Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Sinjar Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Sinjar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,072 in Baghdad versus $862 in Sinjar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,607 in Baghdad versus $1,355 in Sinjar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,141 in Baghdad versus $1,848 in Sinjar.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 24% more expensive than in Sinjar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.26 IQD 6,884

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

-32.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.67 IQD 48.0K

$22.81 IQD 29.8K

60.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 IQD 9,724

$8.97 IQD 11.7K

-17.17%

Cappuccino

$3.01 IQD 3,942

$3.13 IQD 4,089

-3.83%

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

$0.37 IQD 478

$0.52 IQD 682

-28.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 278

$0.20 IQD 261

5.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.40 IQD 4,451

$1.91 IQD 2,502

78.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 IQD 3,789

$2.12 IQD 2,768

36.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 IQD 1,778

$1.32 IQD 1,728

3.03%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 IQD 1,106

$0.84 IQD 1,099

1.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 IQD 2,162

$1.90 IQD 2,479

-13.16%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,346

$1.91 IQD 2,496

-6.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.46 IQD 5,831

$7.20 IQD 9,413

-38.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.93 IQD 6,443

$4.80 IQD 6,280

2.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.23 IQD 18.6K

$14.11 IQD 18.5K

0.85%

Apples (1kg)

$1.21 IQD 1,589

$1.19 IQD 1,563

1.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 IQD 1,584

$1.16 IQD 1,517

4.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,363

$1.19 IQD 1,553

-12.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 959

$0.81 IQD 1,060

-9.88%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 904

$0.67 IQD 872

2.99%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 826

$0.69 IQD 908

-8.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 IQD 867

$0.78 IQD 1,024

-15.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 IQD 815

$0.56 IQD 732

10.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.04 IQD 2,668

$2.66 IQD 3,481

-23.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.33 IQD 17.4K

$7.84 IQD 10.2K

70.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 IQD 2,325

$1.39 IQD 1,820

28.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 IQD 2,852

$2.00 IQD 2,619

9.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 IQD 1,030

$0.36 IQD 474

119.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.68 IQD 37.5K

$31.07 IQD 40.6K

-7.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.80 IQD 4,977

$2.37 IQD 3,097

60.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 IQD 1,939

$2.33 IQD 3,042

-36.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

$6.69 IQD 8,756

16.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 735

$0.65 IQD 851

-13.85%

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

$20.1K IQD 26.2M

$19.2K IQD 25.1M

4.43%

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

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

-3.11%

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

$178 IQD 232.9K

$98.9 IQD 129.4K

80.02%

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

$25.40 IQD 33.2K

$17.70 IQD 23.1K

43.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.59 IQD 53.1K

$30.29 IQD 39.6K

34.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.76 IQD 54.6K

$36.78 IQD 48.1K

13.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.55 IQD 24.3K

$16.76 IQD 21.9K

10.68%

Cinema Ticket

$7.82 IQD 10.2K

$11.45 IQD 15.0K

-31.70%

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

$169 IQD 221.1K

$268 IQD 350.7K

-36.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,646 IQD 4.8M

$3,315 IQD 4.3M

9.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.95 IQD 36.6K

$33.21 IQD 43.4K

-15.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.28 IQD 39.6K

$48.40 IQD 63.3K

-37.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.6 IQD 83.2K

$81.2 IQD 106.2K

-21.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.49 IQD 56.9K

$76.1 IQD 99.5K

-42.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$545 IQD 713.3K

$240 IQD 313.8K

127.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$316 IQD 412.9K

$181 IQD 237.3K

74.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$816 IQD 1.1M

$590 IQD 771.7K

38.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$588 IQD 769.7K

$341 IQD 445.6K

72.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,709 IQD 6.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,569 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$625 IQD 817.6K

$226 IQD 295.1K

177.05%

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 20, 2026

Last update for Sinjar: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $545 in Baghdad and $240 in Sinjar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 177% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $37.00 in Baghdad vs $23.00 in Sinjar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $191 vs $186 per month, with Sinjar 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 Sinjar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sinjar wins on cost – living expenses run 24% lower than in Baghdad. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Sinjar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 177% higher in Baghdad, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $545 in Baghdad versus $240 in Sinjar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Sinjar runs roughly 8% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $169 in Baghdad versus $268 in Sinjar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $862 in Sinjar versus $1,072 in Baghdad, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sinjar but tight or insufficient in Baghdad. The gap between the two cities makes Sinjar 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 Sinjar 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.