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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,019 per month in Erbil vs $743 in Baghdadi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,524 per month in Erbil vs $1,118 in Baghdadi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,029 per month in Erbil vs $1,492 in Baghdadi, rent included.

Erbil costs about 37% more than Baghdadi, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Erbil and Baghdadi are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 24% lower, Baghdadi 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$5.03 IQD 6,588

54.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.99 IQD 30.1K

$17.32 IQD 22.7K

32.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.97 IQD 11.7K

$6.91 IQD 9,057

29.81%

Cappuccino

$3.25 IQD 4,252

$1.75 IQD 2,287

85.71%

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

$0.48 IQD 630

$0.42 IQD 553

14.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 289

$0.24 IQD 314

-8.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 IQD 2,633

$2.98 IQD 3,905

-32.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 IQD 2,671

$2.79 IQD 3,658

-26.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,727

$1.09 IQD 1,432

21.10%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 IQD 1,115

$0.62 IQD 819

37.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.81 IQD 2,368

$2.29 IQD 2,996

-20.96%

Eggs

$1.98 IQD 2,590

$1.76 IQD 2,310

12.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.44 IQD 9,745

$5.76 IQD 7,545

29.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.75 IQD 6,229

$4.53 IQD 5,931

4.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.99 IQD 18.3K

$9.42 IQD 12.3K

48.51%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,509

$1.03 IQD 1,346

11.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,514

$1.01 IQD 1,329

14.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,483

$1.02 IQD 1,330

10.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,061

$0.53 IQD 691

52.83%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 936

$0.54 IQD 707

31.48%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 997

$0.67 IQD 884

13.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 IQD 1,002

$0.64 IQD 835

18.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 690

$0.48 IQD 631

10.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.76 IQD 3,610

$1.77 IQD 2,316

55.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.29 IQD 16.1K

$13.64 IQD 17.9K

-9.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 IQD 1,862

$1.79 IQD 2,349

-20.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 IQD 2,627

$2.17 IQD 2,844

-7.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 IQD 728

$0.37 IQD 480

51.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.51 IQD 45.2K

$31.34 IQD 41.1K

10.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.28 IQD 2,992

$2.34 IQD 3,068

-2.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.29 IQD 2,997

$1.53 IQD 2,011

49.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.92 IQD 9,060

$5.98 IQD 7,839

15.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 IQD 911

$0.53 IQD 699

32.08%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

$19.2K IQD 25.2M

-1.06%

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

$20.8K IQD 27.2M

$19.9K IQD 26.0M

4.39%

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

$100 IQD 131.3K

$77.0 IQD 100.9K

30.17%

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

$17.57 IQD 23.0K

$17.90 IQD 23.5K

-1.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.61 IQD 38.8K

$34.87 IQD 45.7K

-15.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.2 IQD 97.2K

$37.02 IQD 48.5K

100.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.82 IQD 15.5K

$16.75 IQD 21.9K

-29.43%

Cinema Ticket

$11.57 IQD 15.2K

$7.75 IQD 10.2K

49.29%

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

$264 IQD 345.7K

$153 IQD 200.9K

72.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,284 IQD 4.3M

$3,309 IQD 4.3M

-0.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.96 IQD 43.2K

$27.55 IQD 36.1K

19.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.58 IQD 65.0K

$25.49 IQD 33.4K

94.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.8 IQD 109.7K

$61.3 IQD 80.3K

36.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 IQD 100.5K

$41.54 IQD 54.4K

84.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 IQD 562.8K

$246 IQD 321.7K

74.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$281 IQD 367.7K

$177 IQD 231.7K

58.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$716 IQD 938.5K

$574 IQD 752.4K

24.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$486 IQD 637.2K

$345 IQD 452.1K

40.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,111 IQD 1.5M

$1,479 IQD 1.9M

-24.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$652 IQD 854.1K

$502 IQD 658.2K

29.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$576 IQD 754.2K

$491 IQD 643.8K

17.16%

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Baghdadi: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Erbil versus $246 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 17% 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 $171 – 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 37%, 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 $1,528 per month in Erbil and $1,115 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 $1,019 in Erbil and $743 in Baghdadi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 10% 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 $743, than in Erbil at $1,019. 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.