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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,323 per month in Canada vs $762 in Iraq, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,377 per month in Canada vs $1,166 in Iraq, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,431 per month in Canada vs $1,570 in Iraq, rent included.

Canada costs about 205% more than Iraq on average — the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Canada sits 73% above the global median, while Iraq is 43% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Canada has a wider regional cost range ($1,344$3,069) than Iraq ($535$1,074), so location matters more when choosing where to live in Canada.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Canada
Iraq
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.33 CA$25.11
$4.67 IQD 6,114
292.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.4 CA$99.2
$22.62 IQD 29.6K
219.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.87 CA$14.89
$6.22 IQD 8,146
74.76%
Cappuccino
$3.72 CA$5.10
$2.34 IQD 3,059
58.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 CA$2.87
$0.39 IQD 505
438.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 CA$2.31
$0.19 IQD 247
784.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.99 CA$8.20
$2.22 IQD 2,904
169.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.73 CA$7.85
$2.62 IQD 3,430
118.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Canada
Iraq
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.22 CA$3.04
$1.23 IQD 1,614
80.49%
White Bread (500g)
$2.80 CA$3.83
$0.82 IQD 1,073
241.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.66 CA$5.02
$1.55 IQD 2,024
136.13%
Eggs
$3.52 CA$4.82
$1.80 IQD 2,360
95.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.33 CA$15.53
$5.15 IQD 6,741
120.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.52 CA$17.16
$4.13 IQD 5,415
203.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.15 CA$20.75
$12.18 IQD 16.0K
24.38%
Apples (1kg)
$4.25 CA$5.83
$1.06 IQD 1,391
300.94%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 CA$2.07
$1.17 IQD 1,527
29.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.96 CA$5.42
$1.00 IQD 1,306
296.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.19 CA$5.75
$0.69 IQD 909
507.25%
Potato (1kg)
$2.75 CA$3.77
$0.61 IQD 803
350.82%
Onion (1kg)
$2.73 CA$3.74
$0.65 IQD 855
320.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.57 CA$3.52
$0.65 IQD 850
295.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 CA$2.56
$0.55 IQD 722
240.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.67 CA$20.10
$1.91 IQD 2,501
668.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.25 CA$18.15
$12.06 IQD 15.8K
9.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.91 CA$3.99
$1.77 IQD 2,324
64.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 CA$4.56
$2.26 IQD 2,961
47.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Canada
Iraq
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.64 CA$3.61
$0.39 IQD 512
576.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.7 CA$106
$33.19 IQD 43.5K
133.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.37 CA$4.61
$2.31 IQD 3,026
45.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.47 CA$2.02
$1.75 IQD 2,292
-16.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.78 CA$39.43
$6.16 IQD 8,063
367.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 CA$1.57
$0.59 IQD 774
94.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K CA$34.1K
$18.3K IQD 24.0M
35.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K CA$27.8K
$20.1K IQD 26.4M
0.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Canada
Iraq
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$156 CA$214
$99.9 IQD 130.8K
56.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.08 CA$63.1
$19.71 IQD 25.8K
133.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.4 CA$85.4
$32.89 IQD 43.1K
89.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Canada
Iraq
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.98 CA$60.3
$34.48 IQD 45.2K
27.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.92 CA$24.56
$14.75 IQD 19.3K
21.49%
Cinema Ticket
$11.43 CA$15.66
$7.48 IQD 9,802
52.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Canada
Iraq
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$815 CA$1,117
$134 IQD 175.3K
509.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.3K CA$16.8K
$2,613 IQD 3.4M
369.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Canada
Iraq
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.9 CA$76.6
$22.02 IQD 28.8K
153.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.52 CA$56.9
$26.23 IQD 34.4K
58.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.7 CA$122
$57.6 IQD 75.4K
54.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 CA$150
$40.28 IQD 52.8K
171.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Canada
Iraq
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,379 CA$1,890
$300 IQD 392.5K
360.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,212 CA$1,661
$194 IQD 253.8K
525.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,160 CA$2,960
$557 IQD 729.3K
288.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,866 CA$2,556
$376 IQD 492.5K
396.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,998 CA$6,847
$1,528 IQD 2.0M
226.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,001 CA$5,481
$757 IQD 991.4K
428.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Canada
Iraq
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,031 CA$4,153
$563 IQD 737.2K
438.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.33
8.23
-23.09%

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

Last update for Canada: April 27, 2026

Last update for Iraq: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,283 in Canada vs $254 in Iraq. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,475 in Ottawa and $557 in Baghdad.

Average salary: $3,008 in Canada vs $557 in Iraq. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 405% higher in Canada.

Dining out costs 183% more in Canada.

Public transport is 100% more expensive in Canada.

Salaries are 440% higher in Canada, giving Canada stronger purchasing power.

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
Is Canada more expensive than Iraq?
Iraq is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 174% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Canada, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Canada consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Iraq, contributing to the overall 174% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Canada or Iraq?
$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.
Should I move to Canada or Iraq?
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.

Canada vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar countries