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: $862 in Sinjar versus $1,072 in Baghdad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,355 in Sinjar versus $1,607 in Baghdad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,848 in Sinjar versus $2,141 in Baghdad.

Living in Sinjar costs roughly 20% less than in Baghdad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sinjar 36% lower, Baghdad 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

$5.26 IQD 6,884

48.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.81 IQD 29.8K

$36.67 IQD 48.0K

-37.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.97 IQD 11.7K

$7.43 IQD 9,724

20.73%

Cappuccino

$3.13 IQD 4,089

$3.01 IQD 3,942

3.99%

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

$0.52 IQD 682

$0.37 IQD 478

40.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 261

$0.21 IQD 278

-4.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.91 IQD 2,502

$3.40 IQD 4,451

-43.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 IQD 2,768

$2.90 IQD 3,789

-26.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,728

$1.36 IQD 1,778

-2.94%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 IQD 1,099

$0.85 IQD 1,106

-1.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 IQD 2,479

$1.65 IQD 2,162

15.15%

Eggs

$1.91 IQD 2,496

$1.79 IQD 2,346

6.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.20 IQD 9,413

$4.46 IQD 5,831

61.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.80 IQD 6,280

$4.93 IQD 6,443

-2.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.11 IQD 18.5K

$14.23 IQD 18.6K

-0.84%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,563

$1.21 IQD 1,589

-1.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,517

$1.21 IQD 1,584

-4.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,553

$1.04 IQD 1,363

14.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,060

$0.73 IQD 959

10.96%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 872

$0.69 IQD 904

-2.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 908

$0.63 IQD 826

9.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,024

$0.66 IQD 867

18.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 732

$0.62 IQD 815

-9.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.66 IQD 3,481

$2.04 IQD 2,668

30.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.84 IQD 10.2K

$13.33 IQD 17.4K

-41.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 IQD 1,820

$1.78 IQD 2,325

-21.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 IQD 2,619

$2.18 IQD 2,852

-8.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 474

$0.79 IQD 1,030

-54.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.07 IQD 40.6K

$28.68 IQD 37.5K

8.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 IQD 3,097

$3.80 IQD 4,977

-37.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 IQD 3,042

$1.48 IQD 1,939

57.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.69 IQD 8,756

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

-13.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 IQD 851

$0.56 IQD 735

16.07%

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

$19.2K IQD 25.1M

$20.1K IQD 26.2M

-4.25%

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

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

3.21%

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

$98.9 IQD 129.4K

$178 IQD 232.9K

-44.45%

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

$17.70 IQD 23.1K

$25.40 IQD 33.2K

-30.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.29 IQD 39.6K

$40.59 IQD 53.1K

-25.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.78 IQD 48.1K

$41.76 IQD 54.6K

-11.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.76 IQD 21.9K

$18.55 IQD 24.3K

-9.65%

Cinema Ticket

$11.45 IQD 15.0K

$7.82 IQD 10.2K

46.42%

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

$268 IQD 350.7K

$169 IQD 221.1K

58.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,315 IQD 4.3M

$3,646 IQD 4.8M

-9.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.21 IQD 43.4K

$27.95 IQD 36.6K

18.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.40 IQD 63.3K

$30.28 IQD 39.6K

59.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.2 IQD 106.2K

$63.6 IQD 83.2K

27.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.1 IQD 99.5K

$43.49 IQD 56.9K

74.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$240 IQD 313.8K

$545 IQD 713.3K

-56.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 IQD 237.3K

$316 IQD 412.9K

-42.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$590 IQD 771.7K

$816 IQD 1.1M

-27.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$341 IQD 445.6K

$588 IQD 769.7K

-42.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,709 IQD 6.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,569 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$226 IQD 295.1K

$625 IQD 817.6K

-63.91%

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 Sinjar: July 22, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $240 in Sinjar and $545 in Baghdad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 177% 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: $23.00 in Sinjar vs $37.00 in Baghdad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $186 vs $191 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 24% 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 177% 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: $240 in Sinjar versus $545 in Baghdad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Sinjar runs roughly 8% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $268 in Sinjar versus $169 in Baghdad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $862 in Sinjar versus $1,072 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 24% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.