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: $640 in Mashhad versus $1,143 in Baghdad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $931 in Mashhad versus $1,702 in Baghdad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,223 in Mashhad versus $2,262 in Baghdad.

Living in Mashhad costs roughly 44% less than in Baghdad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mashhad 53% lower, Baghdad 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.67 IQD 6,120

$4.91 IQD 6,430

-4.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.11 IQD 44.7K

$34.26 IQD 44.9K

-0.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.65 IQD 10.0K

$7.84 IQD 10.3K

-2.42%

Cappuccino

$3.08 IQD 4,035

$3.08 IQD 4,033

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

$0.40 IQD 519

$0.39 IQD 514

2.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 IQD 312

$0.26 IQD 342

-7.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.88 IQD 5,082

$3.78 IQD 4,956

2.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.89 IQD 5,088

$3.75 IQD 4,907

3.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 IQD 1,371

$1.04 IQD 1,364

0.96%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 IQD 1,076

$0.83 IQD 1,090

-1.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 IQD 2,067

$1.54 IQD 2,015

2.60%

Eggs

$0.81 IQD 1,063

$1.89 IQD 2,479

-57.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.80 IQD 4,980

$3.77 IQD 4,937

0.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.04 IQD 2,676

$4.59 IQD 6,004

-55.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.92 IQD 3,820

$14.44 IQD 18.9K

-79.78%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,325

$1.13 IQD 1,480

-10.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 IQD 1,467

$1.06 IQD 1,390

5.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.98 IQD 1,281

$1.03 IQD 1,345

-4.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 889

$0.74 IQD 968

-8.11%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 873

$0.69 IQD 906

-2.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 837

$0.70 IQD 912

-8.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 IQD 407

$0.64 IQD 838

-51.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 274

$0.69 IQD 907

-69.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.76 IQD 996

$1.78 IQD 2,336

-57.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.55 IQD 17.7K

$13.81 IQD 18.1K

-1.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,799

$2.14 IQD 2,806

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 IQD 2,953

$2.27 IQD 2,977

-0.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 IQD 905

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.15 IQD 30.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,947

$2.23 IQD 2,918

0.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 IQD 1,979

$1.54 IQD 2,021

-1.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.52 IQD 9,851

$7.65 IQD 10.0K

-1.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 IQD 857

$0.62 IQD 806

4.84%

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

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

-2.23%

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

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

-2.09%

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

$215 IQD 281.7K

$213 IQD 279.2K

0.90%

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

$21.21 IQD 27.8K

$21.75 IQD 28.5K

-2.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.34 IQD 55.4K

$41.04 IQD 53.7K

3.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.75 IQD 62.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.22 IQD 27.8K

Cinema Ticket

$10.60 IQD 13.9K

$10.68 IQD 14.0K

-0.75%

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

$165 IQD 216.6K

$169 IQD 221.7K

-2.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,514 IQD 4.6M

$3,468 IQD 4.5M

1.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.67 IQD 38.8K

$30.14 IQD 39.5K

-1.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.11 IQD 49.9K

$38.41 IQD 50.3K

-0.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.5 IQD 97.6K

$73.0 IQD 95.6K

2.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.47 IQD 60.8K

$47.87 IQD 62.7K

-2.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$568 IQD 743.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$351 IQD 459.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$935 IQD 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$692 IQD 905.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,625 IQD 6.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,587 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$615 IQD 805.3K

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 Mashhad: September 13, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $34.00 in Mashhad vs $34.00 in Baghdad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $127 vs $187 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 79% 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 $960 in Mashhad and $1,714 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 47% higher in Baghdad. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $640 per month in Mashhad versus $1,143 in Baghdad – a 79% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $640 in Mashhad versus $1,143 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 79% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.