Cost of Living Comparison Between Sinjar and Baghdad Cost of Living Comparison Between Sinjar and Baghdad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $459 in Sinjar versus $1,124 in Baghdad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $673 in Sinjar versus $1,692 in Baghdad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $888 in Sinjar versus $2,259 in Baghdad.

Living in Sinjar costs roughly 59% less than in Baghdad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sinjar 67% lower, Baghdad 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.34 IQD 3,071

$4.74 IQD 6,209

-50.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.41 IQD 12.3K

$33.69 IQD 44.1K

-72.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.53 IQD 11.2K

$7.75 IQD 10.1K

10.06%

Cappuccino

$0.73 IQD 954

$3.07 IQD 4,024

-76.22%

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

$0.37 IQD 479

$0.40 IQD 521

-7.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 279

$0.24 IQD 313

-12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.12 IQD 1,473

$3.87 IQD 5,071

-71.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 IQD 2,457

$3.75 IQD 4,911

-49.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 IQD 1,026

$1.09 IQD 1,423

-28.44%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 IQD 947

$0.80 IQD 1,042

-10.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.78 IQD 1,026

$1.51 IQD 1,982

-48.34%

Eggs

$1.78 IQD 2,336

$1.82 IQD 2,386

-2.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.26 IQD 2,964

$3.90 IQD 5,106

-42.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.47 IQD 5,859

$4.70 IQD 6,149

-4.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.40 IQD 16.2K

$14.34 IQD 18.8K

-13.53%

Apples (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 957

$1.12 IQD 1,465

-34.82%

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 979

$1.06 IQD 1,389

-29.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 958

$1.07 IQD 1,400

-31.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 968

$0.74 IQD 967

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 933

$0.66 IQD 860

7.58%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 896

$0.70 IQD 915

-2.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 IQD 1,014

$0.62 IQD 813

24.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 IQD 478

$0.65 IQD 845

-44.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.92 IQD 2,518

$1.78 IQD 2,333

7.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.68 IQD 10.1K

$13.68 IQD 17.9K

-43.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 IQD 1,466

$2.14 IQD 2,798

-47.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 IQD 2,551

$2.27 IQD 2,971

-14.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 IQD 838

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.99 IQD 30.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.89 IQD 2,473

$2.25 IQD 2,941

-16.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 IQD 2,382

$1.48 IQD 1,944

22.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.39 IQD 8,373

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

-17.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.35 IQD 462

$0.67 IQD 877

-47.76%

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

$18.1K IQD 23.7M

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

-6.62%

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

$20.2K IQD 26.4M

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

5.55%

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

$46.18 IQD 60.5K

$214 IQD 280.5K

-78.44%

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

$14.11 IQD 18.5K

$21.41 IQD 28.0K

-34.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.50 IQD 36.0K

$42.10 IQD 55.1K

-34.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$11.61 IQD 15.2K

$47.30 IQD 61.9K

-75.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.74 IQD 50.7K

$22.04 IQD 28.9K

75.77%

Cinema Ticket

$11.25 IQD 14.7K

$10.76 IQD 14.1K

4.55%

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

$318 IQD 415.8K

$165 IQD 215.5K

92.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,073 IQD 4.0M

$3,445 IQD 4.5M

-10.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.59 IQD 15.2K

$29.79 IQD 39.0K

-61.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$11.22 IQD 14.7K

$38.31 IQD 50.2K

-70.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.6 IQD 92.4K

$74.4 IQD 97.5K

-5.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.0 IQD 87.7K

$47.59 IQD 62.3K

40.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$54.4 IQD 71.2K

$566 IQD 741.8K

-90.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$38.49 IQD 50.4K

$346 IQD 453.5K

-88.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$959 IQD 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$679 IQD 889.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,665 IQD 6.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,599 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$228 IQD 298.3K

$615 IQD 805.6K

-62.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.53

4.12

-38.59%

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

Last update for Sinjar: September 7, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $54.4 in Sinjar and $566 in Baghdad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 170% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $9.00 in Sinjar vs $34.00 in Baghdad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $142 vs $186 per month, with Sinjar 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

Sinjar vs Baghdad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sinjar wins on cost – living expenses run 145% lower than in Baghdad. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Sinjar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 170% lower in Baghdad. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $54.4 in Sinjar versus $566 in Baghdad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 31% higher in Baghdad. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $459 per month in Sinjar versus $1,124 in Baghdad – a 145% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $459 in Sinjar versus $1,124 in Baghdad, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sinjar but tight or insufficient in Baghdad. The gap between the two cities makes Sinjar 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.

Expats usually find Sinjar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 145% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.