Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Tikrit Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Tikrit

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,074 in Baghdad versus $751 in Tikrit.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Baghdad versus $1,150 in Tikrit.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,073 in Baghdad versus $1,549 in Tikrit.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 43% more expensive than Tikrit, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 20% lower, Tikrit 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.27 IQD 6,895

$4.08 IQD 5,339

29.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.86 IQD 48.3K

$24.79 IQD 32.5K

48.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$6.93 IQD 9,081

12.27%

Cappuccino

$2.98 IQD 3,909

$2.58 IQD 3,384

15.50%

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

$0.39 IQD 512

$0.39 IQD 513

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 216

$0.21 IQD 277

-19.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.38 IQD 4,429

$2.95 IQD 3,865

14.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 IQD 3,785

$2.86 IQD 3,744

1.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 IQD 1,702

$1.37 IQD 1,796

-5.11%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,087

$0.84 IQD 1,094

-1.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 IQD 2,181

$1.65 IQD 2,157

1.21%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,343

$1.79 IQD 2,344

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.52 IQD 5,918

$4.62 IQD 6,044

-2.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.84 IQD 6,342

$4.63 IQD 6,067

4.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.04 IQD 18.4K

$13.08 IQD 17.1K

7.34%

Apples (1kg)

$1.28 IQD 1,680

$1.15 IQD 1,505

11.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,504

$1.16 IQD 1,522

-0.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,363

$1.05 IQD 1,374

-0.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 914

$0.75 IQD 981

-6.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 897

$0.65 IQD 848

6.15%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 813

$0.68 IQD 888

-8.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 IQD 883

$0.66 IQD 865

1.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 IQD 824

$0.56 IQD 732

12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.13 IQD 2,786

$1.94 IQD 2,538

9.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.64 IQD 17.9K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,348

$1.82 IQD 2,385

-1.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,812

$2.14 IQD 2,805

0.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 IQD 993

$0.40 IQD 518

90.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.16 IQD 36.9K

$30.84 IQD 40.4K

-8.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.78 IQD 4,954

$2.23 IQD 2,922

69.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 IQD 1,999

$1.49 IQD 1,948

2.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.54 IQD 9,868

$6.14 IQD 8,041

22.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 IQD 750

$0.56 IQD 735

1.79%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

3.23%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

0.96%

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

$181 IQD 236.7K

$76.6 IQD 100.3K

136.10%

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

$25.64 IQD 33.6K

$17.48 IQD 22.9K

46.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.76 IQD 53.4K

$35.05 IQD 45.9K

16.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.00 IQD 53.7K

$37.03 IQD 48.5K

10.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

$16.76 IQD 22.0K

10.74%

Cinema Ticket

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

$7.75 IQD 10.1K

0.77%

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

$166 IQD 217.8K

$153 IQD 199.9K

8.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,523 IQD 4.6M

$3,246 IQD 4.2M

8.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.27 IQD 37.0K

$26.95 IQD 35.3K

4.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.19 IQD 39.5K

$25.06 IQD 32.8K

20.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.3 IQD 82.9K

$60.1 IQD 78.7K

5.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.71 IQD 57.2K

$41.46 IQD 54.3K

5.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$553 IQD 724.7K

$246 IQD 321.8K

125.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$320 IQD 418.5K

$175 IQD 229.5K

82.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$818 IQD 1.1M

$581 IQD 760.8K

40.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$583 IQD 763.6K

$341 IQD 447.1K

70.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,017 IQD 5.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,614 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$648 IQD 848.7K

$332 IQD 435.1K

95.03%

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 9, 2026

Last update for Tikrit: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $553 in Baghdad and $246 in Tikrit. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 95% 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 $25.00 in Tikrit for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $159 per month, with Tikrit 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 Tikrit: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tikrit wins on cost – living expenses run 43% lower than in Baghdad. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tikrit the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Baghdad pays 95% 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: $553 in Baghdad versus $246 in Tikrit. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Tikrit runs roughly 10% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $166 in Baghdad versus $153 in Tikrit. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $751 in Tikrit versus $1,074 in Baghdad, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Tikrit but tight or insufficient in Baghdad. The gap between the two cities makes Tikrit 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 Tikrit gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.