Cost of Living Comparison Between Kirkuk and Baghdad Cost of Living Comparison Between Kirkuk and Baghdad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $609 in Kirkuk versus $1,074 in Baghdad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $960 in Kirkuk versus $1,573 in Baghdad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,311 in Kirkuk versus $2,073 in Baghdad.

Living in Kirkuk costs roughly 43% less than in Baghdad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kirkuk 55% lower, Baghdad 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.80 IQD 4,974

$5.27 IQD 6,895

-27.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.74 IQD 33.7K

$36.86 IQD 48.3K

-30.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.76 IQD 7,540

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

-25.96%

Cappuccino

$2.34 IQD 3,064

$2.98 IQD 3,909

-21.48%

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

$0.39 IQD 512

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 235

$0.17 IQD 216

5.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.41 IQD 4,468

$3.38 IQD 4,429

0.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 IQD 3,782

$2.89 IQD 3,785

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 IQD 1,498

$1.30 IQD 1,702

-12.31%

White Bread (500g)

$0.61 IQD 796

$0.83 IQD 1,087

-26.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 IQD 2,182

$1.67 IQD 2,181

Eggs

$1.48 IQD 1,941

$1.79 IQD 2,343

-17.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.58 IQD 5,997

$4.52 IQD 5,918

1.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.85 IQD 3,727

$4.84 IQD 6,342

-41.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.79 IQD 14.1K

$14.04 IQD 18.4K

-23.15%

Apples (1kg)

$0.90 IQD 1,180

$1.28 IQD 1,680

-29.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,334

$1.15 IQD 1,504

-11.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.99 IQD 1,296

$1.04 IQD 1,363

-4.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 843

$0.70 IQD 914

-8.57%

Potato (1kg)

$0.49 IQD 643

$0.69 IQD 897

-28.99%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 IQD 651

$0.62 IQD 813

-19.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 830

$0.67 IQD 883

-5.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.31 IQD 401

$0.63 IQD 824

-50.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.86 IQD 2,440

$2.13 IQD 2,786

-12.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.54 IQD 17.7K

$13.64 IQD 17.9K

-0.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 IQD 2,311

$1.79 IQD 2,348

-1.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 IQD 2,760

$2.15 IQD 2,812

-1.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 IQD 727

$0.76 IQD 993

-26.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.66 IQD 41.5K

$28.16 IQD 36.9K

12.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 IQD 3,832

$3.78 IQD 4,954

-22.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.11 IQD 1,451

$1.53 IQD 1,999

-27.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.64 IQD 10.0K

$7.54 IQD 9,868

1.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 697

$0.57 IQD 750

-7.02%

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

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

2.10%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

-0.10%

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

$52.7 IQD 69.0K

$181 IQD 236.7K

-70.85%

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

$23.40 IQD 30.6K

$25.64 IQD 33.6K

-8.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.76 IQD 50.8K

$40.76 IQD 53.4K

-4.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.67 IQD 19.2K

$41.00 IQD 53.7K

-64.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.09 IQD 22.4K

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

-7.92%

Cinema Ticket

$7.50 IQD 9,819

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

-3.97%

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

$58.8 IQD 77.0K

$166 IQD 217.8K

-64.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$780 IQD 1.0M

$3,523 IQD 4.6M

-77.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.28 IQD 37.0K

$28.27 IQD 37.0K

0.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.17 IQD 39.5K

$30.19 IQD 39.5K

-0.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.14 IQD 30.3K

$63.3 IQD 82.9K

-63.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$14.72 IQD 19.3K

$43.71 IQD 57.2K

-66.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$73.8 IQD 96.7K

$553 IQD 724.7K

-86.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$109 IQD 142.1K

$320 IQD 418.5K

-66.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$113 IQD 147.8K

$818 IQD 1.1M

-86.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$252 IQD 329.5K

$583 IQD 763.6K

-56.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$866 IQD 1.1M

$4,017 IQD 5.3M

-78.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$398 IQD 520.7K

$1,614 IQD 2.1M

-75.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$631 IQD 826.1K

$648 IQD 848.7K

-2.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

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

Last update for Kirkuk: June 6, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $73.8 in Kirkuk and $553 in Baghdad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 3% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $26.00 in Kirkuk vs $37.00 in Baghdad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $157 vs $190 per month, with Kirkuk cheaper across the board.

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

Kirkuk vs Baghdad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kirkuk wins on cost – living expenses run 76% lower than in Baghdad. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kirkuk the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Baghdad earns 3% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $73.8 in Kirkuk versus $553 in Baghdad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Kirkuk runs roughly 12% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $58.8 in Kirkuk versus $166 in Baghdad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $609 in Kirkuk versus $1,074 in Baghdad, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kirkuk but tight or insufficient in Baghdad. The gap between the two cities makes Kirkuk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Kirkuk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 76% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.