Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Iraq and Canada

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.

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

How much you'll spend in Iraq and in Canada

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
🍽 Eating Out
Iraq
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.87 IQD 5,843
$18.16 CA$25.40
-78.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.69 IQD 29.7K
$71.2 CA$99.6
-72.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.54 IQD 9,879
$10.81 CA$15.12
-39.50%
Cappuccino
$2.43 IQD 3,673
$3.78 CA$5.28
-35.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41 IQD 614
$2.11 CA$2.96
-80.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17 IQD 262
$1.66 CA$2.32
-89.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.39 IQD 5,119
$5.62 CA$7.86
-39.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 IQD 4,923
$5.72 CA$8.00
-43.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iraq
Canada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.01 IQD 1,520
$2.17 CA$3.04
-53.46%
White Bread (500g)
$0.69 IQD 1,048
$2.60 CA$3.64
-73.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 IQD 2,083
$3.65 CA$5.11
-62.19%
Eggs
$1.56 IQD 2,357
$3.63 CA$5.07
-57.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.06 IQD 6,133
$10.76 CA$15.06
-62.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.70 IQD 5,593
$11.90 CA$16.64
-68.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.26 IQD 17.0K
$15.42 CA$21.57
-26.98%
Apples (1kg)
$0.92 IQD 1,396
$4.03 CA$5.63
-77.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.00 IQD 1,507
$1.38 CA$1.94
-27.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.89 IQD 1,343
$3.88 CA$5.42
-77.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.60 IQD 913
$4.08 CA$5.71
-85.29%
Potato (1kg)
$0.58 IQD 879
$2.57 CA$3.59
-77.43%
Onion (1kg)
$0.57 IQD 862
$2.48 CA$3.46
-77.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.53 IQD 801
$2.65 CA$3.70
-80.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44 IQD 670
$1.71 CA$2.40
-74.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.69 IQD 2,555
$14.32 CA$20.03
-88.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.22 IQD 15.4K
$13.49 CA$18.86
-24.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65 IQD 2,498
$2.84 CA$3.97
-41.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82 IQD 2,755
$3.30 CA$4.62
-44.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Iraq
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 IQD 514
$2.55 CA$3.57
-86.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.96 IQD 30.1K
$71.9 CA$101
-72.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.03 IQD 3,067
$3.18 CA$4.45
-36.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.47 IQD 2,219
$1.54 CA$2.15
-4.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.20 IQD 7,858
$26.69 CA$37.33
-80.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.56 IQD 852
$1.24 CA$1.74
-54.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.7K IQD 25.3M
$27.9K CA$39.0K
-39.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.6K IQD 25.1M
$21.1K CA$29.5K
-21.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iraq
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 IQD 145.6K
$147 CA$206
-34.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.50 IQD 20.4K
$41.80 CA$58.5
-67.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.17 IQD 44.0K
$60.2 CA$84.2
-51.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iraq
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.82 IQD 46.5K
$39.01 CA$54.6
-20.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.41 IQD 24.8K
$19.06 CA$26.66
-13.90%
Cinema Ticket
$6.94 IQD 10.5K
$11.21 CA$15.68
-38.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iraq
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$158 IQD 238.0K
$721 CA$1,009
-78.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,605 IQD 3.9M
$14.8K CA$20.8K
-82.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iraq
Canada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.03 IQD 28.7K
$55.3 CA$77.3
-65.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.52 IQD 35.5K
$38.95 CA$54.5
-39.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$52.2 IQD 78.8K
$87.4 CA$122
-40.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.65 IQD 58.4K
$101 CA$142
-61.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iraq
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$273 IQD 411.7K
$1,290 CA$1,805
-78.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$187 IQD 282.3K
$1,130 CA$1,581
-83.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$508 IQD 767.8K
$2,036 CA$2,848
-75.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$358 IQD 540.2K
$1,731 CA$2,421
-79.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,491 IQD 2.3M
$4,769 CA$6,670
-68.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$685 IQD 1.0M
$3,730 CA$5,217
-81.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iraq
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$492 IQD 743.4K
$3,070 CA$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.
Accommodation & Living
Iraq
$187
Canada
$1.1K 505% $943
Groceries & Markets
Iraq
$153
Canada
$371 142% $218
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iraq
$139
Canada
$249 79.3% $110
Eating Out
Iraq
$106
Canada
$278 163% $172
Clothing & Footwear
Iraq
$60
Canada
$127 112% $67
Sport & Entertainment
Iraq
$45
Canada
$61 37.4% $17
Getting Around
Iraq
$31
Canada
$93 203% $62

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.

Good to know
🇮🇶 Iraq
🇨🇦 Canada
🕒 Local time
05:56 5:56 AM
22:56 10:56 PM
7 h behind Iraq
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
38,274,618
36,991,981
💱 Currency
Iraqi Dinar IQD ع.د
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to IQD – Iraqi Dinar Converter

Iraqi Dinar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 1,510 IQD (10,000 IQD = 6.62 USD). 1 EUR = 1,681 IQD (10,000 IQD = 5.95 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.715 USD). 1 EUR = 1.56 CAD (1 CAD = 0.642 EUR).

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

Iraq vs other spots: cost of living compared

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