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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,043 per month in Erbil vs $753 in Baghdadi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,545 per month in Erbil vs $1,140 in Baghdadi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,046 per month in Erbil vs $1,526 in Baghdadi, rent included.

Erbil costs about 39% more than Baghdadi, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Erbil and Baghdadi are more affordable than the global median – Erbil 22% lower, Baghdadi 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

$5.07 IQD 6,644

54.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.11 IQD 30.3K

$16.69 IQD 21.9K

38.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.01 IQD 11.8K

$7.03 IQD 9,209

28.17%

Cappuccino

$3.24 IQD 4,240

$1.71 IQD 2,235

89.47%

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

$0.49 IQD 640

$0.43 IQD 562

13.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 288

$0.26 IQD 342

-15.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 IQD 2,562

$2.93 IQD 3,840

-33.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 IQD 2,824

$2.91 IQD 3,808

-25.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,718

$1.14 IQD 1,490

14.91%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,034

$0.67 IQD 879

17.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 IQD 2,450

$2.24 IQD 2,929

-16.52%

Eggs

$1.95 IQD 2,557

$1.69 IQD 2,215

15.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.26 IQD 9,502

$6.05 IQD 7,920

20.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 IQD 6,144

$4.43 IQD 5,798

5.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.08 IQD 18.4K

$9.22 IQD 12.1K

52.71%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,502

$1.02 IQD 1,337

12.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,547

$0.97 IQD 1,275

21.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,480

$1.01 IQD 1,323

11.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 982

$0.53 IQD 695

41.51%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 IQD 948

$0.57 IQD 747

26.32%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 990

$0.64 IQD 832

18.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 IQD 1,001

$0.65 IQD 857

16.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 738

$0.52 IQD 675

7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.66 IQD 3,486

$1.72 IQD 2,255

54.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.28 IQD 16.1K

$15.22 IQD 19.9K

-19.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 IQD 1,880

$1.85 IQD 2,425

-22.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 IQD 2,538

$2.07 IQD 2,708

-6.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 767

$0.37 IQD 480

59.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.79 IQD 45.6K

$31.42 IQD 41.1K

10.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.27 IQD 2,971

$2.25 IQD 2,944

0.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.32 IQD 3,033

$1.47 IQD 1,925

57.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.05 IQD 9,233

$6.02 IQD 7,879

17.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 IQD 837

$0.57 IQD 748

12.28%

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

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

$19.0K IQD 24.8M

-0.20%

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

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

$19.6K IQD 25.7M

4.83%

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

$101 IQD 132.5K

$76.3 IQD 99.9K

32.61%

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

$17.79 IQD 23.3K

$17.46 IQD 22.9K

1.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.56 IQD 38.7K

$35.09 IQD 45.9K

-15.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.8 IQD 96.7K

$36.50 IQD 47.8K

102.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.76 IQD 15.4K

$16.50 IQD 21.6K

-28.73%

Cinema Ticket

$11.25 IQD 14.7K

$7.44 IQD 9,746

51.21%

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

$269 IQD 351.6K

$153 IQD 200.0K

75.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,330 IQD 4.4M

$3,291 IQD 4.3M

1.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.93 IQD 43.1K

$27.23 IQD 35.7K

20.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.13 IQD 64.3K

$25.11 IQD 32.9K

95.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 IQD 105.7K

$60.4 IQD 79.1K

33.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 IQD 102.0K

$40.99 IQD 53.7K

90.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$436 IQD 571.5K

$240 IQD 313.6K

82.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$275 IQD 360.4K

$176 IQD 230.6K

56.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$739 IQD 968.0K

$590 IQD 772.5K

25.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$496 IQD 649.8K

$348 IQD 455.1K

42.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,089 IQD 1.4M

$1,528 IQD 2.0M

-28.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$653 IQD 855.1K

$492 IQD 643.7K

32.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$580 IQD 759.9K

$509 IQD 665.9K

14.11%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Baghdadi: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $436 in Erbil versus $240 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 14% 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: $194 vs $175 – 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 39%, 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 $1,565 per month in Erbil and $1,129 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 $1,043 in Erbil and $753 in Baghdadi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 11% 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 $753, than in Erbil at $1,043. 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.