Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Erbil Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Erbil

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,066 in Baghdad versus $1,034 in Erbil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,598 in Baghdad versus $1,522 in Erbil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,130 in Baghdad versus $2,010 in Erbil.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 3% more expensive than in Erbil, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 20% lower, Erbil 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.30 IQD 6,947

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

-31.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.81 IQD 48.2K

$22.64 IQD 29.6K

62.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$8.88 IQD 11.6K

-12.39%

Cappuccino

$3.11 IQD 4,074

$3.20 IQD 4,189

-2.81%

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

$0.40 IQD 522

$0.48 IQD 630

-16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 233

$0.20 IQD 262

-10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.49 IQD 4,576

$1.93 IQD 2,523

80.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 IQD 3,686

$2.14 IQD 2,803

31.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,722

$1.31 IQD 1,719

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 IQD 1,100

$0.85 IQD 1,108

-1.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 IQD 2,152

$1.86 IQD 2,439

-11.83%

Eggs

$1.81 IQD 2,364

$1.98 IQD 2,590

-8.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.52 IQD 5,923

$7.23 IQD 9,474

-37.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.86 IQD 6,364

$4.72 IQD 6,184

2.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.16 IQD 18.5K

$14.24 IQD 18.7K

-0.56%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,615

$1.19 IQD 1,563

3.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,519

$1.15 IQD 1,505

0.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,366

$1.15 IQD 1,502

-9.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 984

$0.81 IQD 1,057

-7.41%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 843

$0.68 IQD 888

-5.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 873

$0.75 IQD 980

-10.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 828

$0.73 IQD 952

-13.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 858

$0.57 IQD 742

15.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.07 IQD 2,707

$2.62 IQD 3,428

-20.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.33 IQD 17.5K

$12.19 IQD 16.0K

9.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 IQD 2,354

$1.39 IQD 1,824

29.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 IQD 2,762

$1.97 IQD 2,579

7.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 IQD 965

$0.59 IQD 776

25.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.86 IQD 36.5K

$35.14 IQD 46.0K

-20.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.72 IQD 4,870

$2.25 IQD 2,942

65.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 IQD 2,026

$2.33 IQD 3,052

-33.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.49 IQD 9,803

$6.75 IQD 8,845

10.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 700

$0.65 IQD 849

-18.46%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

3.22%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$20.8K IQD 27.3M

-2.42%

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

$175 IQD 229.3K

$102 IQD 133.2K

72.16%

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

$26.17 IQD 34.3K

$17.42 IQD 22.8K

50.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.52 IQD 53.1K

$29.58 IQD 38.7K

36.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.04 IQD 55.1K

$73.8 IQD 96.6K

-43.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.31 IQD 24.0K

$11.55 IQD 15.1K

58.53%

Cinema Ticket

$7.49 IQD 9,813

$11.41 IQD 14.9K

-34.36%

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

$166 IQD 217.8K

$263 IQD 343.7K

-36.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,526 IQD 4.6M

$3,250 IQD 4.3M

8.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.00 IQD 36.7K

$33.46 IQD 43.8K

-16.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.12 IQD 39.4K

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

-39.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.9 IQD 83.7K

$81.1 IQD 106.2K

-21.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.06 IQD 56.4K

$76.5 IQD 100.2K

-43.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$548 IQD 717.9K

$429 IQD 562.2K

27.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$323 IQD 422.7K

$275 IQD 360.3K

17.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$834 IQD 1.1M

$732 IQD 958.5K

13.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$597 IQD 781.1K

$495 IQD 647.8K

20.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,734 IQD 6.2M

$1,130 IQD 1.5M

319.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,570 IQD 2.1M

$660 IQD 864.4K

137.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$629 IQD 823.2K

$581 IQD 760.9K

8.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

14.33

-60.43%

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

Last update for Baghdad: July 14, 2026

Last update for Erbil: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $548 in Baghdad and $429 in Erbil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 8% 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 $23.00 in Erbil. Groceries flip the comparison at $190 vs $195, with Baghdad cheaper for home cooking.

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 3% 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.

Average pay runs 8% 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: $548 in Baghdad versus $429 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 26% 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 $263 in Erbil. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,034 in Erbil versus $1,066 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 3% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.