Cost of Living Comparison Between Iraq and Pakistan Cost of Living Comparison Between Iraq and Pakistan

Name: Pakistan
Address: PK

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $760 in Iraq versus $391 in Pakistan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,167 in Iraq versus $590 in Pakistan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,574 in Iraq versus $788 in Pakistan.

Living in Iraq is roughly 94% more expensive than in Pakistan on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Iraq 43% lower, Pakistan 71% lower.

Internal cost variation is higher in Iraq: monthly costs span $521 to $1,055, compared to $294–$532 in Pakistan. City choice carries more weight in Iraq.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 IQD 6,157

$1.74 PKR 484

170.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.21 IQD 30.4K

$12.15 PKR 3,371

91.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.49 IQD 8,494

$4.31 PKR 1,196

50.58%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.73 PKR 479

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.05 PKR 1,123

Cappuccino

$2.25 IQD 2,950

$1.80 PKR 500

25.00%

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

$0.39 IQD 506

$0.34 PKR 94.0

14.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 282

$0.23 PKR 64.1

-4.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.26 IQD 2,956

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.62 IQD 3,431

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 IQD 1,675

$0.76 PKR 211

68.42%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 IQD 1,072

$0.55 PKR 151

49.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 IQD 2,045

$1.18 PKR 327

32.20%

Eggs

$1.73 IQD 2,268

$1.16 PKR 321

49.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.89 IQD 6,402

$5.84 PKR 1,620

-16.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.15 IQD 5,429

$2.91 PKR 806

42.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.49 IQD 16.4K

$4.15 PKR 1,151

200.96%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 IQD 1,345

$1.06 PKR 294

-2.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,541

$0.61 PKR 170

93.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,322

$0.80 PKR 222

26.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 896

$0.49 PKR 137

38.78%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 858

$0.39 PKR 107

69.23%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 853

$0.51 PKR 142

27.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 810

$0.38 PKR 107

63.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 721

$0.39 PKR 107

41.03%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.98 PKR 549

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 PKR 295

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 PKR 559

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.93 IQD 2,531

$1.97 PKR 547

-2.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.15 IQD 15.9K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 IQD 2,328

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 IQD 2,890

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 477

$0.17 PKR 46.85

111.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.91 IQD 43.1K

$6.96 PKR 1,932

372.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.23 IQD 2,923

$0.84 PKR 232

165.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 IQD 2,244

$0.57 PKR 157

200.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.99 IQD 7,841

$1.81 PKR 504

230.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 IQD 774

$0.96 PKR 268

-38.54%

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

$18.2K IQD 23.8M

$17.5K PKR 4.8M

3.95%

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

$20.1K IQD 26.4M

$23.6K PKR 6.6M

-14.70%

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

$98.1 IQD 128.4K

$110 PKR 30.4K

-10.57%

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

$19.26 IQD 25.2K

$4.74 PKR 1,315

306.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.85 IQD 41.7K

$15.16 PKR 4,208

110.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.85 IQD 45.6K

$13.16 PKR 3,654

164.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.57 IQD 19.1K

$8.95 PKR 2,483

62.79%

Cinema Ticket

$7.75 IQD 10.2K

$4.12 PKR 1,145

88.11%

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

$133 IQD 174.4K

$39.53 PKR 11.0K

236.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,672 IQD 3.5M

$1,143 PKR 317.3K

133.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.72 IQD 29.8K

$15.62 PKR 4,335

45.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.90 IQD 33.9K

$23.22 PKR 6,444

11.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.9 IQD 74.5K

$72.4 PKR 20.1K

-21.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.49 IQD 51.7K

$32.81 PKR 9,106

20.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$303 IQD 397.0K

$111 PKR 30.7K

173.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$198 IQD 259.8K

$67.8 PKR 18.8K

192.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$549 IQD 718.8K

$274 PKR 76.1K

100.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$378 IQD 494.8K

$163 PKR 45.3K

131.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,559 IQD 2.0M

$984 PKR 273.1K

58.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$789 IQD 1.0M

$502 PKR 139.2K

57.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$562 IQD 736.3K

$186 PKR 51.7K

201.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.23

18.97

-56.62%

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

Last update for Iraq: July 25, 2026

Last update for Pakistan: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $254 in Iraq, $78.0 in Pakistan. Capital cities: $554 in Baghdad vs $197 in Islamabad.

National salary averages: $562 in Iraq, $181 in Pakistan. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 226% higher in Iraq.

Dining out costs 118% more in Iraq.

Public transport is 357% more expensive in Iraq.

Salaries are 210% higher in Iraq, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Iraq.

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 Pakistan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

At $788 per month in Iraq and $413 in Pakistan, there's a 91% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.

Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Pakistan: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.

Rent in Iraq is consistently higher than in Pakistan across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.

In Pakistan, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in Iraq it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.

It depends on what you're after: Pakistan wins on affordability; Iraq may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.