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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Erbil vs $737 in Baghdadi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,518 per month in Erbil vs $1,137 in Baghdadi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,019 per month in Erbil vs $1,537 in Baghdadi, rent included.

Erbil costs about 38% more than Baghdadi, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Erbil and Baghdadi are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 24% lower, Baghdadi 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.59 IQD 9,938

$4.88 IQD 6,388

55.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.90 IQD 30.0K

$16.69 IQD 21.9K

37.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.65 IQD 11.3K

$6.90 IQD 9,042

25.36%

Cappuccino

$3.25 IQD 4,260

$1.76 IQD 2,308

84.66%

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

$0.52 IQD 676

$0.42 IQD 549

23.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 261

$0.24 IQD 313

-16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 IQD 2,555

$2.92 IQD 3,827

-33.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 IQD 2,675

$2.85 IQD 3,735

-28.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,725

$1.14 IQD 1,490

15.79%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 IQD 1,062

$0.63 IQD 826

28.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 IQD 2,357

$2.24 IQD 2,935

-19.64%

Eggs

$1.91 IQD 2,505

$1.69 IQD 2,219

13.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.50 IQD 9,816

$5.74 IQD 7,517

30.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.82 IQD 6,315

$4.38 IQD 5,735

10.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.10 IQD 18.5K

$9.05 IQD 11.9K

55.80%

Apples (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,551

$0.97 IQD 1,273

21.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,500

$0.98 IQD 1,288

17.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,494

$1.01 IQD 1,328

12.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.80 IQD 1,045

$0.57 IQD 744

40.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 863

$0.56 IQD 737

17.86%

Onion (1kg)

$0.77 IQD 1,002

$0.63 IQD 829

22.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 IQD 1,008

$0.70 IQD 920

10.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 721

$0.48 IQD 629

14.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.74 IQD 3,594

$1.80 IQD 2,357

52.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.38 IQD 16.2K

$15.12 IQD 19.8K

-18.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 IQD 1,794

$1.82 IQD 2,385

-24.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 IQD 2,619

$2.16 IQD 2,826

-7.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 768

$0.36 IQD 477

63.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.99 IQD 45.8K

$30.64 IQD 40.1K

14.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,942

$2.31 IQD 3,030

-2.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.29 IQD 2,993

$1.48 IQD 1,932

54.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.85 IQD 8,966

$5.98 IQD 7,835

14.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 IQD 839

$0.57 IQD 740

12.28%

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

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

$19.3K IQD 25.2M

0.36%

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

$20.7K IQD 27.2M

$20.2K IQD 26.4M

2.91%

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

$101 IQD 132.2K

$77.4 IQD 101.4K

30.41%

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

$17.35 IQD 22.7K

$17.78 IQD 23.3K

-2.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.25 IQD 39.6K

$34.54 IQD 45.2K

-12.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.1 IQD 94.4K

$36.46 IQD 47.7K

97.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.54 IQD 15.1K

$17.04 IQD 22.3K

-32.28%

Cinema Ticket

$11.28 IQD 14.8K

$7.75 IQD 10.2K

45.55%

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

$271 IQD 354.5K

$149 IQD 194.9K

81.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,274 IQD 4.3M

$3,218 IQD 4.2M

1.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.30 IQD 42.3K

$27.30 IQD 35.7K

18.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

$25.13 IQD 32.9K

97.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 IQD 106.1K

$60.7 IQD 79.5K

33.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.2 IQD 101.0K

$41.54 IQD 54.4K

85.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$425 IQD 556.0K

$242 IQD 317.1K

75.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$279 IQD 365.3K

$182 IQD 237.7K

53.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$740 IQD 969.0K

$584 IQD 765.4K

26.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$491 IQD 643.3K

$345 IQD 452.2K

42.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,098 IQD 1.4M

$1,524 IQD 2.0M

-27.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$646 IQD 845.4K

$506 IQD 662.5K

27.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 IQD 773.3K

$498 IQD 652.7K

18.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.33

5.67

152.73%

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

Last update for Erbil: June 6, 2026

Last update for Baghdadi: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $425 in Erbil versus $242 in Baghdadi. 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 18% 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 $23.00 in Erbil versus $17.00 in Baghdadi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $195 vs $173 – 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

Erbil vs Baghdadi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Erbil is pricier by about 38%, 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 $1,525 per month in Erbil and $1,106 in Baghdadi. 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 $1,017 in Erbil and $737 in Baghdadi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 14% 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 $737, than in Erbil at $1,017. 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.