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: $633 in Kirkuk versus $1,143 in Baghdad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,002 in Kirkuk versus $1,702 in Baghdad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,372 in Kirkuk versus $2,262 in Baghdad.

Living in Kirkuk costs roughly 45% less than in Baghdad, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kirkuk 54% lower, Baghdad 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.18 IQD 5,472

$4.91 IQD 6,430

-14.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.43 IQD 34.6K

$34.26 IQD 44.9K

-22.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.04 IQD 7,911

$7.84 IQD 10.3K

-22.96%

Cappuccino

$2.35 IQD 3,076

$3.08 IQD 4,033

-23.70%

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

$0.39 IQD 516

$0.39 IQD 514

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 IQD 328

$0.26 IQD 342

-3.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.86 IQD 5,054

$3.78 IQD 4,956

2.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 IQD 5,121

$3.75 IQD 4,907

4.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 IQD 1,425

$1.04 IQD 1,364

4.81%

White Bread (500g)

$0.65 IQD 850

$0.83 IQD 1,090

-21.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 IQD 2,031

$1.54 IQD 2,015

0.65%

Eggs

$1.53 IQD 2,002

$1.89 IQD 2,479

-19.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.79 IQD 4,963

$3.77 IQD 4,937

0.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.68 IQD 4,821

$4.59 IQD 6,004

-19.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.80 IQD 16.8K

$14.44 IQD 18.9K

-11.36%

Apples (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,061

$1.13 IQD 1,480

-28.32%

Banana (1kg)

$0.92 IQD 1,208

$1.06 IQD 1,390

-13.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 IQD 1,176

$1.03 IQD 1,345

-12.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 895

$0.74 IQD 968

-8.11%

Potato (1kg)

$0.53 IQD 701

$0.69 IQD 906

-23.19%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 IQD 703

$0.70 IQD 912

-22.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 IQD 804

$0.64 IQD 838

-4.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 IQD 446

$0.69 IQD 907

-50.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.79 IQD 2,343

$1.78 IQD 2,336

0.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.44 IQD 17.6K

$13.81 IQD 18.1K

-2.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 IQD 1,982

$2.14 IQD 2,806

-29.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 IQD 2,469

$2.27 IQD 2,977

-16.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 522

$0.69 IQD 905

-42.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.41 IQD 30.7K

$23.15 IQD 30.3K

1.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,943

$2.23 IQD 2,918

0.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 IQD 1,944

$1.54 IQD 2,021

-3.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.46 IQD 9,764

$7.65 IQD 10.0K

-2.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 IQD 704

$0.62 IQD 806

-12.90%

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

$19.2K IQD 25.1M

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

-0.98%

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

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

-1.10%

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

$53.9 IQD 70.5K

$213 IQD 279.2K

-74.75%

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

$21.46 IQD 28.1K

$21.75 IQD 28.5K

-1.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.64 IQD 55.8K

$41.04 IQD 53.7K

3.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$11.25 IQD 14.7K

$47.75 IQD 62.5K

-76.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.22 IQD 27.8K

Cinema Ticket

$10.62 IQD 13.9K

$10.68 IQD 14.0K

-0.56%

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

$171 IQD 223.5K

$169 IQD 221.7K

0.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,434 IQD 4.5M

$3,468 IQD 4.5M

-0.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.15 IQD 39.5K

$30.14 IQD 39.5K

0.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.18 IQD 25.1K

$38.41 IQD 50.3K

-50.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.2 IQD 97.2K

$73.0 IQD 95.6K

1.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$34.21 IQD 44.8K

$47.87 IQD 62.7K

-28.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$190 IQD 248.7K

$568 IQD 743.5K

-66.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$90.7 IQD 118.8K

$351 IQD 459.9K

-74.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$233 IQD 305.5K

$935 IQD 1.2M

-75.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$225 IQD 294.4K

$692 IQD 905.7K

-67.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$574 IQD 752.2K

$4,625 IQD 6.1M

-87.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$308 IQD 403.0K

$1,587 IQD 2.1M

-80.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$442 IQD 579.2K

$615 IQD 805.3K

-28.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

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

Last update for Kirkuk: September 14, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $190 in Kirkuk and $568 in Baghdad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 39% 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 $34.00 in Baghdad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $162 vs $187 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 81% 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, salaries run 39% lower in Baghdad. 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: $190 in Kirkuk versus $568 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 1% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $171 in Kirkuk versus $169 in Baghdad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $633 in Kirkuk versus $1,143 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 81% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.