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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $472 per month in Baghdadi vs $1,101 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $766 per month in Baghdadi vs $1,630 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,059 per month in Baghdadi vs $2,158 in Erbil, rent included.

Baghdadi is about 57% cheaper than Erbil, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Baghdadi and Erbil are more affordable than the global median – Baghdadi 65% lower, Erbil 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.66 IQD 10.0K

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

-0.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.10 IQD 18.5K

$44.38 IQD 58.1K

-68.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.42 IQD 11.0K

Cappuccino

$1.85 IQD 2,420

$3.84 IQD 5,027

-51.82%

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

$0.38 IQD 501

$1.03 IQD 1,353

-63.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 273

$0.44 IQD 580

-52.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 IQD 7,920

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.71 IQD 6,166

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 IQD 1,331

$1.27 IQD 1,657

-19.69%

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 IQD 643

$0.83 IQD 1,083

-40.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.68 IQD 3,511

$1.68 IQD 2,197

59.52%

Eggs

$1.84 IQD 2,412

$1.79 IQD 2,345

2.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.77 IQD 8,859

$8.06 IQD 10.6K

-16.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.29 IQD 4,311

$5.78 IQD 7,574

-43.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.09 IQD 10.6K

$14.84 IQD 19.4K

-45.49%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 IQD 1,348

$1.13 IQD 1,483

-8.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,331

$1.10 IQD 1,443

-7.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,333

$1.23 IQD 1,612

-17.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.24 IQD 314

$0.82 IQD 1,068

-70.73%

Potato (1kg)

$0.24 IQD 314

$0.70 IQD 911

-65.71%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 822

$0.69 IQD 905

-8.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 IQD 686

$0.74 IQD 969

-29.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 IQD 755

$0.55 IQD 723

5.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.01 IQD 1,324

$2.52 IQD 3,294

-59.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.10 IQD 19.8K

$12.54 IQD 16.4K

20.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 IQD 2,217

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 IQD 2,735

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 IQD 375

$0.59 IQD 772

-50.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.81 IQD 57.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.96 IQD 6,501

$1.94 IQD 2,544

155.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 IQD 2,381

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.94 IQD 9,094

$6.56 IQD 8,588

5.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.42 IQD 546

$0.67 IQD 882

-37.31%

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

$18.3K IQD 24.0M

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

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

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

$49.70 IQD 65.1K

$128 IQD 167.0K

-61.02%

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

$13.95 IQD 18.3K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.76 IQD 19.3K

$28.49 IQD 37.3K

-48.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.3 IQD 77.7K

$66.0 IQD 86.4K

-10.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.62 IQD 19.1K

Cinema Ticket

$8.10 IQD 10.6K

$11.67 IQD 15.3K

-30.59%

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

$78.6 IQD 102.9K

$309 IQD 405.1K

-74.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,014 IQD 6.6M

$3,144 IQD 4.1M

59.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.04 IQD 19.7K

$31.32 IQD 41.0K

-51.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.84 IQD 58.7K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$24.60 IQD 32.2K

$69.3 IQD 90.7K

-64.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.57 IQD 51.8K

$67.4 IQD 88.3K

-41.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$153 IQD 200.3K

$460 IQD 602.5K

-66.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$49.10 IQD 64.3K

$297 IQD 389.4K

-83.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$457 IQD 598.6K

$740 IQD 969.5K

-38.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$152 IQD 199.1K

$432 IQD 566.1K

-64.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,507 IQD 2.0M

$1,092 IQD 1.4M

37.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$499 IQD 652.8K

$665 IQD 870.8K

-25.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$491 IQD 643.1K

$614 IQD 803.9K

-20.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.53

295.26%

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

Last update for Baghdadi: September 14, 2026

Last update for Erbil: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $153 in Baghdadi versus $460 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 25% 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 $14.00 in Baghdadi versus $44.00 in Erbil. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $152 vs $204 – 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 133%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $709 per month in Baghdadi and $1,652 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Baghdadi and $44.00 in Erbil. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 35% more in Erbil, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Baghdadi, where all-in costs run around $472, than in Erbil at $1,101. 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.