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: $391 in Pakistan versus $760 in Iraq.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $590 in Pakistan versus $1,167 in Iraq.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $788 in Pakistan versus $1,574 in Iraq.

Living in Pakistan costs about 49% 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 $521 to $1,055, compared to $294–$532 in Pakistan. City choice carries more weight in Iraq.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.74 PKR 484

$4.70 IQD 6,157

-62.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.15 PKR 3,371

$23.21 IQD 30.4K

-47.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.31 PKR 1,196

$6.49 IQD 8,494

-33.59%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.73 PKR 479

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.05 PKR 1,123

Cappuccino

$1.80 PKR 500

$2.25 IQD 2,950

-20.00%

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

$0.34 PKR 94.0

$0.39 IQD 506

-12.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.1

$0.22 IQD 282

4.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.26 IQD 2,956

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.62 IQD 3,431

Milk (1 liter)

$0.76 PKR 211

$1.28 IQD 1,675

-40.63%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 PKR 151

$0.82 IQD 1,072

-32.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 PKR 327

$1.56 IQD 2,045

-24.36%

Eggs

$1.16 PKR 321

$1.73 IQD 2,268

-32.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.84 PKR 1,620

$4.89 IQD 6,402

19.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.91 PKR 806

$4.15 IQD 5,429

-29.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.15 PKR 1,151

$12.49 IQD 16.4K

-66.77%

Apples (1kg)

$1.06 PKR 294

$1.03 IQD 1,345

2.91%

Banana (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 170

$1.18 IQD 1,541

-48.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.80 PKR 222

$1.01 IQD 1,322

-20.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 137

$0.68 IQD 896

-27.94%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 107

$0.66 IQD 858

-40.91%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 142

$0.65 IQD 853

-21.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 PKR 107

$0.62 IQD 810

-38.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 PKR 107

$0.55 IQD 721

-29.09%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.98 PKR 549

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 PKR 295

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 PKR 559

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 PKR 547

$1.93 IQD 2,531

2.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.15 IQD 15.9K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 IQD 2,328

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 IQD 2,890

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.85

$0.36 IQD 477

-52.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.96 PKR 1,932

$32.91 IQD 43.1K

-78.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 PKR 232

$2.23 IQD 2,923

-62.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 PKR 157

$1.71 IQD 2,244

-66.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 PKR 504

$5.99 IQD 7,841

-69.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 268

$0.59 IQD 774

62.71%

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

$17.5K PKR 4.8M

$18.2K IQD 23.8M

-3.80%

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

$23.6K PKR 6.6M

$20.1K IQD 26.4M

17.23%

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

$110 PKR 30.4K

$98.1 IQD 128.4K

11.82%

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

$4.74 PKR 1,315

$19.26 IQD 25.2K

-75.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.16 PKR 4,208

$31.85 IQD 41.7K

-52.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.16 PKR 3,654

$34.85 IQD 45.6K

-62.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.95 PKR 2,483

$14.57 IQD 19.1K

-38.57%

Cinema Ticket

$4.12 PKR 1,145

$7.75 IQD 10.2K

-46.84%

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

$39.53 PKR 11.0K

$133 IQD 174.4K

-70.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,143 PKR 317.3K

$2,672 IQD 3.5M

-57.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.62 PKR 4,335

$22.72 IQD 29.8K

-31.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.22 PKR 6,444

$25.90 IQD 33.9K

-10.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.4 PKR 20.1K

$56.9 IQD 74.5K

27.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.81 PKR 9,106

$39.49 IQD 51.7K

-16.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 30.7K

$303 IQD 397.0K

-63.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$67.8 PKR 18.8K

$198 IQD 259.8K

-65.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$274 PKR 76.1K

$549 IQD 718.8K

-50.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$163 PKR 45.3K

$378 IQD 494.8K

-56.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$984 PKR 273.1K

$1,559 IQD 2.0M

-36.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$502 PKR 139.2K

$789 IQD 1.0M

-36.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$186 PKR 51.7K

$562 IQD 736.3K

-66.85%

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Iraq: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $78.0 in Pakistan, $254 in Iraq. Capital cities: $197 in Islamabad vs $554 in Baghdad.

National salary averages: $181 in Pakistan, $562 in Iraq. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 226% higher in Iraq.

Dining out costs 118% more in Iraq.

Public transport is 357% more expensive in Iraq.

Salaries are 210% higher in Iraq, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Iraq.

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 $788 per month in Iraq and $413 in Pakistan, there's a 91% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.

Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Pakistan: 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 is consistently higher than in 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 stretches only to regional areas and 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.