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: $1,124 in Baghdad versus $459 in Sinjar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,692 in Baghdad versus $673 in Sinjar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,259 in Baghdad versus $888 in Sinjar.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 145% more expensive than in Sinjar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 18% lower, Sinjar 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.74 IQD 6,209

$2.34 IQD 3,071

102.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.69 IQD 44.1K

$9.41 IQD 12.3K

258.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 IQD 10.1K

$8.53 IQD 11.2K

-9.14%

Cappuccino

$3.07 IQD 4,024

$0.73 IQD 954

320.55%

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

$0.40 IQD 521

$0.37 IQD 479

8.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 IQD 313

$0.21 IQD 279

14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.87 IQD 5,071

$1.12 IQD 1,473

245.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 IQD 4,911

$1.88 IQD 2,457

99.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 IQD 1,423

$0.78 IQD 1,026

39.74%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 IQD 1,042

$0.72 IQD 947

11.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 IQD 1,982

$0.78 IQD 1,026

93.59%

Eggs

$1.82 IQD 2,386

$1.78 IQD 2,336

2.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.90 IQD 5,106

$2.26 IQD 2,964

72.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.70 IQD 6,149

$4.47 IQD 5,859

5.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.34 IQD 18.8K

$12.40 IQD 16.2K

15.65%

Apples (1kg)

$1.12 IQD 1,465

$0.73 IQD 957

53.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,389

$0.75 IQD 979

41.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.07 IQD 1,400

$0.73 IQD 958

46.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 967

$0.74 IQD 968

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 860

$0.71 IQD 933

-7.04%

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 915

$0.68 IQD 896

2.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 813

$0.77 IQD 1,014

-19.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 IQD 845

$0.36 IQD 478

80.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.78 IQD 2,333

$1.92 IQD 2,518

-7.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.68 IQD 17.9K

$7.68 IQD 10.1K

78.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,798

$1.12 IQD 1,466

91.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 IQD 2,971

$1.95 IQD 2,551

16.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 IQD 838

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.99 IQD 30.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,941

$1.89 IQD 2,473

19.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 IQD 1,944

$1.82 IQD 2,382

-18.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

$6.39 IQD 8,373

21.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 877

$0.35 IQD 462

91.43%

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

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

$18.1K IQD 23.7M

7.08%

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

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

$20.2K IQD 26.4M

-5.26%

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

$214 IQD 280.5K

$46.18 IQD 60.5K

363.84%

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

$21.41 IQD 28.0K

$14.11 IQD 18.5K

51.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.10 IQD 55.1K

$27.50 IQD 36.0K

53.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.30 IQD 61.9K

$11.61 IQD 15.2K

307.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.04 IQD 28.9K

$38.74 IQD 50.7K

-43.11%

Cinema Ticket

$10.76 IQD 14.1K

$11.25 IQD 14.7K

-4.36%

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

$165 IQD 215.5K

$318 IQD 415.8K

-48.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,445 IQD 4.5M

$3,073 IQD 4.0M

12.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.79 IQD 39.0K

$11.59 IQD 15.2K

157.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 IQD 50.2K

$11.22 IQD 14.7K

241.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.4 IQD 97.5K

$70.6 IQD 92.4K

5.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.59 IQD 62.3K

$67.0 IQD 87.7K

-28.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$566 IQD 741.8K

$54.4 IQD 71.2K

941.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 IQD 453.5K

$38.49 IQD 50.4K

799.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$959 IQD 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$679 IQD 889.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,665 IQD 6.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,599 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$615 IQD 805.6K

$228 IQD 298.3K

170.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

2.53

62.85%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Baghdad: September 6, 2026

Last update for Sinjar: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $566 in Baghdad and $54.4 in Sinjar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 170% 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: $34.00 in Baghdad vs $9.00 in Sinjar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $186 vs $142 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 145% 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 170% 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: $566 in Baghdad versus $54.4 in Sinjar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 31% higher in Baghdad. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,124 per month in Baghdad versus $459 in Sinjar – a 145% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $459 in Sinjar versus $1,124 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 145% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.