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: $1,074 in Baghdad versus $839 in Mashhad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,581 in Baghdad versus $1,267 in Mashhad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,088 in Baghdad versus $1,695 in Mashhad.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 28% more expensive than Mashhad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 20% lower, Mashhad 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.26 IQD 6,893

$5.42 IQD 7,106

-2.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.91 IQD 48.4K

$36.49 IQD 47.8K

1.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.46 IQD 9,779

$7.47 IQD 9,782

-0.13%

Cappuccino

$3.01 IQD 3,940

$3.00 IQD 3,930

0.33%

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

$0.36 IQD 477

$0.36 IQD 473

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 230

$0.21 IQD 277

-14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 IQD 4,597

$3.52 IQD 4,610

-0.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 IQD 3,707

$2.92 IQD 3,830

-3.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 IQD 1,785

$1.38 IQD 1,803

-1.45%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 IQD 1,042

$0.78 IQD 1,027

2.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 IQD 2,103

$1.64 IQD 2,149

-1.83%

Eggs

$1.72 IQD 2,248

$0.88 IQD 1,155

95.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 IQD 5,760

$4.49 IQD 5,876

-2.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.87 IQD 6,374

$2.05 IQD 2,689

137.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.88 IQD 18.2K

$3.09 IQD 4,042

349.19%

Apples (1kg)

$1.28 IQD 1,678

$0.98 IQD 1,280

30.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,523

$1.21 IQD 1,585

-4.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,323

$1.01 IQD 1,329

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 921

$0.71 IQD 936

-1.41%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 895

$0.65 IQD 852

4.62%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 831

$0.67 IQD 878

-5.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 824

$0.29 IQD 376

117.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 867

$0.19 IQD 246

247.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.07 IQD 2,714

$0.78 IQD 1,028

165.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.58 IQD 17.8K

$13.47 IQD 17.7K

0.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 IQD 2,413

$1.86 IQD 2,438

-1.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 IQD 2,712

$2.10 IQD 2,755

-1.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 IQD 964

$0.40 IQD 519

85.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.32 IQD 37.1K

$31.56 IQD 41.3K

-10.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.90 IQD 5,114

$3.73 IQD 4,893

4.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,923

$1.47 IQD 1,931

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.61 IQD 9,966

$7.50 IQD 9,829

1.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 701

$0.56 IQD 740

-5.36%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.0M

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

0.34%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

$20.1K IQD 26.4M

-0.76%

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

$179 IQD 234.4K

$177 IQD 232.0K

1.02%

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

$25.76 IQD 33.7K

$26.01 IQD 34.1K

-0.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.94 IQD 53.6K

$40.80 IQD 53.5K

0.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.54 IQD 54.4K

$36.02 IQD 47.2K

15.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.57 IQD 24.3K

$16.98 IQD 22.2K

9.36%

Cinema Ticket

$7.66 IQD 10.0K

$7.51 IQD 9,834

2.00%

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

$168 IQD 220.4K

$166 IQD 217.9K

1.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,533 IQD 4.6M

$3,534 IQD 4.6M

-0.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.32 IQD 37.1K

$28.46 IQD 37.3K

-0.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.84 IQD 40.4K

$30.31 IQD 39.7K

1.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.0 IQD 85.2K

$64.9 IQD 85.1K

0.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.91 IQD 57.5K

$43.00 IQD 56.3K

2.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$557 IQD 730.1K

$239 IQD 313.3K

132.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$324 IQD 424.9K

$181 IQD 236.9K

79.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 IQD 1.1M

$581 IQD 761.8K

41.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$594 IQD 778.1K

$339 IQD 444.7K

74.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,867 IQD 5.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,428 IQD 1.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$622 IQD 814.6K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Mashhad: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $557 in Baghdad and $239 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 $189 vs $132 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 28% 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 $1,611 in Baghdad and $1,259 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 $239 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 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 $166 in Mashhad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $839 in Mashhad versus $1,074 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 28% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.