Cost of Living Comparison Between Iraq and SpainCost of Living Comparison Between Iraq and Spain
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $561 in Iraq versus $1,689 in Spain.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $864 in Iraq versus $2,496 in Spain.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,166 in Iraq versus $3,303 in Spain.
🌍Living in Iraq costs about 67% less than in Spain on average.
📊Iraq (59% below) and Spain (22% above) straddle the global median.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Iraq
Spain
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.51IQD 5,902
$17.71€15.27
-74.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.77IQD 29.8K
$57.6€49.61
-60.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.44IQD 9,743
$11.81€10.18
-37.00%
Cappuccino
$2.75IQD 3,597
$2.43€2.10
13.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42IQD 551
$2.76€2.38
-84.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24IQD 315
$1.84€1.59
-86.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.84IQD 5,028
$3.52€3.03
9.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.86IQD 5,060
$4.16€3.58
-7.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iraq
Spain
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14IQD 1,497
$1.21€1.04
-5.79%
White Bread(500g)
$0.85IQD 1,112
$1.54€1.32
-44.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.52IQD 1,987
$1.64€1.41
-7.32%
Eggs
$1.73IQD 2,271
$3.59€3.10
-51.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.85IQD 6,352
$14.81€12.77
-67.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.26IQD 5,573
$8.49€7.32
-49.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.93IQD 16.9K
$16.68€14.38
-22.48%
Apples(1kg)
$1.05IQD 1,373
$2.53€2.18
-58.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.13IQD 1,480
$2.09€1.80
-45.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.96IQD 1,263
$2.13€1.84
-54.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.67IQD 871
$2.55€2.20
-73.73%
Potato(1kg)
$0.68IQD 886
$1.82€1.57
-62.64%
Onion(1kg)
$0.61IQD 792
$2.00€1.72
-69.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67IQD 880
$1.37€1.18
-51.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51IQD 666
$0.81€0.70
-37.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.87IQD 2,450
$6.71€5.79
-72.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.95IQD 15.7K
$5.64€4.87
111.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98IQD 2,594
$1.29€1.11
53.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11IQD 2,769
$2.10€1.81
0.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Iraq
Spain
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39IQD 511
$1.76€1.51
-77.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.00IQD 34.0K
$34.25€29.52
-24.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.26IQD 2,955
$4.55€3.92
-50.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.66IQD 2,175
$1.47€1.27
12.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.97IQD 7,817
$25.66€22.12
-76.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.66IQD 860
$1.79€1.54
-63.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.9KIQD 22.2M
$36.4K€31.4K
-53.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1KIQD 25.0M
$30.6K€26.4K
-37.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iraq
Spain
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$113IQD 148.2K
$152€131
-25.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.84IQD 20.7K
$18.49€15.94
-14.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.79IQD 44.2K
$33.57€28.94
0.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iraq
Spain
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.74IQD 46.8K
$47.38€40.84
-24.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.36IQD 24.0K
$15.56€13.41
17.99%
Cinema Ticket
$7.78IQD 10.2K
$9.96€8.59
-21.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iraq
Spain
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$171IQD 224.2K
$548€473
-68.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,756IQD 3.6M
$10.8K€9,343
-74.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iraq
Spain
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.41IQD 28.0K
$90.1€77.6
-76.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.13IQD 35.5K
$37.31€32.16
-27.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.7IQD 78.1K
$92.0€79.3
-35.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$44.36IQD 58.1K
$111€96.1
-60.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iraq
Spain
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$308IQD 403.0K
$1,049€905
-70.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$210IQD 275.6K
$836€720
-74.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$551IQD 722.0K
$1,663€1,433
-66.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$400IQD 524.4K
$1,250€1,078
-67.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,557IQD 2.0M
$4,240€3,655
-63.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$789IQD 1.0M
$2,711€2,337
-70.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iraq
Spain
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$582IQD 762.0K
$2,021€1,742
-71.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.32
3.28
92.68%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Iraq: September 5, 2026
Last update for Spain: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $133 in Iraq, $931 in Spain. Capital cities: $566 in Baghdad vs $1,577 in Madrid.
💰National salary averages: $551 in Iraq, $2,035 in Spain. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 600% higher in Spain.
⭐Dining out costs 195% more in Spain.
⭐Public transport is 182% more expensive in Spain.
⭐Salaries are 269% higher in Spain, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Spain.
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 Spain: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How does the cost of living in Iraq compare to the cost in Spain?
At $562 per month in Iraq and $1,823 in Spain, there's a 224% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
How do daily expenses compare in Iraq vs Spain?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Iraq: 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.
Is rent more expensive in Iraq or in Spain?
Rent in Spain is consistently higher than in Iraq across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Can you live in both Iraq and Spain on $1,000 per month?
In Iraq, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in Spain it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Which country is better for expats: Iraq or Spain?
It depends on what you're after: Iraq wins on affordability; Spain may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.