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: $1,148 in Baghdad versus $1,095 in Erbil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,708 in Baghdad versus $1,654 in Erbil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,269 in Baghdad versus $2,213 in Erbil.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 5% more expensive than in Erbil, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 16% lower, Erbil 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.81 IQD 6,302

$7.67 IQD 10.0K

-37.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.76 IQD 44.2K

$44.94 IQD 58.8K

-24.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.68 IQD 10.1K

$8.21 IQD 10.7K

-6.46%

Cappuccino

$3.07 IQD 4,018

$3.78 IQD 4,955

-18.78%

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

$0.40 IQD 520

$1.02 IQD 1,338

-60.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 IQD 342

$0.41 IQD 541

-36.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.89 IQD 5,091

$5.97 IQD 7,823

-34.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 IQD 4,906

$4.45 IQD 5,829

-15.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 IQD 1,424

$1.27 IQD 1,669

-14.17%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,091

$0.79 IQD 1,033

5.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 IQD 2,005

$1.70 IQD 2,227

-10.00%

Eggs

$1.89 IQD 2,473

$1.76 IQD 2,307

7.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.80 IQD 4,971

$8.29 IQD 10.9K

-54.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.58 IQD 5,992

$5.54 IQD 7,252

-17.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.59 IQD 19.1K

$14.68 IQD 19.2K

-0.61%

Apples (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,492

$1.10 IQD 1,446

3.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 IQD 1,399

$1.15 IQD 1,503

-6.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,391

$1.22 IQD 1,599

-13.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 971

$0.81 IQD 1,061

-8.64%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 860

$0.74 IQD 974

-10.81%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 843

$0.69 IQD 901

-7.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 827

$0.79 IQD 1,034

-20.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 IQD 920

$0.58 IQD 761

20.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.83 IQD 2,400

$2.51 IQD 3,293

-27.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.65 IQD 17.9K

$12.64 IQD 16.5K

7.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 IQD 2,890

$1.68 IQD 2,196

31.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 IQD 2,861

$2.06 IQD 2,693

5.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 IQD 854

$0.60 IQD 781

8.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.62 IQD 29.6K

$43.88 IQD 57.5K

-48.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.32 IQD 3,037

$1.93 IQD 2,533

20.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 IQD 2,025

$1.74 IQD 2,279

-10.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.79 IQD 10.2K

$6.51 IQD 8,521

19.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 IQD 801

$0.67 IQD 876

-8.96%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

$17.9K IQD 23.5M

6.15%

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

$19.2K IQD 25.1M

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

-2.78%

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

$213 IQD 278.8K

$130 IQD 170.4K

63.60%

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

$20.99 IQD 27.5K

$14.06 IQD 18.4K

49.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.26 IQD 55.3K

$27.92 IQD 36.6K

51.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.87 IQD 61.4K

$64.5 IQD 84.5K

-27.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.00 IQD 28.8K

$14.50 IQD 19.0K

51.72%

Cinema Ticket

$10.57 IQD 13.8K

$11.23 IQD 14.7K

-5.88%

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

$165 IQD 216.6K

$312 IQD 409.1K

-47.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,462 IQD 4.5M

$3,080 IQD 4.0M

12.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.18 IQD 39.5K

$31.09 IQD 40.7K

-2.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.06 IQD 49.8K

$45.06 IQD 59.0K

-15.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 IQD 95.5K

$68.2 IQD 89.3K

6.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.63 IQD 62.4K

$68.0 IQD 89.0K

-29.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$575 IQD 753.1K

$473 IQD 619.0K

21.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$350 IQD 457.9K

$287 IQD 375.5K

21.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$959 IQD 1.3M

$732 IQD 958.7K

30.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$687 IQD 899.8K

$426 IQD 558.4K

61.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,743 IQD 6.2M

$1,115 IQD 1.5M

325.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,576 IQD 2.1M

$643 IQD 841.7K

145.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$604 IQD 791.2K

$613 IQD 803.3K

-1.50%

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: August 30, 2026

Last update for Erbil: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $575 in Baghdad and $473 in Erbil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Erbil pays 2% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $34.00 in Baghdad vs $45.00 in Erbil for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $204 per month, with Baghdad 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 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 2% 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: $575 in Baghdad versus $473 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 94% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $165 in Baghdad versus $312 in Erbil. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,095 in Erbil versus $1,148 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.