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: $1,055 in Baghdad versus $751 in Tikrit.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,565 in Baghdad versus $1,152 in Tikrit.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,074 in Baghdad versus $1,553 in Tikrit.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 40% more expensive than in Tikrit, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 21% lower, Tikrit 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.50 IQD 7,206

$3.99 IQD 5,219

37.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.22 IQD 47.4K

$24.41 IQD 32.0K

48.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.70 IQD 10.1K

$6.81 IQD 8,924

13.07%

Cappuccino

$2.98 IQD 3,903

$2.57 IQD 3,362

15.95%

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

$0.36 IQD 477

$0.36 IQD 476

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 219

$0.18 IQD 229

-5.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 IQD 4,590

$2.97 IQD 3,890

18.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 IQD 3,839

$2.95 IQD 3,868

-0.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 IQD 1,768

$1.31 IQD 1,709

3.05%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,023

$0.78 IQD 1,027

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 IQD 2,076

$1.60 IQD 2,098

-0.63%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,338

$1.71 IQD 2,240

4.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.58 IQD 5,999

$4.40 IQD 5,763

4.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.81 IQD 6,296

$4.61 IQD 6,040

4.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.13 IQD 18.5K

$13.41 IQD 17.6K

5.37%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,612

$1.15 IQD 1,510

6.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 IQD 1,590

$1.17 IQD 1,532

3.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 IQD 1,311

$1.05 IQD 1,371

-4.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 970

$0.74 IQD 965

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 854

$0.64 IQD 843

1.56%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 881

$0.66 IQD 868

1.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 817

$0.68 IQD 892

-8.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 861

$0.56 IQD 728

17.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.05 IQD 2,690

$1.96 IQD 2,565

4.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.49 IQD 17.7K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,346

$1.79 IQD 2,349

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,821

$2.17 IQD 2,836

-0.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 IQD 976

$0.40 IQD 519

87.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.88 IQD 36.5K

$30.53 IQD 40.0K

-8.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.93 IQD 5,147

$2.33 IQD 3,051

68.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,922

$1.48 IQD 1,942

-0.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.50 IQD 9,826

$5.91 IQD 7,738

26.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 740

$0.56 IQD 739

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

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

3.96%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

$20.3K IQD 26.5M

-1.74%

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

$176 IQD 230.7K

$76.4 IQD 100.1K

130.53%

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

$25.81 IQD 33.8K

$17.79 IQD 23.3K

45.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.29 IQD 54.1K

$33.93 IQD 44.4K

21.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.14 IQD 55.2K

$36.77 IQD 48.2K

14.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

$16.55 IQD 21.7K

12.15%

Cinema Ticket

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

-0.51%

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

$168 IQD 220.3K

$151 IQD 197.9K

11.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,627 IQD 4.7M

$3,306 IQD 4.3M

9.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.92 IQD 36.6K

$27.51 IQD 36.0K

1.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.46 IQD 39.9K

$25.02 IQD 32.8K

21.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.9 IQD 85.0K

$61.8 IQD 80.9K

5.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.79 IQD 57.3K

$41.18 IQD 53.9K

6.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$554 IQD 725.1K

$238 IQD 312.2K

132.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$321 IQD 419.7K

$182 IQD 238.0K

76.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$839 IQD 1.1M

$571 IQD 747.1K

47.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$583 IQD 764.1K

$339 IQD 444.1K

72.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,745 IQD 6.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,597 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$612 IQD 800.9K

$319 IQD 418.2K

91.49%

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 27, 2026

Last update for Tikrit: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $554 in Baghdad and $238 in Tikrit. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 91% 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: $36.00 in Baghdad vs $24.00 in Tikrit for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $157 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 40% 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.

Average pay runs 91% 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: $554 in Baghdad versus $238 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 $168 in Baghdad versus $151 in Tikrit. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $751 in Tikrit versus $1,055 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 40% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.