Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdadi and Erbil Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdadi and Erbil

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $737 per month in Baghdadi vs $1,017 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,137 per month in Baghdadi vs $1,518 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,537 per month in Baghdadi vs $2,019 in Erbil, rent included.

Baghdadi is about 28% cheaper than Erbil, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Baghdadi and Erbil are more affordable than the global median – Baghdadi 45% lower, Erbil 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.88 IQD 6,388

$7.59 IQD 9,938

-35.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.69 IQD 21.9K

$22.90 IQD 30.0K

-27.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.90 IQD 9,042

$8.65 IQD 11.3K

-20.23%

Cappuccino

$1.76 IQD 2,308

$3.25 IQD 4,260

-45.85%

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

$0.42 IQD 549

$0.52 IQD 676

-19.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 IQD 313

$0.20 IQD 261

20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 IQD 3,827

$1.95 IQD 2,555

49.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 IQD 3,735

$2.04 IQD 2,675

39.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 IQD 1,490

$1.32 IQD 1,725

-13.64%

White Bread (500g)

$0.63 IQD 826

$0.81 IQD 1,062

-22.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 IQD 2,935

$1.80 IQD 2,357

24.44%

Eggs

$1.69 IQD 2,219

$1.91 IQD 2,505

-11.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.74 IQD 7,517

$7.50 IQD 9,816

-23.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.38 IQD 5,735

$4.82 IQD 6,315

-9.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.05 IQD 11.9K

$14.10 IQD 18.5K

-35.82%

Apples (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,273

$1.18 IQD 1,551

-17.80%

Banana (1kg)

$0.98 IQD 1,288

$1.15 IQD 1,500

-14.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,328

$1.14 IQD 1,494

-11.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 IQD 744

$0.80 IQD 1,045

-28.75%

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 IQD 737

$0.66 IQD 863

-15.15%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 829

$0.77 IQD 1,002

-18.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 IQD 920

$0.77 IQD 1,008

-9.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 IQD 629

$0.55 IQD 721

-12.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.80 IQD 2,357

$2.74 IQD 3,594

-34.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.12 IQD 19.8K

$12.38 IQD 16.2K

22.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 IQD 2,385

$1.37 IQD 1,794

32.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 IQD 2,826

$2.00 IQD 2,619

8.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 477

$0.59 IQD 768

-38.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.64 IQD 40.1K

$34.99 IQD 45.8K

-12.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.31 IQD 3,030

$2.25 IQD 2,942

2.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 IQD 1,932

$2.29 IQD 2,993

-35.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.98 IQD 7,835

$6.85 IQD 8,966

-12.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 IQD 740

$0.64 IQD 839

-10.94%

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

$19.3K IQD 25.2M

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

-0.36%

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

$20.2K IQD 26.4M

$20.7K IQD 27.2M

-2.83%

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

$77.4 IQD 101.4K

$101 IQD 132.2K

-23.32%

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

$17.78 IQD 23.3K

$17.35 IQD 22.7K

2.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.54 IQD 45.2K

$30.25 IQD 39.6K

14.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.46 IQD 47.7K

$72.1 IQD 94.4K

-49.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.04 IQD 22.3K

$11.54 IQD 15.1K

47.66%

Cinema Ticket

$7.75 IQD 10.2K

$11.28 IQD 14.8K

-31.29%

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

$149 IQD 194.9K

$271 IQD 354.5K

-45.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,218 IQD 4.2M

$3,274 IQD 4.3M

-1.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.30 IQD 35.7K

$32.30 IQD 42.3K

-15.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.13 IQD 32.9K

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

-49.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.7 IQD 79.5K

$81.1 IQD 106.1K

-25.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.54 IQD 54.4K

$77.2 IQD 101.0K

-46.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$242 IQD 317.1K

$425 IQD 556.0K

-42.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 IQD 237.7K

$279 IQD 365.3K

-34.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 IQD 765.4K

$740 IQD 969.0K

-21.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$345 IQD 452.2K

$491 IQD 643.3K

-29.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,524 IQD 2.0M

$1,098 IQD 1.4M

38.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$506 IQD 662.5K

$646 IQD 845.4K

-21.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$498 IQD 652.7K

$591 IQD 773.3K

-15.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

14.33

-60.43%

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

Last update for Baghdadi: June 8, 2026

Last update for Erbil: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $242 in Baghdadi versus $425 in Erbil. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 18% higher in Erbil, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Baghdadi versus $23.00 in Erbil. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $173 vs $195 – making Baghdadi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Baghdadi vs Erbil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Erbil is pricier by about 38%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,106 per month in Baghdadi and $1,525 in Erbil. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Baghdadi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $737 in Baghdadi and $1,017 in Erbil. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 14% less in Baghdadi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Baghdadi, where all-in costs run around $737, than in Erbil at $1,017. In Baghdadi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Erbil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Baghdadi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Baghdadi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Erbil makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.