Cost of Living Comparison Between Pakistan and Iraq Cost of Living Comparison Between Pakistan and Iraq

Name: Iraq
Address: IQ

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $392 in Pakistan versus $761 in Iraq.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $592 in Pakistan versus $1,168 in Iraq.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $792 in Pakistan versus $1,575 in Iraq.

Living in Pakistan costs about 48% less than in Iraq on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Pakistan 71% lower, Iraq 43% lower.

Internal cost variation is higher in Iraq: monthly costs span $535 to $1,074, compared to $289–$533 in Pakistan. City choice carries more weight in Iraq.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.75 PKR 488

$4.62 IQD 6,049

-62.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.30 PKR 3,421

$23.22 IQD 30.4K

-47.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.12 PKR 1,147

$6.17 IQD 8,081

-33.23%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 PKR 488

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.18 PKR 1,161

Cappuccino

$1.72 PKR 479

$2.24 IQD 2,936

-23.21%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.6

$0.42 IQD 549

-21.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.2

$0.17 IQD 227

23.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 IQD 2,951

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 IQD 3,574

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 PKR 227

$1.23 IQD 1,611

-33.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 PKR 152

$0.82 IQD 1,073

-32.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 PKR 325

$1.58 IQD 2,065

-25.95%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.79 IQD 2,346

-32.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.92 PKR 1,645

$4.98 IQD 6,517

18.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.91 PKR 810

$4.11 IQD 5,376

-29.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.14 PKR 1,151

$12.42 IQD 16.3K

-66.67%

Apples (1kg)

$1.06 PKR 294

$1.04 IQD 1,356

1.92%

Banana (1kg)

$0.62 PKR 172

$1.13 IQD 1,475

-45.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.76 PKR 213

$1.05 IQD 1,373

-27.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 PKR 147

$0.68 IQD 895

-22.06%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.62 IQD 807

-38.71%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 134

$0.65 IQD 852

-26.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 PKR 106

$0.66 IQD 865

-42.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.51 IQD 672

-23.53%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.99 PKR 552

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 PKR 295

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 PKR 558

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.04 PKR 567

$2.00 IQD 2,624

2.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.92 IQD 15.6K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 IQD 2,435

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 IQD 2,834

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 56.5

$0.40 IQD 521

-50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.26 PKR 2,020

$32.71 IQD 42.8K

-77.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 PKR 252

$2.35 IQD 3,073

-61.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.52 PKR 146

$1.74 IQD 2,273

-70.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.74 PKR 484

$6.10 IQD 7,990

-71.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 268

$0.60 IQD 781

60.00%

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

$17.4K PKR 4.8M

$18.3K IQD 24.0M

-5.06%

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

$23.5K PKR 6.5M

$19.9K IQD 26.0M

18.05%

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

$111 PKR 30.9K

$98.4 IQD 128.9K

12.79%

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

$4.55 PKR 1,266

$19.08 IQD 25.0K

-76.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.24 PKR 4,236

$32.47 IQD 42.5K

-53.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.26 PKR 3,686

$34.81 IQD 45.6K

-61.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.49 PKR 2,360

$14.82 IQD 19.4K

-42.71%

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 PKR 1,191

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

-44.92%

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

$38.97 PKR 10.8K

$134 IQD 174.8K

-70.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,177 PKR 327.3K

$2,580 IQD 3.4M

-54.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.65 PKR 4,352

$22.33 IQD 29.2K

-29.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.01 PKR 6,398

$26.27 IQD 34.4K

-12.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.5 PKR 20.2K

$57.6 IQD 75.4K

25.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.10 PKR 8,925

$39.99 IQD 52.4K

-19.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 30.8K

$300 IQD 392.7K

-63.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.4 PKR 18.5K

$198 IQD 258.8K

-66.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$271 PKR 75.5K

$547 IQD 716.9K

-50.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$166 PKR 46.0K

$376 IQD 493.0K

-56.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$987 PKR 274.5K

$1,635 IQD 2.1M

-39.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$517 PKR 143.8K

$779 IQD 1.0M

-33.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$184 PKR 51.0K

$576 IQD 754.6K

-68.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.97

8.23

130.50%

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

Last update for Pakistan: June 6, 2026

Last update for Iraq: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $78.0 in Pakistan, $255 in Iraq. Capital cities: $201 in Islamabad vs $553 in Baghdad.

National salary averages: $183 in Pakistan, $557 in Iraq. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 227% higher in Iraq.

Dining out costs 118% more in Iraq.

Public transport is 371% more expensive in Iraq.

Salaries are 204% higher in Iraq, giving Iraq stronger purchasing power.

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

Pakistan vs Iraq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

At $805 per month in Iraq and $411 in Pakistan, there's a 96% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.

Pakistan is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.

Rent in Iraq beats Pakistan across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.

In Pakistan, $1,000 covers most cities easily. In Iraq, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.

It depends on what you're after. Pakistan wins on affordability; Iraq may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.