Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Kirkuk Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Kirkuk

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,143 in Baghdad versus $633 in Kirkuk.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,702 in Baghdad versus $1,002 in Kirkuk.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,262 in Baghdad versus $1,372 in Kirkuk.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 81% more expensive than in Kirkuk, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 16% lower, Kirkuk 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.91 IQD 6,430

$4.18 IQD 5,472

17.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.26 IQD 44.9K

$26.43 IQD 34.6K

29.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 IQD 10.3K

$6.04 IQD 7,911

29.80%

Cappuccino

$3.08 IQD 4,033

$2.35 IQD 3,076

31.06%

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

$0.39 IQD 514

$0.39 IQD 516

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 IQD 342

$0.25 IQD 328

4.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.78 IQD 4,956

$3.86 IQD 5,054

-2.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 IQD 4,907

$3.91 IQD 5,121

-4.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 IQD 1,364

$1.09 IQD 1,425

-4.59%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,090

$0.65 IQD 850

27.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 IQD 2,015

$1.55 IQD 2,031

-0.65%

Eggs

$1.89 IQD 2,479

$1.53 IQD 2,002

23.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.77 IQD 4,937

$3.79 IQD 4,963

-0.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.59 IQD 6,004

$3.68 IQD 4,821

24.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.44 IQD 18.9K

$12.80 IQD 16.8K

12.81%

Apples (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,480

$0.81 IQD 1,061

39.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,390

$0.92 IQD 1,208

15.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 IQD 1,345

$0.90 IQD 1,176

14.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 968

$0.68 IQD 895

8.82%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 906

$0.53 IQD 701

30.19%

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 912

$0.54 IQD 703

29.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 IQD 838

$0.61 IQD 804

4.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 IQD 907

$0.34 IQD 446

102.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.78 IQD 2,336

$1.79 IQD 2,343

-0.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.81 IQD 18.1K

$13.44 IQD 17.6K

2.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,806

$1.51 IQD 1,982

41.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 IQD 2,977

$1.89 IQD 2,469

20.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 IQD 905

$0.40 IQD 522

72.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.15 IQD 30.3K

$23.41 IQD 30.7K

-1.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.23 IQD 2,918

$2.25 IQD 2,943

-0.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 IQD 2,021

$1.48 IQD 1,944

4.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.65 IQD 10.0K

$7.46 IQD 9,764

2.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.62 IQD 806

$0.54 IQD 704

14.81%

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

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

$19.2K IQD 25.1M

0.99%

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

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

1.12%

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

$213 IQD 279.2K

$53.9 IQD 70.5K

295.97%

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

$21.75 IQD 28.5K

$21.46 IQD 28.1K

1.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.04 IQD 53.7K

$42.64 IQD 55.8K

-3.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.75 IQD 62.5K

$11.25 IQD 14.7K

324.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.22 IQD 27.8K

Cinema Ticket

$10.68 IQD 14.0K

$10.62 IQD 13.9K

0.56%

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

$169 IQD 221.7K

$171 IQD 223.5K

-0.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,468 IQD 4.5M

$3,434 IQD 4.5M

0.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.14 IQD 39.5K

$30.15 IQD 39.5K

-0.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.41 IQD 50.3K

$19.18 IQD 25.1K

100.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.0 IQD 95.6K

$74.2 IQD 97.2K

-1.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.87 IQD 62.7K

$34.21 IQD 44.8K

39.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$568 IQD 743.5K

$190 IQD 248.7K

198.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$351 IQD 459.9K

$90.7 IQD 118.8K

287.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$935 IQD 1.2M

$233 IQD 305.5K

300.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$692 IQD 905.7K

$225 IQD 294.4K

207.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,625 IQD 6.1M

$574 IQD 752.2K

705.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,587 IQD 2.1M

$308 IQD 403.0K

415.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$615 IQD 805.3K

$442 IQD 579.2K

39.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

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

Last update for Baghdad: September 13, 2026

Last update for Kirkuk: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $568 in Baghdad and $190 in Kirkuk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 39% 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: $34.00 in Baghdad vs $26.00 in Kirkuk for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $187 vs $162 per month, with Kirkuk 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 Kirkuk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kirkuk wins on cost – living expenses run 81% lower than in Baghdad. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kirkuk the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 39% 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: $568 in Baghdad versus $190 in Kirkuk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Kirkuk runs roughly 1% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $169 in Baghdad versus $171 in Kirkuk. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $633 in Kirkuk versus $1,143 in Baghdad, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kirkuk but tight or insufficient in Baghdad. The gap between the two cities makes Kirkuk 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 Kirkuk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 81% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.