Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Koysinjaq Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Koysinjaq

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,072 in Baghdad versus $716 in Koysinjaq.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,582 in Baghdad versus $1,072 in Koysinjaq.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,092 in Baghdad versus $1,427 in Koysinjaq.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 50% more expensive than in Koysinjaq, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 20% lower, Koysinjaq 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.33 IQD 6,975

$2.32 IQD 3,036

129.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.02 IQD 48.5K

$12.37 IQD 16.2K

199.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.72 IQD 10.1K

$8.79 IQD 11.5K

-12.17%

Cappuccino

$3.10 IQD 4,056

$1.49 IQD 1,955

108.05%

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

$0.40 IQD 520

$0.36 IQD 474

11.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 228

$0.18 IQD 237

-5.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.34 IQD 4,371

$2.01 IQD 2,626

66.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 IQD 3,690

$2.05 IQD 2,683

37.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 IQD 1,771

$1.13 IQD 1,481

19.47%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 IQD 1,079

$0.80 IQD 1,048

2.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 IQD 2,163

$1.14 IQD 1,490

44.74%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,341

$1.57 IQD 2,051

14.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.43 IQD 5,795

$7.56 IQD 9,893

-41.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.89 IQD 6,400

$3.80 IQD 4,974

28.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.90 IQD 18.2K

$9.33 IQD 12.2K

48.98%

Apples (1kg)

$1.27 IQD 1,660

$0.74 IQD 973

71.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,512

$1.14 IQD 1,488

0.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,384

$1.18 IQD 1,551

-10.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 916

$0.55 IQD 720

27.27%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 916

$0.54 IQD 714

29.63%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 868

$0.59 IQD 779

11.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 817

$0.36 IQD 475

72.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 860

$0.40 IQD 519

65.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.06 IQD 2,697

$2.28 IQD 2,985

-9.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.72 IQD 18.0K

$12.26 IQD 16.1K

11.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 IQD 2,438

$1.44 IQD 1,884

29.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 IQD 2,773

$1.93 IQD 2,524

9.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 IQD 993

$0.36 IQD 475

111.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.11 IQD 36.8K

$31.64 IQD 41.4K

-11.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.82 IQD 5,001

$1.57 IQD 2,052

143.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,926

$0.74 IQD 969

98.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.45 IQD 9,761

$3.77 IQD 4,943

97.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 735

$0.65 IQD 858

-13.85%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$18.9K IQD 24.7M

7.66%

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

$19.7K IQD 25.9M

$18.3K IQD 24.0M

7.61%

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

$175 IQD 229.5K

$99.5 IQD 130.3K

76.10%

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

$25.51 IQD 33.4K

$17.78 IQD 23.3K

43.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.13 IQD 53.9K

$30.34 IQD 39.7K

35.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.38 IQD 54.2K

$36.07 IQD 47.2K

14.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.70 IQD 24.5K

$17.05 IQD 22.3K

9.68%

Cinema Ticket

$7.50 IQD 9,825

$11.47 IQD 15.0K

-34.61%

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

$168 IQD 219.8K

$62.9 IQD 82.3K

166.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,639 IQD 4.8M

$1,155 IQD 1.5M

215.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.64 IQD 37.5K

$15.50 IQD 20.3K

84.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.05 IQD 40.7K

$19.21 IQD 25.2K

61.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.2 IQD 85.3K

$83.9 IQD 109.9K

-22.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.30 IQD 56.7K

$19.24 IQD 25.2K

125.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$557 IQD 729.9K

$239 IQD 313.5K

132.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$315 IQD 412.5K

$178 IQD 233.6K

76.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 IQD 1.1M

$572 IQD 749.1K

43.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$599 IQD 784.8K

$341 IQD 447.2K

75.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,987 IQD 5.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,654 IQD 2.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$657 IQD 860.3K

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 14, 2026

Last update for Koysinjaq: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $557 in Baghdad and $239 in Koysinjaq. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $37.00 in Baghdad vs $12.00 in Koysinjaq for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $191 vs $162 per month, with Koysinjaq 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 Koysinjaq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Koysinjaq wins on cost – living expenses run 50% lower than in Baghdad. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Koysinjaq the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,608 in Baghdad and $1,074 in Koysinjaq to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $557 in Baghdad versus $239 in Koysinjaq. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Koysinjaq runs roughly 13% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $168 in Baghdad versus $62.9 in Koysinjaq. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $716 in Koysinjaq versus $1,072 in Baghdad, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Koysinjaq but tight or insufficient in Baghdad. The gap between the two cities makes Koysinjaq 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 Koysinjaq gentler on the wallet – expenses run 50% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.