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: $1,054 in Baghdad versus $1,034 in Erbil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,592 in Baghdad versus $1,548 in Erbil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,130 in Baghdad versus $2,061 in Erbil.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 2% more expensive than Erbil, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 21% lower, Erbil 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.48 IQD 7,181

$7.72 IQD 10.1K

-29.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.97 IQD 48.4K

$22.83 IQD 29.9K

61.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.57 IQD 9,909

$8.98 IQD 11.8K

-15.70%

Cappuccino

$3.06 IQD 4,003

$3.13 IQD 4,096

-2.24%

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

$0.40 IQD 518

$0.49 IQD 640

-18.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 242

$0.20 IQD 261

-10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.42 IQD 4,485

$2.00 IQD 2,624

71.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 IQD 3,853

$2.14 IQD 2,797

37.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,726

$1.32 IQD 1,730

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,017

$0.84 IQD 1,103

-7.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 IQD 2,166

$1.80 IQD 2,355

-8.33%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,350

$1.98 IQD 2,599

-9.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 IQD 5,763

$7.54 IQD 9,879

-41.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.07 IQD 6,636

$4.80 IQD 6,282

5.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.34 IQD 18.8K

$14.29 IQD 18.7K

0.35%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,612

$1.14 IQD 1,491

7.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,530

$1.20 IQD 1,567

-2.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,329

$1.19 IQD 1,561

-15.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 922

$0.76 IQD 994

-7.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 911

$0.70 IQD 918

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 835

$0.72 IQD 938

-11.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 822

$0.78 IQD 1,018

-19.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 871

$0.53 IQD 688

24.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.11 IQD 2,765

$2.63 IQD 3,449

-19.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.35 IQD 17.5K

$12.55 IQD 16.4K

6.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 IQD 2,301

$1.45 IQD 1,899

21.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,815

$2.01 IQD 2,633

6.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 IQD 1,027

$0.54 IQD 709

44.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.60 IQD 37.4K

$34.09 IQD 44.6K

-16.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.88 IQD 5,087

$2.35 IQD 3,084

65.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,923

$2.20 IQD 2,885

-33.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

$6.87 IQD 8,999

14.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 737

$0.70 IQD 911

-20.00%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

6.35%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

-3.82%

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

$181 IQD 237.4K

$102 IQD 134.1K

76.96%

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

$25.40 IQD 33.3K

$17.93 IQD 23.5K

41.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.16 IQD 52.6K

$29.33 IQD 38.4K

36.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 IQD 54.1K

$72.7 IQD 95.2K

-43.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.43 IQD 24.1K

$11.77 IQD 15.4K

56.58%

Cinema Ticket

$7.82 IQD 10.2K

$11.62 IQD 15.2K

-32.70%

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

$163 IQD 213.2K

$269 IQD 352.1K

-39.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,573 IQD 4.7M

$3,278 IQD 4.3M

8.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.57 IQD 37.4K

$32.74 IQD 42.9K

-12.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.72 IQD 40.2K

$48.36 IQD 63.3K

-36.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.4 IQD 83.0K

$81.0 IQD 106.0K

-21.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.53 IQD 57.0K

$76.8 IQD 100.5K

-43.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$540 IQD 707.6K

$426 IQD 557.6K

26.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$321 IQD 420.5K

$278 IQD 364.4K

15.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$818 IQD 1.1M

$726 IQD 951.1K

12.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$580 IQD 759.9K

$485 IQD 635.3K

19.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,034 IQD 5.3M

$1,123 IQD 1.5M

259.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,617 IQD 2.1M

$658 IQD 862.2K

145.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$642 IQD 841.2K

$584 IQD 765.0K

9.97%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Erbil: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $540 in Baghdad and $426 in Erbil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 10% 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 $191 vs $197, 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 2% 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.

Baghdad pays 10% more on average, 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: $540 in Baghdad versus $426 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 19% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $163 in Baghdad versus $269 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 $1,054 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 2% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.