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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $753 per month in Baghdadi vs $1,043 in Erbil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,140 per month in Baghdadi vs $1,545 in Erbil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,526 per month in Baghdadi vs $2,046 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 43% lower, Erbil 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.07 IQD 6,644

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

-35.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.69 IQD 21.9K

$23.11 IQD 30.3K

-27.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.03 IQD 9,209

$9.01 IQD 11.8K

-21.98%

Cappuccino

$1.71 IQD 2,235

$3.24 IQD 4,240

-47.22%

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

$0.43 IQD 562

$0.49 IQD 640

-12.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 IQD 342

$0.22 IQD 288

18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 IQD 3,840

$1.96 IQD 2,562

49.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 IQD 3,808

$2.16 IQD 2,824

34.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 IQD 1,490

$1.31 IQD 1,718

-12.98%

White Bread (500g)

$0.67 IQD 879

$0.79 IQD 1,034

-15.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 IQD 2,929

$1.87 IQD 2,450

19.79%

Eggs

$1.69 IQD 2,215

$1.95 IQD 2,557

-13.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.05 IQD 7,920

$7.26 IQD 9,502

-16.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.43 IQD 5,798

$4.69 IQD 6,144

-5.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.22 IQD 12.1K

$14.08 IQD 18.4K

-34.52%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,337

$1.15 IQD 1,502

-11.30%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,275

$1.18 IQD 1,547

-17.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,323

$1.13 IQD 1,480

-10.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 IQD 695

$0.75 IQD 982

-29.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.57 IQD 747

$0.72 IQD 948

-20.83%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 832

$0.76 IQD 990

-15.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 IQD 857

$0.76 IQD 1,001

-14.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 IQD 675

$0.56 IQD 738

-7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.72 IQD 2,255

$2.66 IQD 3,486

-35.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.22 IQD 19.9K

$12.28 IQD 16.1K

23.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 IQD 2,425

$1.44 IQD 1,880

28.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 IQD 2,708

$1.94 IQD 2,538

6.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 480

$0.59 IQD 767

-37.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.42 IQD 41.1K

$34.79 IQD 45.6K

-9.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,944

$2.27 IQD 2,971

-0.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,925

$2.32 IQD 3,033

-36.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.02 IQD 7,879

$7.05 IQD 9,233

-14.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 IQD 748

$0.64 IQD 837

-10.94%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.8M

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

0.20%

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

$19.6K IQD 25.7M

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

-4.60%

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

$76.3 IQD 99.9K

$101 IQD 132.5K

-24.59%

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

$17.46 IQD 22.9K

$17.79 IQD 23.3K

-1.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.09 IQD 45.9K

$29.56 IQD 38.7K

18.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.50 IQD 47.8K

$73.8 IQD 96.7K

-50.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.50 IQD 21.6K

$11.76 IQD 15.4K

40.31%

Cinema Ticket

$7.44 IQD 9,746

$11.25 IQD 14.7K

-33.87%

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

$153 IQD 200.0K

$269 IQD 351.6K

-43.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,291 IQD 4.3M

$3,330 IQD 4.4M

-1.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.23 IQD 35.7K

$32.93 IQD 43.1K

-17.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.11 IQD 32.9K

$49.13 IQD 64.3K

-48.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.4 IQD 79.1K

$80.7 IQD 105.7K

-25.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.99 IQD 53.7K

$77.9 IQD 102.0K

-47.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$240 IQD 313.6K

$436 IQD 571.5K

-45.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 IQD 230.6K

$275 IQD 360.4K

-36.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$590 IQD 772.5K

$739 IQD 968.0K

-20.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$348 IQD 455.1K

$496 IQD 649.8K

-29.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,528 IQD 2.0M

$1,089 IQD 1.4M

40.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$492 IQD 643.7K

$653 IQD 855.1K

-24.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$509 IQD 665.9K

$580 IQD 759.9K

-12.37%

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Erbil: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $240 in Baghdadi versus $436 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 14% 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: $175 vs $194 – 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 39%, 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 $1,129 per month in Baghdadi and $1,565 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 $753 in Baghdadi and $1,043 in Erbil. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 11% 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 $753, than in Erbil at $1,043. 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.