Cost of Living Comparison Between Canada and Iraq Cost of Living Comparison Between Canada and Iraq

Name: Iraq
Address: IQ

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,217 per month in Canada vs $561 in Iraq, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,254 per month in Canada vs $864 in Iraq, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,291 per month in Canada vs $1,166 in Iraq, rent included.

The cost of living in Canada is about 295% higher than in Iraq on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Canada sits 61% above the global median, while Iraq is 59% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.28 CA$25.35

$4.51 IQD 5,902

305.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.2 CA$98.8

$22.77 IQD 29.8K

212.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.96 CA$15.20

$7.44 IQD 9,743

47.31%

Cappuccino

$3.95 CA$5.47

$2.75 IQD 3,597

43.64%

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

$2.07 CA$2.88

$0.42 IQD 551

392.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 CA$2.42

$0.24 IQD 315

625.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.93 CA$8.23

$3.84 IQD 5,028

54.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.69 CA$7.89

$3.86 IQD 5,060

47.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 CA$3.09

$1.14 IQD 1,497

95.61%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 CA$3.76

$0.85 IQD 1,112

218.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.72 CA$5.16

$1.52 IQD 1,987

144.74%

Eggs

$3.61 CA$5.01

$1.73 IQD 2,271

108.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.81 CA$14.99

$4.85 IQD 6,352

122.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.22 CA$16.95

$4.26 IQD 5,573

186.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.68 CA$21.75

$12.93 IQD 16.9K

21.27%

Apples (1kg)

$4.25 CA$5.89

$1.05 IQD 1,373

304.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 CA$1.98

$1.13 IQD 1,480

26.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.02 CA$5.57

$0.96 IQD 1,263

318.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.09 CA$5.67

$0.67 IQD 871

510.45%

Potato (1kg)

$2.68 CA$3.72

$0.68 IQD 886

294.12%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 CA$3.40

$0.61 IQD 792

301.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.67 CA$3.70

$0.67 IQD 880

298.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 CA$2.50

$0.51 IQD 666

252.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.46 CA$20.05

$1.87 IQD 2,450

673.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.58 CA$18.84

$11.95 IQD 15.7K

13.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 CA$3.94

$1.98 IQD 2,594

43.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 CA$4.52

$2.11 IQD 2,769

54.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.46 CA$3.41

$0.39 IQD 511

530.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 CA$104

$26.00 IQD 34.0K

189.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.15 CA$4.37

$2.26 IQD 2,955

39.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 CA$2.14

$1.66 IQD 2,175

-7.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.55 CA$38.21

$5.97 IQD 7,817

361.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 CA$1.61

$0.66 IQD 860

75.76%

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

$28.4K CA$39.3K

$16.9K IQD 22.2M

67.42%

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

$19.5K CA$27.0K

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

1.87%

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

$155 CA$215

$113 IQD 148.2K

36.84%

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

$43.47 CA$60.3

$15.84 IQD 20.7K

174.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.4 CA$83.8

$33.79 IQD 44.2K

78.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.15 CA$57.1

$35.74 IQD 46.8K

15.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.79 CA$27.45

$18.36 IQD 24.0K

7.79%

Cinema Ticket

$11.53 CA$15.98

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

48.20%

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

$786 CA$1,089

$171 IQD 224.2K

358.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K CA$20.6K

$2,756 IQD 3.6M

437.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.0 CA$76.3

$21.41 IQD 28.0K

156.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.25 CA$57.2

$27.13 IQD 35.5K

52.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.1 CA$122

$59.7 IQD 78.1K

47.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 CA$147

$44.36 IQD 58.1K

138.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,295 CA$1,797

$308 IQD 403.0K

320.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,168 CA$1,619

$210 IQD 275.6K

454.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,044 CA$2,835

$551 IQD 722.0K

270.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,779 CA$2,467

$400 IQD 524.4K

344.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,786 CA$6,638

$1,557 IQD 2.0M

207.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,973 CA$5,510

$789 IQD 1.0M

403.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,078 CA$4,270

$582 IQD 762.0K

429.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.86

6.32

-23.10%

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

Last update for Canada: September 8, 2026

Last update for Iraq: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,228 in Canada vs $133 in Iraq. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,496 in Ottawa and $566 in Baghdad.

Average salary: $2,981 in Canada vs $551 in Iraq. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 823% higher in Canada.

Dining out costs 230% more in Canada.

Public transport is 445% more expensive in Canada.

Salaries are 441% higher in Canada, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Canada.

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

Canada vs Iraq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Iraq is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 317% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in Canada, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Canada consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Iraq, contributing to the overall 317% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$1,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Iraq, but in Canada it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Iraq is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.