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: $839 in Mashhad versus $1,074 in Baghdad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,267 in Mashhad versus $1,581 in Baghdad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,695 in Mashhad versus $2,088 in Baghdad.

Living in Mashhad costs roughly 22% 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

$5.42 IQD 7,106

$5.26 IQD 6,893

3.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.49 IQD 47.8K

$36.91 IQD 48.4K

-1.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.47 IQD 9,782

$7.46 IQD 9,779

0.13%

Cappuccino

$3.00 IQD 3,930

$3.01 IQD 3,940

-0.33%

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

$0.36 IQD 473

$0.36 IQD 477

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 277

$0.18 IQD 230

16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.52 IQD 4,610

$3.51 IQD 4,597

0.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 IQD 3,830

$2.83 IQD 3,707

3.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 IQD 1,803

$1.36 IQD 1,785

1.47%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,027

$0.80 IQD 1,042

-2.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 IQD 2,149

$1.61 IQD 2,103

1.86%

Eggs

$0.88 IQD 1,155

$1.72 IQD 2,248

-48.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 IQD 5,876

$4.40 IQD 5,760

2.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.05 IQD 2,689

$4.87 IQD 6,374

-57.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.09 IQD 4,042

$13.88 IQD 18.2K

-77.74%

Apples (1kg)

$0.98 IQD 1,280

$1.28 IQD 1,678

-23.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 IQD 1,585

$1.16 IQD 1,523

4.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,329

$1.01 IQD 1,323

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 936

$0.70 IQD 921

1.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 852

$0.68 IQD 895

-4.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 878

$0.63 IQD 831

6.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 IQD 376

$0.63 IQD 824

-53.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.19 IQD 246

$0.66 IQD 867

-71.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.78 IQD 1,028

$2.07 IQD 2,714

-62.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.47 IQD 17.7K

$13.58 IQD 17.8K

-0.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 IQD 2,438

$1.84 IQD 2,413

1.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 IQD 2,755

$2.07 IQD 2,712

1.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 519

$0.74 IQD 964

-45.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.56 IQD 41.3K

$28.32 IQD 37.1K

11.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.73 IQD 4,893

$3.90 IQD 5,114

-4.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,931

$1.47 IQD 1,923

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.50 IQD 9,829

$7.61 IQD 9,966

-1.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 740

$0.53 IQD 701

5.66%

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

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

$19.9K IQD 26.0M

-0.34%

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

$20.1K IQD 26.4M

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

0.76%

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

$177 IQD 232.0K

$179 IQD 234.4K

-1.01%

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

$26.01 IQD 34.1K

$25.76 IQD 33.7K

0.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.80 IQD 53.5K

$40.94 IQD 53.6K

-0.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.02 IQD 47.2K

$41.54 IQD 54.4K

-13.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 IQD 22.2K

$18.57 IQD 24.3K

-8.56%

Cinema Ticket

$7.51 IQD 9,834

$7.66 IQD 10.0K

-1.96%

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

$166 IQD 217.9K

$168 IQD 220.4K

-1.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,534 IQD 4.6M

$3,533 IQD 4.6M

0.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.46 IQD 37.3K

$28.32 IQD 37.1K

0.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.31 IQD 39.7K

$30.84 IQD 40.4K

-1.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.9 IQD 85.1K

$65.0 IQD 85.2K

-0.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.00 IQD 56.3K

$43.91 IQD 57.5K

-2.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$239 IQD 313.3K

$557 IQD 730.1K

-57.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 IQD 236.9K

$324 IQD 424.9K

-44.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$581 IQD 761.8K

$822 IQD 1.1M

-29.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$339 IQD 444.7K

$594 IQD 778.1K

-42.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,867 IQD 5.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,428 IQD 1.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$622 IQD 814.6K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $239 in Mashhad and $557 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 $132 vs $189 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 28% 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 $1,259 in Mashhad and $1,611 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: $239 in Mashhad versus $557 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 11% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $166 in Mashhad versus $168 in Baghdad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $839 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 28% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.