Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Mashhad Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Mashhad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,143 in Baghdad versus $640 in Mashhad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,702 in Baghdad versus $931 in Mashhad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,262 in Baghdad versus $1,223 in Mashhad.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 79% more expensive than in Mashhad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 16% lower, Mashhad 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.91 IQD 6,430

$4.67 IQD 6,120

5.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.26 IQD 44.9K

$34.11 IQD 44.7K

0.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 IQD 10.3K

$7.65 IQD 10.0K

2.48%

Cappuccino

$3.08 IQD 4,033

$3.08 IQD 4,035

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

$0.39 IQD 514

$0.40 IQD 519

-2.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 IQD 342

$0.24 IQD 312

8.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.78 IQD 4,956

$3.88 IQD 5,082

-2.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 IQD 4,907

$3.89 IQD 5,088

-3.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 IQD 1,364

$1.05 IQD 1,371

-0.95%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,090

$0.82 IQD 1,076

1.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 IQD 2,015

$1.58 IQD 2,067

-2.53%

Eggs

$1.89 IQD 2,479

$0.81 IQD 1,063

133.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.77 IQD 4,937

$3.80 IQD 4,980

-0.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.59 IQD 6,004

$2.04 IQD 2,676

125.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.44 IQD 18.9K

$2.92 IQD 3,820

394.52%

Apples (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,480

$1.01 IQD 1,325

11.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,390

$1.12 IQD 1,467

-5.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 IQD 1,345

$0.98 IQD 1,281

5.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 968

$0.68 IQD 889

8.82%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 906

$0.67 IQD 873

2.99%

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 912

$0.64 IQD 837

9.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 IQD 838

$0.31 IQD 407

106.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 IQD 907

$0.21 IQD 274

228.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.78 IQD 2,336

$0.76 IQD 996

134.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.81 IQD 18.1K

$13.55 IQD 17.7K

1.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,806

$2.14 IQD 2,799

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 IQD 2,977

$2.26 IQD 2,953

0.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 IQD 905

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.15 IQD 30.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.23 IQD 2,918

$2.25 IQD 2,947

-0.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 IQD 2,021

$1.51 IQD 1,979

1.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.65 IQD 10.0K

$7.52 IQD 9,851

1.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.62 IQD 806

$0.65 IQD 857

-4.62%

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

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

2.28%

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

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

2.13%

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

$213 IQD 279.2K

$215 IQD 281.7K

-0.89%

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

$21.75 IQD 28.5K

$21.21 IQD 27.8K

2.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.04 IQD 53.7K

$42.34 IQD 55.4K

-3.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.75 IQD 62.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.22 IQD 27.8K

Cinema Ticket

$10.68 IQD 14.0K

$10.60 IQD 13.9K

0.75%

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

$169 IQD 221.7K

$165 IQD 216.6K

2.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,468 IQD 4.5M

$3,514 IQD 4.6M

-1.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.14 IQD 39.5K

$29.67 IQD 38.8K

1.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.41 IQD 50.3K

$38.11 IQD 49.9K

0.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.0 IQD 95.6K

$74.5 IQD 97.6K

-2.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.87 IQD 62.7K

$46.47 IQD 60.8K

3.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$568 IQD 743.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$351 IQD 459.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$935 IQD 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$692 IQD 905.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,625 IQD 6.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,587 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$615 IQD 805.3K

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 Mashhad: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $34.00 in Baghdad vs $34.00 in Mashhad. Groceries flip the comparison at $187 vs $127, with Mashhad 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 Mashhad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mashhad wins on cost – living expenses run 79% lower than in Baghdad. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mashhad the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,714 in Baghdad and $960 in Mashhad 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 47% higher in Baghdad. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,143 per month in Baghdad versus $640 in Mashhad – a 79% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $640 in Mashhad versus $1,143 in Baghdad, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mashhad but tight or insufficient in Baghdad. The gap between the two cities makes Mashhad 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 Mashhad 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 Mashhad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 79% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.