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 $762 in Iraq.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $593 in Pakistan versus $1,166 in Iraq.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $794 in Pakistan versus $1,570 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 $535 to $1,074, compared to $292–$543 in Pakistan. City choice carries more weight in Iraq.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.72 PKR 480

$4.67 IQD 6,114

-63.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.23 PKR 3,414

$22.62 IQD 29.6K

-45.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.15 PKR 1,157

$6.22 IQD 8,146

-33.28%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.80 PKR 503

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 PKR 1,125

Cappuccino

$1.73 PKR 482

$2.34 IQD 3,059

-26.07%

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

$0.33 PKR 92.9

$0.39 IQD 505

-15.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.5

$0.19 IQD 247

10.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 IQD 2,904

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.62 IQD 3,430

Milk (1 liter)

$0.81 PKR 226

$1.23 IQD 1,614

-34.15%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 PKR 153

$0.82 IQD 1,073

-32.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 PKR 336

$1.55 IQD 2,024

-22.58%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 337

$1.80 IQD 2,360

-32.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.94 PKR 1,657

$5.15 IQD 6,741

15.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 PKR 824

$4.13 IQD 5,415

-28.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.22 PKR 1,179

$12.18 IQD 16.0K

-65.35%

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 PKR 294

$1.06 IQD 1,391

-0.94%

Banana (1kg)

$0.62 PKR 173

$1.17 IQD 1,527

-47.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.81 PKR 227

$1.00 IQD 1,306

-19.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.69 IQD 909

-24.64%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 PKR 100

$0.61 IQD 803

-40.98%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 PKR 135

$0.65 IQD 855

-26.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.65 IQD 850

-40.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.55 IQD 722

-29.09%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.98 PKR 554

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 PKR 309

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 PKR 579

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 PKR 551

$1.91 IQD 2,501

3.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.06 IQD 15.8K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 IQD 2,324

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 IQD 2,961

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 44.55

$0.39 IQD 512

-58.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.00 PKR 1,953

$33.19 IQD 43.5K

-78.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 PKR 250

$2.31 IQD 3,026

-61.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.51 PKR 143

$1.75 IQD 2,292

-70.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.74 PKR 485

$6.16 IQD 8,063

-71.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 PKR 252

$0.59 IQD 774

52.54%

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

$17.9K PKR 5.0M

$18.3K IQD 24.0M

-2.26%

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

$23.8K PKR 6.6M

$20.1K IQD 26.4M

18.13%

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

$111 PKR 30.9K

$99.9 IQD 130.8K

10.82%

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

$4.75 PKR 1,325

$19.71 IQD 25.8K

-75.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.51 PKR 4,328

$32.89 IQD 43.1K

-52.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.30 PKR 3,713

$34.48 IQD 45.2K

-61.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.50 PKR 2,372

$14.75 IQD 19.3K

-42.37%

Cinema Ticket

$4.22 PKR 1,178

$7.48 IQD 9,802

-43.58%

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

$39.14 PKR 10.9K

$134 IQD 175.3K

-70.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,145 PKR 319.5K

$2,613 IQD 3.4M

-56.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.80 PKR 4,409

$22.02 IQD 28.8K

-28.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.72 PKR 6,621

$26.23 IQD 34.4K

-9.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.3 PKR 20.2K

$57.6 IQD 75.4K

25.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$33.09 PKR 9,236

$40.28 IQD 52.8K

-17.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$114 PKR 31.8K

$300 IQD 392.5K

-62.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$67.1 PKR 18.7K

$194 IQD 253.8K

-65.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$280 PKR 78.2K

$557 IQD 729.3K

-49.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$165 PKR 46.0K

$376 IQD 492.5K

-56.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$888 PKR 248.0K

$1,528 IQD 2.0M

-41.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$530 PKR 148.1K

$757 IQD 991.4K

-29.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$188 PKR 52.4K

$563 IQD 737.2K

-66.62%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Iraq: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $78 in Pakistan, $254 in Iraq. Capital cities: $200 in Islamabad vs $557 in Baghdad.

National salary averages: $181 in Pakistan, $557 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 371% more expensive in Iraq.

Salaries are 208% 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 $418 in Pakistan, there's a 93% 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.