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.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Iraq and in Canada actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $720 per month in Iraq vs $2,310 in Canada, rent included.
Iraq $720
Canada $2,310
A couple spends around $1,090 per month in Iraq vs $3,356 in Canada, rent included.
Iraq $1,090
Canada $3,356
A family of three spends $1,460 per month in Iraq vs $4,403 in Canada, rent included.
Iraq $1,460
Canada $4,403
📏
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 Iraq is roughly 69% lower than in Canada on average.
📊
Iraq sits 47% below the global median, while Canada is 70% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Iraq
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.87IQD 5,843
$18.16CA$25.40
-78.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.69IQD 29.7K
$71.2CA$99.6
-72.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.54IQD 9,879
$10.81CA$15.12
-39.50%
Cappuccino
$2.43IQD 3,673
$3.78CA$5.28
-35.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41IQD 614
$2.11CA$2.96
-80.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17IQD 262
$1.66CA$2.32
-89.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.39IQD 5,119
$5.62CA$7.86
-39.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26IQD 4,923
$5.72CA$8.00
-43.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iraq
Canada
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.01IQD 1,520
$2.17CA$3.04
-53.46%
White Bread(500g)
$0.69IQD 1,048
$2.60CA$3.64
-73.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38IQD 2,083
$3.65CA$5.11
-62.19%
Eggs
$1.56IQD 2,357
$3.63CA$5.07
-57.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.06IQD 6,133
$10.76CA$15.06
-62.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.70IQD 5,593
$11.90CA$16.64
-68.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.26IQD 17.0K
$15.42CA$21.57
-26.98%
Apples(1kg)
$0.92IQD 1,396
$4.03CA$5.63
-77.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.00IQD 1,507
$1.38CA$1.94
-27.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.89IQD 1,343
$3.88CA$5.42
-77.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.60IQD 913
$4.08CA$5.71
-85.29%
Potato(1kg)
$0.58IQD 879
$2.57CA$3.59
-77.43%
Onion(1kg)
$0.57IQD 862
$2.48CA$3.46
-77.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.53IQD 801
$2.65CA$3.70
-80.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44IQD 670
$1.71CA$2.40
-74.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.69IQD 2,555
$14.32CA$20.03
-88.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.22IQD 15.4K
$13.49CA$18.86
-24.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65IQD 2,498
$2.84CA$3.97
-41.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82IQD 2,755
$3.30CA$4.62
-44.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Iraq
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34IQD 514
$2.55CA$3.57
-86.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.96IQD 30.1K
$71.9CA$101
-72.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.03IQD 3,067
$3.18CA$4.45
-36.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.47IQD 2,219
$1.54CA$2.15
-4.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.20IQD 7,858
$26.69CA$37.33
-80.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.56IQD 852
$1.24CA$1.74
-54.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.7KIQD 25.3M
$27.9KCA$39.0K
-39.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.6KIQD 25.1M
$21.1KCA$29.5K
-21.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iraq
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$96.4IQD 145.6K
$147CA$206
-34.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.50IQD 20.4K
$41.80CA$58.5
-67.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.17IQD 44.0K
$60.2CA$84.2
-51.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iraq
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.82IQD 46.5K
$39.01CA$54.6
-20.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.41IQD 24.8K
$19.06CA$26.66
-13.90%
Cinema Ticket
$6.94IQD 10.5K
$11.21CA$15.68
-38.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iraq
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$158IQD 238.0K
$721CA$1,009
-78.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,605IQD 3.9M
$14.8KCA$20.8K
-82.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iraq
Canada
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.03IQD 28.7K
$55.3CA$77.3
-65.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.52IQD 35.5K
$38.95CA$54.5
-39.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$52.2IQD 78.8K
$87.4CA$122
-40.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.65IQD 58.4K
$101CA$142
-61.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iraq
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$273IQD 411.7K
$1,290CA$1,805
-78.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$187IQD 282.3K
$1,130CA$1,581
-83.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$508IQD 767.8K
$2,036CA$2,848
-75.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$358IQD 540.2K
$1,731CA$2,421
-79.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,491IQD 2.3M
$4,769CA$6,670
-68.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$685IQD 1.0M
$3,730CA$5,217
-81.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iraq
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$492IQD 743.4K
$3,070CA$4,293
-83.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.32
4.87
29.77%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Iraq: October 24, 2026
Last update for Canada: October 26, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Iraq
$187 26%
Canada
$1.1K 48.9% ↑ 505%$943
🛒Groceries & Markets
Iraq
$153 21.3%
Canada
$371 16.1% ↑ 142%$218
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iraq
$139 19.3%
Canada
$249 10.8% ↑ 79.3%$110
🍽Eating Out
Iraq
$106 14.7%
Canada
$278 12% ↑ 163%$172
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Iraq
$60 8.3%
Canada
$127 5.5% ↑ 112%$67
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Iraq
$45 6.2%
Canada
$61 2.7% ↑ 37.4%$17
🚌Getting Around
Iraq
$31 4.3%
Canada
$93 4% ↑ 203%$62
🏠Accommodation & Living
Iraq
$358 24.5%
Canada
$1.7K 39.3% ↑ 384%$1.4K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Iraq
$345 23.7%
Canada
$847 19.2% ↑ 145%$501
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iraq
$153 10.5%
Canada
$291 6.6% ↑ 90.9%$139
🍽Eating Out
Iraq
$303 20.8%
Canada
$918 20.9% ↑ 203%$615
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Iraq
$133 9.1%
Canada
$283 6.4% ↑ 112%$150
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Iraq
$106 7.3%
Canada
$142 3.2% ↑ 34.1%$36
🚌Getting Around
Iraq
$62 4.3%
Canada
$191 4.3% ↑ 208%$129
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $225 in Iraq vs $1,250 in Canada. For reference, capital cities sit at $537 in Baghdad and $1,434 in Ottawa.
💰Average salary: $491 in Iraq vs $2,968 in Canada. 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.
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
Iraq vs Canada: 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.