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: $1,046 in Baghdad versus $858 in Sinjar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,591 in Baghdad versus $1,324 in Sinjar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,137 in Baghdad versus $1,790 in Sinjar.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 22% more expensive than Sinjar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 22% lower, Sinjar 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.50 IQD 7,203

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

-29.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.73 IQD 48.1K

$22.58 IQD 29.6K

62.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.59 IQD 9,932

$9.01 IQD 11.8K

-15.76%

Cappuccino

$3.11 IQD 4,077

$3.17 IQD 4,147

-1.89%

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

$0.36 IQD 478

$0.52 IQD 683

-30.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 IQD 212

$0.22 IQD 288

-27.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.48 IQD 4,556

$2.03 IQD 2,656

71.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 IQD 3,853

$2.15 IQD 2,819

36.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 IQD 1,778

$1.34 IQD 1,754

1.49%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,081

$0.84 IQD 1,102

-1.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 IQD 2,101

$1.88 IQD 2,457

-14.89%

Eggs

$1.78 IQD 2,333

$1.96 IQD 2,568

-9.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.48 IQD 5,871

$7.50 IQD 9,817

-40.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.99 IQD 6,539

$4.76 IQD 6,237

4.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.94 IQD 18.2K

$14.16 IQD 18.5K

-1.55%

Apples (1kg)

$1.26 IQD 1,654

$1.15 IQD 1,509

9.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 IQD 1,582

$1.20 IQD 1,567

0.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 IQD 1,370

$1.18 IQD 1,549

-11.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 965

$0.76 IQD 991

-2.63%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 846

$0.72 IQD 944

-9.72%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 879

$0.71 IQD 934

-5.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 IQD 882

$0.76 IQD 996

-11.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 870

$0.56 IQD 728

17.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 IQD 2,806

$2.71 IQD 3,554

-21.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.65 IQD 17.9K

$7.44 IQD 9,746

83.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 IQD 2,410

$1.43 IQD 1,868

28.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 IQD 2,718

$1.94 IQD 2,540

7.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 IQD 978

$0.36 IQD 476

108.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.79 IQD 36.4K

$30.77 IQD 40.3K

-9.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 IQD 5,095

$2.26 IQD 2,963

72.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 IQD 1,933

$2.33 IQD 3,051

-36.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.80 IQD 10.2K

$6.70 IQD 8,771

16.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.52 IQD 686

$0.69 IQD 910

-24.64%

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

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

7.44%

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

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

-3.09%

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

$175 IQD 229.8K

$99.0 IQD 129.6K

77.23%

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

$26.25 IQD 34.4K

$17.92 IQD 23.5K

46.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.78 IQD 52.1K

$29.42 IQD 38.5K

35.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.63 IQD 54.5K

$36.11 IQD 47.3K

15.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.62 IQD 24.4K

$16.91 IQD 22.1K

10.11%

Cinema Ticket

$7.79 IQD 10.2K

$11.43 IQD 15.0K

-31.85%

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

$167 IQD 218.5K

$272 IQD 356.0K

-38.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,567 IQD 4.7M

$3,300 IQD 4.3M

8.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.85 IQD 37.8K

$33.41 IQD 43.7K

-13.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.96 IQD 40.5K

$48.81 IQD 63.9K

-36.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.7 IQD 86.0K

$81.6 IQD 106.8K

-19.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.80 IQD 57.3K

$78.2 IQD 102.4K

-43.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$555 IQD 727.0K

$240 IQD 314.5K

131.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$325 IQD 425.5K

$176 IQD 231.1K

84.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$836 IQD 1.1M

$586 IQD 766.7K

42.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$591 IQD 774.1K

$348 IQD 456.0K

69.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,872 IQD 5.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,452 IQD 1.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$627 IQD 820.4K

$233 IQD 305.4K

168.60%

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 13, 2026

Last update for Sinjar: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $555 in Baghdad and $240 in Sinjar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 169% 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 in Baghdad vs $23 in Sinjar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $192 vs $187 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 22% 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.

Baghdad pays 169% more on average, 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: $555 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 11% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $167 in Baghdad versus $272 in Sinjar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $858 in Sinjar versus $1,046 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 22% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.