Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Canada and Iraq

For one person, living is cheaper in Iraq: $720 a month against $2,310 in Canada, rent and utilities included – about $19,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Canada
Iraq
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,310
/mo nomad
🇮🇶 Iraq
$720
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Canada and in Iraq

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Canada and in Iraq actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,310 per month in Canada vs $720 in Iraq, rent included.

  • Canada $2,310
  • Iraq $720

A couple spends around $3,356 per month in Canada vs $1,090 in Iraq, rent included.

  • Canada $3,356
  • Iraq $1,090

A family of three spends $4,403 per month in Canada vs $1,460 in Iraq, rent included.

  • Canada $4,403
  • Iraq $1,460

The regional cost range is wider in Canada ($889–$3,737) than in Iraq ($500–$1,048), so city choice matters more there.

The cost of living in Canada is about 221% higher than in Iraq on average.

Canada sits 70% above the global median, while Iraq is 47% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Canada
Iraq
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.16 CA$25.38
$3.87 IQD 5,843
369.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.2 CA$99.5
$19.69 IQD 29.7K
261.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.81 CA$15.11
$6.54 IQD 9,879
65.29%
Cappuccino
$3.78 CA$5.28
$2.43 IQD 3,673
55.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 CA$2.96
$0.41 IQD 614
414.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 CA$2.32
$0.17 IQD 262
876.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.62 CA$7.85
$3.39 IQD 5,119
65.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.72 CA$7.99
$3.26 IQD 4,923
75.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Canada
Iraq
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.17 CA$3.04
$1.01 IQD 1,520
114.85%
White Bread (500g)
$2.60 CA$3.64
$0.69 IQD 1,048
276.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.65 CA$5.11
$1.38 IQD 2,083
164.49%
Eggs
$3.63 CA$5.07
$1.56 IQD 2,357
132.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.76 CA$15.04
$4.06 IQD 6,133
165.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.90 CA$16.63
$3.70 IQD 5,593
221.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.42 CA$21.55
$11.26 IQD 17.0K
36.94%
Apples (1kg)
$4.03 CA$5.63
$0.92 IQD 1,396
338.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 CA$1.94
$1.00 IQD 1,507
38.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.88 CA$5.42
$0.89 IQD 1,343
335.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.08 CA$5.70
$0.60 IQD 913
580.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.57 CA$3.59
$0.58 IQD 879
343.10%
Onion (1kg)
$2.48 CA$3.46
$0.57 IQD 862
335.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.65 CA$3.70
$0.53 IQD 801
400.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 CA$2.40
$0.44 IQD 670
288.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.32 CA$20.01
$1.69 IQD 2,555
747.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.49 CA$18.85
$10.22 IQD 15.4K
32.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.84 CA$3.97
$1.65 IQD 2,498
72.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30 CA$4.62
$1.82 IQD 2,755
81.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Canada
Iraq
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.55 CA$3.57
$0.34 IQD 514
650.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$71.9 CA$101
$19.96 IQD 30.1K
260.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.18 CA$4.44
$2.03 IQD 3,067
56.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.54 CA$2.15
$1.47 IQD 2,219
4.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.69 CA$37.30
$5.20 IQD 7,858
413.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 CA$1.74
$0.56 IQD 852
121.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K CA$39.0K
$16.7K IQD 25.3M
66.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1K CA$29.4K
$16.6K IQD 25.1M
26.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Canada
Iraq
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$147 CA$206
$96.4 IQD 145.6K
52.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.80 CA$58.4
$13.50 IQD 20.4K
209.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.2 CA$84.2
$29.17 IQD 44.0K
106.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Canada
Iraq
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.01 CA$54.5
$30.82 IQD 46.5K
26.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.06 CA$26.64
$16.41 IQD 24.8K
16.15%
Cinema Ticket
$11.21 CA$15.66
$6.94 IQD 10.5K
61.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Canada
Iraq
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$721 CA$1,008
$158 IQD 238.0K
357.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K CA$20.7K
$2,605 IQD 3.9M
469.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Canada
Iraq
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.3 CA$77.2
$19.03 IQD 28.7K
190.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.95 CA$54.4
$23.52 IQD 35.5K
65.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.4 CA$122
$52.2 IQD 78.8K
67.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 CA$142
$38.65 IQD 58.4K
162.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Canada
Iraq
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,290 CA$1,803
$273 IQD 411.7K
373.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,130 CA$1,579
$187 IQD 282.3K
504.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,036 CA$2,845
$508 IQD 767.8K
300.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,731 CA$2,419
$358 IQD 540.2K
383.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,769 CA$6,664
$1,491 IQD 2.3M
219.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,730 CA$5,212
$685 IQD 1.0M
444.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Canada
Iraq
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,070 CA$4,290
$492 IQD 743.4K
523.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.87
6.32
-22.94%

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

Last update for Canada: October 26, 2026

Last update for Iraq: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Canada
$1.1K
Iraq
$187 83.5% $943
Groceries & Markets
Canada
$371
Iraq
$153 58.7% $218
Eating Out
Canada
$278
Iraq
$106 62% $172
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Canada
$249
Iraq
$139 44.2% $110
Clothing & Footwear
Canada
$127
Iraq
$60 52.8% $67
Getting Around
Canada
$93
Iraq
$31 67% $62
Sport & Entertainment
Canada
$61
Iraq
$45 27.2% $17

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,250 in Canada vs $225 in Iraq. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,434 in Ottawa and $537 in Baghdad.

Average salary: $2,968 in Canada vs $491 in Iraq. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 456% higher in Canada.

Dining out costs 191% more in Canada.

Public transport is 128% more expensive in Canada.

Salaries are about 6 times higher in Canada, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Canada.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Canada
🇮🇶 Iraq
🕒 Local time
16:24 4:24 PM
23:24 11:24 PM
7 h ahead of Canada
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
36,991,981
38,274,618
💱 Currency
Iraqi Dinar IQD ع.د
Exchange rates and currency converter

IQD, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.716 USD). 1 EUR = 1.56 CAD (1 CAD = 0.642 EUR).

Iraqi Dinar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 1,510 IQD (10,000 IQD = 6.62 USD). 1 EUR = 1,683 IQD (10,000 IQD = 5.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Canada Iraq 9,390 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Canada
  • Iraq

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 69% lower on average.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Canada: a central one-bedroom averages $1,250 versus $225 in Iraq.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Iraq – part of why living there is about 69% cheaper overall.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Canada or in 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 to Iraq?
Iraq is the budget-friendly choice for expats. 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

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?