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: $1,074 in Baghdad versus $609 in Kirkuk.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Baghdad versus $960 in Kirkuk.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,073 in Baghdad versus $1,311 in Kirkuk.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 76% more expensive than Kirkuk, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 20% lower, Kirkuk 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.27 IQD 6,895

$3.80 IQD 4,974

38.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.86 IQD 48.3K

$25.74 IQD 33.7K

43.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$5.76 IQD 7,540

35.07%

Cappuccino

$2.98 IQD 3,909

$2.34 IQD 3,064

27.35%

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

$0.39 IQD 512

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 216

$0.18 IQD 235

-5.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.38 IQD 4,429

$3.41 IQD 4,468

-0.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 IQD 3,785

$2.89 IQD 3,782

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 IQD 1,702

$1.14 IQD 1,498

14.04%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,087

$0.61 IQD 796

36.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 IQD 2,181

$1.67 IQD 2,182

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,343

$1.48 IQD 1,941

20.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.52 IQD 5,918

$4.58 IQD 5,997

-1.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.84 IQD 6,342

$2.85 IQD 3,727

69.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.04 IQD 18.4K

$10.79 IQD 14.1K

30.12%

Apples (1kg)

$1.28 IQD 1,680

$0.90 IQD 1,180

42.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,504

$1.02 IQD 1,334

12.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,363

$0.99 IQD 1,296

5.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 914

$0.64 IQD 843

9.37%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 897

$0.49 IQD 643

40.82%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 813

$0.50 IQD 651

24.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 IQD 883

$0.63 IQD 830

6.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 IQD 824

$0.31 IQD 401

103.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.13 IQD 2,786

$1.86 IQD 2,440

14.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.64 IQD 17.9K

$13.54 IQD 17.7K

0.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,348

$1.76 IQD 2,311

1.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,812

$2.11 IQD 2,760

1.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 IQD 993

$0.56 IQD 727

35.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.16 IQD 36.9K

$31.66 IQD 41.5K

-11.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.78 IQD 4,954

$2.93 IQD 3,832

29.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 IQD 1,999

$1.11 IQD 1,451

37.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.54 IQD 9,868

$7.64 IQD 10.0K

-1.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 IQD 750

$0.53 IQD 697

7.55%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

-2.06%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

0.10%

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

$181 IQD 236.7K

$52.7 IQD 69.0K

243.10%

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

$25.64 IQD 33.6K

$23.40 IQD 30.6K

9.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.76 IQD 53.4K

$38.76 IQD 50.8K

5.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.00 IQD 53.7K

$14.67 IQD 19.2K

179.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

$17.09 IQD 22.4K

8.60%

Cinema Ticket

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

$7.50 IQD 9,819

4.13%

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

$166 IQD 217.8K

$58.8 IQD 77.0K

183.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,523 IQD 4.6M

$780 IQD 1.0M

351.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.27 IQD 37.0K

$28.28 IQD 37.0K

-0.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.19 IQD 39.5K

$30.17 IQD 39.5K

0.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.3 IQD 82.9K

$23.14 IQD 30.3K

173.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.71 IQD 57.2K

$14.72 IQD 19.3K

196.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$553 IQD 724.7K

$73.8 IQD 96.7K

649.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$320 IQD 418.5K

$109 IQD 142.1K

194.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$818 IQD 1.1M

$113 IQD 147.8K

625.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$583 IQD 763.6K

$252 IQD 329.5K

131.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,017 IQD 5.3M

$866 IQD 1.1M

363.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,614 IQD 2.1M

$398 IQD 520.7K

305.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$648 IQD 848.7K

$631 IQD 826.1K

2.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

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

Last update for Baghdad: June 9, 2026

Last update for Kirkuk: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $553 in Baghdad and $73.8 in Kirkuk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 3% 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 $26.00 in Kirkuk for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $157 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 76% 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.

Baghdad pays 3% 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: $553 in Baghdad versus $73.8 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 12% 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 $58.8 in Kirkuk. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $609 in Kirkuk versus $1,074 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 76% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.