IQD 79.5K

4.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.71 IQD 57.2K

$41.54 IQD 54.4K

5.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$553 IQD 724.7K

$242 IQD 317.1K

128.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$320 IQD 418.5K

$182 IQD 237.7K

76.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$818 IQD 1.1M

$584 IQD 765.4K

39.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$583 IQD 763.6K

$345 IQD 452.2K

68.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,017 IQD 5.3M

$1,524 IQD 2.0M

163.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,614 IQD 2.1M

$506 IQD 662.5K

219.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$648 IQD 848.7K

$498 IQD 652.7K

30.02%

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 9, 2026

Last update for Baghdadi: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $553 in Baghdad and $242 in Baghdadi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 30% 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 $190 vs $173 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 46% 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 30% 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: $553 in Baghdad versus $242 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 9% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $166 in Baghdad versus $149 in Baghdadi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $737 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 46% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.