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: $1,143 in Baghdad versus $472 in Baghdadi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,702 in Baghdad versus $766 in Baghdadi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,262 in Baghdad versus $1,059 in Baghdadi.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 142% more expensive than in Baghdadi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 16% lower, Baghdadi 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.91 IQD 6,430

$7.66 IQD 10.0K

-35.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.26 IQD 44.9K

$14.10 IQD 18.5K

142.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 IQD 10.3K

Cappuccino

$3.08 IQD 4,033

$1.85 IQD 2,420

66.49%

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

$0.39 IQD 514

$0.38 IQD 501

2.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 IQD 342

$0.21 IQD 273

23.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.78 IQD 4,956

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 IQD 4,907

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 IQD 1,364

$1.02 IQD 1,331

1.96%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,090

$0.49 IQD 643

69.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 IQD 2,015

$2.68 IQD 3,511

-42.54%

Eggs

$1.89 IQD 2,479

$1.84 IQD 2,412

2.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.77 IQD 4,937

$6.77 IQD 8,859

-44.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.59 IQD 6,004

$3.29 IQD 4,311

39.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.44 IQD 18.9K

$8.09 IQD 10.6K

78.49%

Apples (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,480

$1.03 IQD 1,348

9.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,390

$1.02 IQD 1,331

3.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 IQD 1,345

$1.02 IQD 1,333

0.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 968

$0.24 IQD 314

208.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 906

$0.24 IQD 314

187.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 912

$0.63 IQD 822

11.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 IQD 838

$0.52 IQD 686

23.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 IQD 907

$0.58 IQD 755

18.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.78 IQD 2,336

$1.01 IQD 1,324

76.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.81 IQD 18.1K

$15.10 IQD 19.8K

-8.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,806

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 IQD 2,977

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 IQD 905

$0.29 IQD 375

137.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.15 IQD 30.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.23 IQD 2,918

$4.96 IQD 6,501

-55.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 IQD 2,021

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.65 IQD 10.0K

$6.94 IQD 9,094

10.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.62 IQD 806

$0.42 IQD 546

47.62%

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

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

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

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

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

$213 IQD 279.2K

$49.70 IQD 65.1K

329.03%

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

$21.75 IQD 28.5K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.04 IQD 53.7K

$14.76 IQD 19.3K

178.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.75 IQD 62.5K

$59.3 IQD 77.7K

-19.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.22 IQD 27.8K

Cinema Ticket

$10.68 IQD 14.0K

$8.10 IQD 10.6K

31.85%

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

$169 IQD 221.7K

$78.6 IQD 102.9K

115.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,468 IQD 4.5M

$5,014 IQD 6.6M

-30.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.14 IQD 39.5K

$15.04 IQD 19.7K

100.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.41 IQD 50.3K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.0 IQD 95.6K

$24.60 IQD 32.2K

196.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.87 IQD 62.7K

$39.57 IQD 51.8K

20.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$568 IQD 743.5K

$153 IQD 200.3K

271.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$351 IQD 459.9K

$49.10 IQD 64.3K

615.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$935 IQD 1.2M

$457 IQD 598.6K

104.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$692 IQD 905.7K

$152 IQD 199.1K

354.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,625 IQD 6.1M

$1,507 IQD 2.0M

206.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,587 IQD 2.1M

$499 IQD 652.8K

218.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$615 IQD 805.3K

$491 IQD 643.1K

25.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

-58.80%

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

Last update for Baghdad: September 13, 2026

Last update for Baghdadi: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $568 in Baghdad and $153 in Baghdadi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 25% 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: $34.00 in Baghdad vs $14.00 in Baghdadi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $187 vs $152 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 142% 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.

Average pay runs 25% higher in Baghdad, 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: $568 in Baghdad versus $153 in Baghdadi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 23% higher in Baghdad. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,143 per month in Baghdad versus $472 in Baghdadi – a 142% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $472 in Baghdadi versus $1,143 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 142% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.