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: $1,072 in Baghdad versus $846 in Mashhad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,582 in Baghdad versus $1,258 in Mashhad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,092 in Baghdad versus $1,669 in Mashhad.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 27% more expensive than Mashhad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 20% lower, Mashhad 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.33 IQD 6,975

$5.51 IQD 7,214

-3.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.02 IQD 48.5K

$36.40 IQD 47.7K

1.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.72 IQD 10.1K

$7.47 IQD 9,786

3.35%

Cappuccino

$3.10 IQD 4,056

$3.01 IQD 3,944

2.99%

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

$0.40 IQD 520

$0.37 IQD 480

8.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 228

$0.18 IQD 232

-5.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.34 IQD 4,371

$3.47 IQD 4,550

-3.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 IQD 3,690

$2.95 IQD 3,858

-4.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 IQD 1,771

$1.32 IQD 1,732

2.27%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 IQD 1,079

$0.83 IQD 1,087

-1.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 IQD 2,163

$1.67 IQD 2,181

-1.20%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,341

$0.86 IQD 1,130

108.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.43 IQD 5,795

$4.41 IQD 5,770

0.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.89 IQD 6,400

$1.95 IQD 2,550

150.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.90 IQD 18.2K

$2.96 IQD 3,873

369.59%

Apples (1kg)

$1.27 IQD 1,660

$1.02 IQD 1,342

24.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,512

$1.20 IQD 1,576

-4.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,384

$1.03 IQD 1,348

2.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 916

$0.68 IQD 888

2.94%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 916

$0.65 IQD 857

7.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 868

$0.63 IQD 829

4.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 817

$0.31 IQD 410

100.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 860

$0.22 IQD 294

200.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.06 IQD 2,697

$0.83 IQD 1,088

148.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.72 IQD 18.0K

$13.54 IQD 17.7K

1.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 IQD 2,438

$1.85 IQD 2,424

0.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 IQD 2,773

$2.09 IQD 2,741

1.44%

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

$30.56 IQD 40.0K

-8.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.82 IQD 5,001

$3.78 IQD 4,956

1.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,926

$1.48 IQD 1,943

-0.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.45 IQD 9,761

$7.46 IQD 9,775

-0.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 735

$0.57 IQD 751

-1.75%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

1.70%

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

$19.7K IQD 25.9M

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

-2.85%

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

$175 IQD 229.5K

$178 IQD 233.6K

-1.73%

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

$25.51 IQD 33.4K

$26.12 IQD 34.2K

-2.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.13 IQD 53.9K

$40.13 IQD 52.5K

2.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.38 IQD 54.2K

$37.37 IQD 48.9K

10.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.70 IQD 24.5K

$16.76 IQD 21.9K

11.58%

Cinema Ticket

$7.50 IQD 9,825

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

-3.97%

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

$168 IQD 219.8K

$164 IQD 215.4K

2.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,639 IQD 4.8M

$3,644 IQD 4.8M

-0.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.64 IQD 37.5K

$28.72 IQD 37.6K

-0.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.05 IQD 40.7K

$30.70 IQD 40.2K

1.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.2 IQD 85.3K

$65.3 IQD 85.5K

-0.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.30 IQD 56.7K

$42.54 IQD 55.7K

1.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$557 IQD 729.9K

$245 IQD 320.6K

127.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$315 IQD 412.5K

$181 IQD 237.4K

73.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 IQD 1.1M

$578 IQD 757.3K

42.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$599 IQD 784.8K

$339 IQD 444.4K

76.59%

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 Mashhad: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $557 in Baghdad and $245 in Mashhad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $37.00 in Baghdad vs $36.00 in Mashhad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $191 vs $131 per month, with Mashhad 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 Mashhad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mashhad wins on cost – living expenses run 27% 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 $1,608 in Baghdad and $1,270 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: $557 in Baghdad versus $245 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 9% 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 $164 in Mashhad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $846 in Mashhad versus $1,072 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 27% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.