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: $1,055 in Baghdad versus $725 in Koysinjaq.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,565 in Baghdad versus $1,072 in Koysinjaq.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,074 in Baghdad versus $1,420 in Koysinjaq.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 46% more expensive than in Koysinjaq, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 21% lower, Koysinjaq 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.50 IQD 7,206

$2.34 IQD 3,062

135.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.22 IQD 47.4K

$12.41 IQD 16.3K

191.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.70 IQD 10.1K

$8.74 IQD 11.4K

-11.90%

Cappuccino

$2.98 IQD 3,903

$1.55 IQD 2,028

92.26%

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

$0.36 IQD 477

$0.40 IQD 520

-10.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 219

$0.19 IQD 247

-10.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 IQD 4,590

$1.91 IQD 2,504

83.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 IQD 3,839

$2.13 IQD 2,783

37.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 IQD 1,768

$1.18 IQD 1,540

14.41%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,023

$0.78 IQD 1,025

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 IQD 2,076

$1.13 IQD 1,480

40.71%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,338

$1.55 IQD 2,027

15.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.58 IQD 5,999

$7.21 IQD 9,441

-36.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.81 IQD 6,296

$3.88 IQD 5,080

23.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.13 IQD 18.5K

$9.28 IQD 12.2K

52.26%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,612

$0.78 IQD 1,026

57.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 IQD 1,590

$1.13 IQD 1,473

7.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 IQD 1,311

$1.12 IQD 1,469

-10.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 970

$0.56 IQD 732

32.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 854

$0.59 IQD 778

10.17%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 881

$0.59 IQD 769

13.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 817

$0.36 IQD 477

72.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 861

$0.36 IQD 473

83.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.05 IQD 2,690

$2.26 IQD 2,955

-9.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.49 IQD 17.7K

$12.58 IQD 16.5K

7.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,346

$1.42 IQD 1,862

26.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,821

$1.95 IQD 2,549

10.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 IQD 976

$0.40 IQD 520

87.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.88 IQD 36.5K

$30.88 IQD 40.4K

-9.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.93 IQD 5,147

$1.54 IQD 2,018

155.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,922

$0.75 IQD 980

96.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.50 IQD 9,826

$3.74 IQD 4,892

100.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 740

$0.66 IQD 860

-15.15%

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

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

$19.5K IQD 25.5M

1.10%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

$18.5K IQD 24.3M

7.47%

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

$176 IQD 230.7K

$102 IQD 133.0K

73.40%

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

$25.81 IQD 33.8K

$17.42 IQD 22.8K

48.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.29 IQD 54.1K

$30.39 IQD 39.8K

35.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.14 IQD 55.2K

$37.06 IQD 48.5K

13.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

$17.04 IQD 22.3K

8.92%

Cinema Ticket

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

$11.44 IQD 15.0K

-32.08%

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

$168 IQD 220.3K

$64.7 IQD 84.7K

160.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,627 IQD 4.7M

$1,154 IQD 1.5M

214.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.92 IQD 36.6K

$15.40 IQD 20.2K

81.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.46 IQD 39.9K

$18.99 IQD 24.9K

60.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.9 IQD 85.0K

$81.0 IQD 106.0K

-19.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.79 IQD 57.3K

$19.48 IQD 25.5K

124.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$554 IQD 725.1K

$243 IQD 318.5K

127.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$321 IQD 419.7K

$177 IQD 231.2K

81.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$839 IQD 1.1M

$585 IQD 766.6K

43.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$583 IQD 764.1K

$340 IQD 445.3K

71.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,745 IQD 6.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,597 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$612 IQD 800.9K

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Koysinjaq: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $554 in Baghdad and $243 in Koysinjaq. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $36.00 in Baghdad vs $12.00 in Koysinjaq for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 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 46% 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 $1,582 in Baghdad and $1,087 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: $554 in Baghdad versus $243 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 11% 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 $64.7 in Koysinjaq. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $725 in Koysinjaq versus $1,055 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 46% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.