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: $1,055 in Baghdad versus $753 in Baghdadi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,565 in Baghdad versus $1,140 in Baghdadi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,074 in Baghdad versus $1,526 in Baghdadi.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 40% more expensive than in Baghdadi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 21% lower, Baghdadi 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.50 IQD 7,206

$5.07 IQD 6,644

8.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.22 IQD 47.4K

$16.69 IQD 21.9K

117.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.70 IQD 10.1K

$7.03 IQD 9,209

9.53%

Cappuccino

$2.98 IQD 3,903

$1.71 IQD 2,235

74.27%

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

$0.36 IQD 477

$0.43 IQD 562

-16.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 219

$0.26 IQD 342

-34.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 IQD 4,590

$2.93 IQD 3,840

19.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 IQD 3,839

$2.91 IQD 3,808

0.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 IQD 1,768

$1.14 IQD 1,490

18.42%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,023

$0.67 IQD 879

16.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 IQD 2,076

$2.24 IQD 2,929

-29.02%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,338

$1.69 IQD 2,215

5.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.58 IQD 5,999

$6.05 IQD 7,920

-24.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.81 IQD 6,296

$4.43 IQD 5,798

8.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.13 IQD 18.5K

$9.22 IQD 12.1K

53.25%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,612

$1.02 IQD 1,337

20.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 IQD 1,590

$0.97 IQD 1,275

24.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 IQD 1,311

$1.01 IQD 1,323

-0.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 970

$0.53 IQD 695

39.62%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 854

$0.57 IQD 747

14.04%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 881

$0.64 IQD 832

4.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 817

$0.65 IQD 857

-4.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 861

$0.52 IQD 675

26.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.05 IQD 2,690

$1.72 IQD 2,255

19.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.49 IQD 17.7K

$15.22 IQD 19.9K

-11.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,346

$1.85 IQD 2,425

-3.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,821

$2.07 IQD 2,708

3.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 IQD 976

$0.37 IQD 480

102.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.88 IQD 36.5K

$31.42 IQD 41.1K

-11.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.93 IQD 5,147

$2.25 IQD 2,944

74.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,922

$1.47 IQD 1,925

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.50 IQD 9,826

$6.02 IQD 7,879

24.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 740

$0.57 IQD 748

-1.75%

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

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

$19.0K IQD 24.8M

3.83%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

$19.6K IQD 25.7M

1.36%

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

$176 IQD 230.7K

$76.3 IQD 99.9K

130.80%

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

$25.81 IQD 33.8K

$17.46 IQD 22.9K

47.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.29 IQD 54.1K

$35.09 IQD 45.9K

17.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.14 IQD 55.2K

$36.50 IQD 47.8K

15.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

$16.50 IQD 21.6K

12.48%

Cinema Ticket

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

$7.44 IQD 9,746

4.44%

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

$168 IQD 220.3K

$153 IQD 200.0K

10.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,627 IQD 4.7M

$3,291 IQD 4.3M

10.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.92 IQD 36.6K

$27.23 IQD 35.7K

2.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.46 IQD 39.9K

$25.11 IQD 32.9K

21.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.9 IQD 85.0K

$60.4 IQD 79.1K

7.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.79 IQD 57.3K

$40.99 IQD 53.7K

6.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$554 IQD 725.1K

$240 IQD 313.6K

131.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$321 IQD 419.7K

$176 IQD 230.6K

82.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$839 IQD 1.1M

$590 IQD 772.5K

42.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$583 IQD 764.1K

$348 IQD 455.1K

67.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,745 IQD 6.2M

$1,528 IQD 2.0M

210.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,597 IQD 2.1M

$492 IQD 643.7K

224.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$612 IQD 800.9K

$509 IQD 665.9K

20.27%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Baghdadi: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $554 in Baghdad and $240 in Baghdadi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 20% 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: $36.00 in Baghdad vs $17.00 in Baghdadi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $175 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 40% 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 20% 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: $554 in Baghdad versus $240 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 13% 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 $753 in Baghdadi versus $1,055 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 40% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.