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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $743 per month in Baghdadi vs $1,019 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,118 per month in Baghdadi vs $1,524 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,492 per month in Baghdadi vs $2,029 in Erbil, rent included.

Baghdadi is about 27% cheaper than Erbil, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Baghdadi and Erbil are more affordable than the global median – Baghdadi 44% lower, Erbil 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.03 IQD 6,587

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

-35.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.32 IQD 22.7K

$22.99 IQD 30.1K

-24.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.91 IQD 9,055

$8.97 IQD 11.7K

-22.97%

Cappuccino

$1.75 IQD 2,286

$3.25 IQD 4,251

-46.15%

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

$0.42 IQD 553

$0.48 IQD 630

-12.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 IQD 314

$0.22 IQD 289

9.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.98 IQD 3,904

$2.01 IQD 2,632

48.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 IQD 3,658

$2.04 IQD 2,671

36.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 IQD 1,432

$1.32 IQD 1,726

-17.42%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 IQD 819

$0.85 IQD 1,115

-27.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.29 IQD 2,996

$1.81 IQD 2,368

26.52%

Eggs

$1.76 IQD 2,309

$1.98 IQD 2,589

-11.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.76 IQD 7,544

$7.44 IQD 9,743

-22.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.53 IQD 5,929

$4.75 IQD 6,228

-4.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 IQD 12.3K

$13.99 IQD 18.3K

-32.67%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 IQD 1,346

$1.15 IQD 1,509

-10.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,328

$1.16 IQD 1,513

-12.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,330

$1.13 IQD 1,482

-9.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 IQD 691

$0.81 IQD 1,061

-34.57%

Potato (1kg)

$0.54 IQD 707

$0.71 IQD 935

-23.94%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 884

$0.76 IQD 996

-11.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 IQD 835

$0.76 IQD 1,001

-15.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 IQD 631

$0.53 IQD 690

-9.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.77 IQD 2,316

$2.76 IQD 3,609

-35.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.64 IQD 17.9K

$12.29 IQD 16.1K

10.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,349

$1.42 IQD 1,862

26.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 IQD 2,843

$2.00 IQD 2,626

8.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 480

$0.56 IQD 727

-33.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.34 IQD 41.1K

$34.51 IQD 45.2K

-9.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.34 IQD 3,067

$2.28 IQD 2,991

2.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 IQD 2,010

$2.29 IQD 2,996

-33.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.98 IQD 7,837

$6.92 IQD 9,058

-13.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 699

$0.70 IQD 910

-24.29%

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

$19.2K IQD 25.2M

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

1.07%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.0M

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

-4.20%

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

$77.0 IQD 100.8K

$100 IQD 131.3K

-23.18%

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

$17.90 IQD 23.4K

$17.57 IQD 23.0K

1.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.87 IQD 45.7K

$29.61 IQD 38.8K

17.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.02 IQD 48.5K

$74.2 IQD 97.2K

-50.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.75 IQD 21.9K

$11.82 IQD 15.5K

41.71%

Cinema Ticket

$7.75 IQD 10.2K

$11.57 IQD 15.2K

-33.02%

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

$153 IQD 200.8K

$264 IQD 345.6K

-41.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,309 IQD 4.3M

$3,284 IQD 4.3M

0.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.55 IQD 36.1K

$32.96 IQD 43.2K

-16.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.49 IQD 33.4K

$49.58 IQD 64.9K

-48.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.3 IQD 80.3K

$83.8 IQD 109.7K

-26.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.54 IQD 54.4K

$76.7 IQD 100.5K

-45.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$246 IQD 321.6K

$430 IQD 562.7K

-42.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 IQD 231.7K

$281 IQD 367.6K

-36.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$574 IQD 752.2K

$716 IQD 938.3K

-19.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$345 IQD 452.0K

$486 IQD 637.1K

-29.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,479 IQD 1.9M

$1,111 IQD 1.5M

33.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$502 IQD 658.1K

$652 IQD 853.9K

-22.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$491 IQD 643.6K

$576 IQD 754.0K

-14.64%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Erbil: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $246 in Baghdadi versus $430 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 17% 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: $171 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 37%, 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 $1,115 per month in Baghdadi and $1,528 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 $743 in Baghdadi and $1,019 in Erbil. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 10% 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 $743, than in Erbil at $1,019. 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.