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: $851 in Mashhad versus $1,055 in Baghdad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,277 in Mashhad versus $1,565 in Baghdad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,702 in Mashhad versus $2,074 in Baghdad.

Living in Mashhad costs roughly 19% less than in Baghdad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mashhad 36% lower, Baghdad 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.25 IQD 6,877

$5.50 IQD 7,206

-4.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.62 IQD 48.0K

$36.22 IQD 47.4K

1.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

$7.70 IQD 10.1K

0.13%

Cappuccino

$3.05 IQD 3,998

$2.98 IQD 3,903

2.35%

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

$0.37 IQD 482

$0.36 IQD 477

2.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 286

$0.17 IQD 219

29.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.37 IQD 4,410

$3.51 IQD 4,590

-3.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 IQD 3,853

$2.93 IQD 3,839

0.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,715

$1.35 IQD 1,768

-2.96%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 IQD 1,094

$0.78 IQD 1,023

7.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 IQD 2,058

$1.59 IQD 2,076

-1.26%

Eggs

$0.80 IQD 1,045

$1.79 IQD 2,338

-55.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.59 IQD 6,007

$4.58 IQD 5,999

0.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.02 IQD 2,646

$4.81 IQD 6,297

-58.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.01 IQD 3,943

$14.13 IQD 18.5K

-78.70%

Apples (1kg)

$0.99 IQD 1,291

$1.23 IQD 1,612

-19.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,531

$1.21 IQD 1,590

-3.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,275

$1.00 IQD 1,311

-3.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 894

$0.74 IQD 970

-8.11%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 908

$0.65 IQD 854

6.15%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 831

$0.67 IQD 881

-5.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 IQD 374

$0.62 IQD 817

-53.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 262

$0.66 IQD 861

-69.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.82 IQD 1,078

$2.05 IQD 2,690

-60.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.49 IQD 17.7K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 IQD 2,335

$1.79 IQD 2,347

-0.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 IQD 2,716

$2.15 IQD 2,821

-3.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 473

$0.75 IQD 976

-52.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.31 IQD 41.0K

$27.88 IQD 36.5K

12.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.81 IQD 4,988

$3.93 IQD 5,147

-3.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 IQD 1,960

$1.47 IQD 1,922

2.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.55 IQD 9,884

$7.50 IQD 9,826

0.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 IQD 742

$0.56 IQD 740

1.79%

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

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

3.64%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

0.22%

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

$177 IQD 231.6K

$176 IQD 230.7K

0.39%

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

$26.28 IQD 34.4K

$25.81 IQD 33.8K

1.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.96 IQD 53.6K

$41.29 IQD 54.1K

-0.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.46 IQD 47.7K

$42.14 IQD 55.2K

-13.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.72 IQD 21.9K

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

-9.91%

Cinema Ticket

$7.43 IQD 9,735

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

-4.38%

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

$165 IQD 215.8K

$168 IQD 220.3K

-2.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,559 IQD 4.7M

$3,627 IQD 4.7M

-1.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.68 IQD 37.6K

$27.92 IQD 36.6K

2.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.31 IQD 39.7K

$30.46 IQD 39.9K

-0.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.7 IQD 84.7K

$64.9 IQD 85.0K

-0.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.57 IQD 57.1K

$43.79 IQD 57.3K

-0.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$242 IQD 316.9K

$554 IQD 725.1K

-56.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 IQD 238.0K

$321 IQD 419.7K

-43.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$573 IQD 750.4K

$839 IQD 1.1M

-31.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$349 IQD 457.0K

$583 IQD 764.1K

-40.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,745 IQD 6.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,597 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$612 IQD 800.9K

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $242 in Mashhad and $554 in Baghdad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $37.00 in Mashhad vs $36.00 in Baghdad. Groceries flip the comparison at $130 vs $190, with Mashhad cheaper for home cooking.

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 24% 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 $1,277 in Mashhad and $1,582 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: $242 in Mashhad versus $554 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 12% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $165 in Mashhad versus $168 in Baghdad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $851 in Mashhad versus $1,055 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 24% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.