Cost of Living Comparison Between Mashhad and Baghdad Cost of Living Comparison Between Mashhad and Baghdad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $846 in Mashhad versus $1,074 in Baghdad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,280 in Mashhad versus $1,573 in Baghdad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,715 in Mashhad versus $2,073 in Baghdad.

Living in Mashhad costs roughly 21% less than in Baghdad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mashhad 37% lower, Baghdad 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.27 IQD 6,898

$5.27 IQD 6,895

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.40 IQD 47.7K

$36.86 IQD 48.3K

-1.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 IQD 10.3K

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

0.77%

Cappuccino

$2.95 IQD 3,858

$2.98 IQD 3,909

-1.01%

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

$0.37 IQD 483

$0.39 IQD 512

-5.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 234

$0.17 IQD 216

5.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.50 IQD 4,577

$3.38 IQD 4,429

3.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 IQD 3,648

$2.89 IQD 3,785

-3.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 IQD 1,741

$1.30 IQD 1,702

2.31%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 IQD 1,111

$0.83 IQD 1,087

2.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 IQD 2,151

$1.67 IQD 2,181

-1.80%

Eggs

$0.88 IQD 1,146

$1.79 IQD 2,343

-50.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.55 IQD 5,952

$4.52 IQD 5,918

0.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.98 IQD 2,591

$4.84 IQD 6,342

-59.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.91 IQD 3,815

$14.04 IQD 18.4K

-79.27%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 IQD 1,346

$1.28 IQD 1,680

-19.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 IQD 1,588

$1.15 IQD 1,504

5.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,332

$1.04 IQD 1,363

-1.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.72 IQD 944

$0.70 IQD 914

2.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 894

$0.69 IQD 897

-1.45%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 836

$0.62 IQD 813

3.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 IQD 410

$0.67 IQD 883

-53.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 234

$0.63 IQD 824

-71.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.82 IQD 1,076

$2.13 IQD 2,786

-61.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.74 IQD 18.0K

$13.64 IQD 17.9K

0.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 IQD 2,319

$1.79 IQD 2,348

-1.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 IQD 2,739

$2.15 IQD 2,812

-2.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 478

$0.76 IQD 993

-52.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.92 IQD 40.5K

$28.16 IQD 36.9K

9.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.74 IQD 4,891

$3.78 IQD 4,954

-1.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 IQD 1,942

$1.53 IQD 1,999

-3.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

$7.54 IQD 9,868

2.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 IQD 752

$0.57 IQD 750

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

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

-0.29%

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

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

-2.57%

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

$175 IQD 228.7K

$181 IQD 236.7K

-3.39%

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

$25.69 IQD 33.6K

$25.64 IQD 33.6K

0.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.27 IQD 54.0K

$40.76 IQD 53.4K

1.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.23 IQD 47.4K

$41.00 IQD 53.7K

-11.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.85 IQD 22.1K

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

-9.21%

Cinema Ticket

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

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

$163 IQD 212.9K

$166 IQD 217.8K

-2.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,529 IQD 4.6M

$3,523 IQD 4.6M

0.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.31 IQD 37.1K

$28.27 IQD 37.0K

0.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.46 IQD 39.9K

$30.19 IQD 39.5K

0.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.1 IQD 85.2K

$63.3 IQD 82.9K

2.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.88 IQD 57.5K

$43.71 IQD 57.2K

0.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$243 IQD 318.3K

$553 IQD 724.7K

-56.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 IQD 233.8K

$320 IQD 418.5K

-44.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$579 IQD 758.4K

$818 IQD 1.1M

-29.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$349 IQD 457.4K

$583 IQD 763.6K

-40.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,017 IQD 5.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,614 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$648 IQD 848.7K

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 Mashhad: June 7, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $243 in Mashhad and $553 in Baghdad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $36.00 in Mashhad vs $37.00 in Baghdad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $131 vs $190 per month, with Mashhad 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

Mashhad vs Baghdad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mashhad wins on cost – living expenses run 27% lower than in Baghdad. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mashhad the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,269 in Mashhad and $1,610 in Baghdad to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $243 in Mashhad versus $553 in Baghdad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Mashhad runs roughly 10% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $163 in Mashhad versus $166 in Baghdad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $846 in Mashhad versus $1,074 in Baghdad, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mashhad but tight or insufficient in Baghdad. The gap between the two cities makes Mashhad 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.

Safety-wise, Mashhad and Baghdad are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Mashhad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.