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: $1,055 in Baghdad versus $851 in Mashhad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,565 in Baghdad versus $1,277 in Mashhad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,074 in Baghdad versus $1,702 in Mashhad.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 24% more expensive than in Mashhad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 21% lower, Mashhad 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.50 IQD 7,206

$5.25 IQD 6,877

4.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.22 IQD 47.4K

$36.62 IQD 48.0K

-1.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.70 IQD 10.1K

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

-0.13%

Cappuccino

$2.98 IQD 3,903

$3.05 IQD 3,998

-2.30%

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

$0.36 IQD 477

$0.37 IQD 482

-2.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 219

$0.22 IQD 286

-22.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 IQD 4,590

$3.37 IQD 4,410

4.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 IQD 3,839

$2.94 IQD 3,853

-0.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 IQD 1,768

$1.31 IQD 1,715

3.05%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,023

$0.84 IQD 1,094

-7.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 IQD 2,076

$1.57 IQD 2,058

1.27%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,338

$0.80 IQD 1,045

123.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.58 IQD 5,999

$4.59 IQD 6,007

-0.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.81 IQD 6,297

$2.02 IQD 2,646

138.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.13 IQD 18.5K

$3.01 IQD 3,943

369.44%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,612

$0.99 IQD 1,291

24.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 IQD 1,590

$1.17 IQD 1,531

3.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 IQD 1,311

$0.97 IQD 1,275

3.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 970

$0.68 IQD 894

8.82%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 854

$0.69 IQD 908

-5.80%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 881

$0.63 IQD 831

6.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 817

$0.29 IQD 374

113.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 861

$0.20 IQD 262

230.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.05 IQD 2,690

$0.82 IQD 1,078

150.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.49 IQD 17.7K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,347

$1.78 IQD 2,335

0.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,821

$2.07 IQD 2,716

3.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 IQD 976

$0.36 IQD 473

108.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.88 IQD 36.5K

$31.31 IQD 41.0K

-10.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.93 IQD 5,147

$3.81 IQD 4,988

3.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,922

$1.50 IQD 1,960

-2.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.50 IQD 9,826

$7.55 IQD 9,884

-0.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 740

$0.57 IQD 742

-1.75%

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

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

-3.51%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

-0.22%

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

$176 IQD 230.7K

$177 IQD 231.6K

-0.38%

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

$25.81 IQD 33.8K

$26.28 IQD 34.4K

-1.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.29 IQD 54.1K

$40.96 IQD 53.6K

0.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.14 IQD 55.2K

$36.46 IQD 47.7K

15.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

$16.72 IQD 21.9K

11.00%

Cinema Ticket

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

$7.43 IQD 9,735

4.58%

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

$168 IQD 220.3K

$165 IQD 215.8K

2.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,627 IQD 4.7M

$3,559 IQD 4.7M

1.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.92 IQD 36.6K

$28.68 IQD 37.6K

-2.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.46 IQD 39.9K

$30.31 IQD 39.7K

0.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.9 IQD 85.0K

$64.7 IQD 84.7K

0.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.79 IQD 57.3K

$43.57 IQD 57.1K

0.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$554 IQD 725.1K

$242 IQD 316.9K

128.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$321 IQD 419.7K

$182 IQD 238.0K

76.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$839 IQD 1.1M

$573 IQD 750.4K

46.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$583 IQD 764.1K

$349 IQD 457.0K

67.20%

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 Mashhad: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $554 in Baghdad and $242 in Mashhad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $36.00 in Baghdad vs $37.00 in Mashhad. Groceries flip the comparison at $190 vs $130, 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 24% 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 $1,582 in Baghdad and $1,277 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $554 in Baghdad versus $242 in Mashhad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Mashhad 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 $168 in Baghdad versus $165 in Mashhad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $851 in Mashhad versus $1,055 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 24% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.