Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Erbil

For one person, living costs are similar in Baghdad and in Erbil: $1,001 and $956 a month, rent and utilities included.

49

Cost of Living Index in Baghdad
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Baghdad Living Index
47

Cost of Living Index in Erbil
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Erbil Living Index

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Baghdad

🇮🇶 Iraq

$1,001

/mo nomad

Erbil

🇮🇶 Iraq

$956

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Baghdad and in Erbil

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Baghdad and in Erbil actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,001 in Baghdad versus $956 in Erbil.

Baghdad $1,001
Erbil $956

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,472 in Baghdad versus $1,421 in Erbil.

Baghdad $1,472
Erbil $1,421

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,943 in Baghdad versus $1,887 in Erbil.

Baghdad $1,943
Erbil $1,887

Living in Baghdad is roughly 5% more expensive than in Erbil, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 26% lower, Erbil 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.27 IQD 6,445

$6.45 IQD 9,753

-33.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.18 IQD 44.1K

$36.44 IQD 55.1K

-19.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.77 IQD 10.2K

$7.09 IQD 10.7K

-4.51%

Cappuccino

$2.65 IQD 4,003

$3.23 IQD 4,873

-17.96%

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

$0.35 IQD 530

$0.89 IQD 1,338

-60.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 302

$0.33 IQD 503

-39.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.26 IQD 4,927

$5.17 IQD 7,819

-36.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 IQD 4,868

$3.85 IQD 5,825

-16.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 IQD 1,466

$1.06 IQD 1,600

-8.49%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 IQD 1,097

$0.73 IQD 1,101

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 IQD 2,003

$1.52 IQD 2,300

-12.50%

Eggs

$1.68 IQD 2,534

$1.57 IQD 2,373

7.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.25 IQD 4,912

$6.90 IQD 10.4K

-52.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.10 IQD 6,192

$4.27 IQD 6,458

-3.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.41 IQD 18.8K

$12.51 IQD 18.9K

-0.80%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,523

$0.99 IQD 1,501

2.02%

Banana (1kg)

$0.98 IQD 1,487

$0.99 IQD 1,495

-1.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.96 IQD 1,444

$1.03 IQD 1,555

-6.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 1,045

$0.65 IQD 988

6.15%

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 IQD 842

$0.64 IQD 964

-12.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 IQD 855

$0.61 IQD 925

-6.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 IQD 806

$0.60 IQD 909

-11.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 IQD 943

$0.47 IQD 709

31.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.68 IQD 2,534

$2.15 IQD 3,250

-21.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.61 IQD 17.5K

$10.81 IQD 16.3K

7.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 IQD 2,863

$1.47 IQD 2,222

28.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 IQD 2,876

$1.87 IQD 2,825

1.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 IQD 858

$0.48 IQD 718

18.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.12 IQD 30.4K

$38.85 IQD 58.7K

-48.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.01 IQD 3,038

$1.68 IQD 2,531

19.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 IQD 2,029

$1.60 IQD 2,421

-16.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.54 IQD 9,887

$5.67 IQD 8,566

15.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 IQD 810

$0.55 IQD 825

-1.82%

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

$16.3K IQD 24.6M

$16.3K IQD 24.7M

-0.21%

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

$16.6K IQD 25.1M

$17.0K IQD 25.6M

-2.27%

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

$189 IQD 285.6K

$113 IQD 170.3K

67.69%

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

$17.44 IQD 26.4K

$12.21 IQD 18.4K

42.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.40 IQD 55.0K

$24.30 IQD 36.7K

49.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.49 IQD 62.7K

$56.6 IQD 85.5K

-26.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.51 IQD 28.0K

$13.33 IQD 20.1K

38.86%

Cinema Ticket

$9.64 IQD 14.6K

$10.00 IQD 15.1K

-3.60%

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

$145 IQD 218.9K

$315 IQD 476.0K

-54.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,046 IQD 4.6M

$2,809 IQD 4.2M

8.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.78 IQD 37.4K

$26.70 IQD 40.3K

-7.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.66 IQD 43.3K

$39.59 IQD 59.8K

-27.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.8 IQD 90.4K

$59.4 IQD 89.7K

0.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.64 IQD 62.9K

$59.4 IQD 89.8K

-29.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 IQD 774.7K

$423 IQD 639.7K

21.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$322 IQD 485.8K

$275 IQD 415.2K

17.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$881 IQD 1.3M

$700 IQD 1.1M

25.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$595 IQD 899.0K

$406 IQD 613.1K

46.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,336 IQD 6.6M

$1,047 IQD 1.6M

314.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,443 IQD 2.2M

$608 IQD 919.3K

137.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$499 IQD 753.9K

$525 IQD 793.9K

-5.04%

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: October 12, 2026

Last update for Erbil: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Baghdad

$322 32.1%

Erbil

$275 28.7% 14.5% $47

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Baghdad

$243 24.3%

Erbil

$149 15.6% 38.6% $94

Groceries & Markets

Baghdad

$164 16.4%

Erbil

$172 18% 5.2% $8.4

Eating Out

Baghdad

$111 11.1%

Erbil

$150 15.7% 35% $39

Clothing & Footwear

Baghdad

$70 7%

Erbil

$83 8.7% 19.5% $14

Sport & Entertainment

Baghdad

$61 6.1%

Erbil

$77 8% 26% $16

Getting Around

Baghdad

$31 3.1%

Erbil

$50 5.3% 62.1% $19

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $513 in Baghdad and $423 in Erbil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Erbil pays 5% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $29.00 in Baghdad vs $36.00 in Erbil for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $164 vs $172 per month, with Baghdad cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇮🇶 Baghdad

🇮🇶 Erbil

🕒 Local time

06:37 6:37 AM

Same time as Baghdad

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

7,216,040 Capital

1,713,461

💱 Currency

Iraqi Dinar IQD ع.د

📈 Exchange rate

10,000 IQD = 6.62 USD

10,000 IQD = 5.88 EUR

10,000 IQD = 6.62 USD

10,000 IQD = 5.88 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Erbil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Erbil wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Baghdad. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Erbil the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 5% lower in Erbil. 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: $513 in Baghdad versus $423 in Erbil. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Erbil runs roughly 93% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $145 in Baghdad versus $315 in Erbil. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $956 in Erbil versus $1,001 in Baghdad, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Erbil but tight or insufficient in Baghdad. The gap between the two cities makes Erbil 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.

Safety-wise, Baghdad and Erbil are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Erbil gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.