For one person, living is cheaper in Iraq: $720 a month against $1,775 in Spain, rent and utilities included – about $12,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Spain and in Iraq actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,775 in Spain versus $720 in Iraq.
Spain $1,775
Iraq $720
Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,606 in Spain versus $1,090 in Iraq.
Spain $2,606
Iraq $1,090
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,438 in Spain versus $1,460 in Iraq.
Spain $3,438
Iraq $1,460
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in Spain: monthly costs span $931 to $2,610, compared to $500–$1,048 in Iraq. City choice carries more weight in Spain.
🌍
Living in Spain is roughly 146% more expensive than in Iraq on average.
📊
Spain (30% above) and Iraq (47% below) straddle the global median.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Spain
Iraq
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.69€14.98
$3.87IQD 5,843
331.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.7€49.98
$19.69IQD 29.7K
182.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.37€10.20
$6.54IQD 9,879
73.85%
Cappuccino
$2.42€2.17
$2.43IQD 3,673
-0.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68€2.40
$0.41IQD 614
553.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79€1.61
$0.17IQD 262
952.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.42€3.07
$3.39IQD 5,119
0.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.48
$3.26IQD 4,923
19.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Spain
Iraq
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20€1.08
$1.01IQD 1,520
18.81%
White Bread(500g)
$1.48€1.33
$0.69IQD 1,048
114.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.67€1.50
$1.38IQD 2,083
21.01%
Eggs
$3.42€3.07
$1.56IQD 2,357
119.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.17€12.72
$4.06IQD 6,133
249.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.33€7.47
$3.70IQD 5,593
125.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.20€14.54
$11.26IQD 17.0K
43.87%
Apples(1kg)
$2.45€2.20
$0.92IQD 1,396
166.30%
Banana(1kg)
$2.03€1.82
$1.00IQD 1,507
103.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.86
$0.89IQD 1,343
133.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.58€2.32
$0.60IQD 913
330.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.64
$0.58IQD 879
215.52%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.80
$0.57IQD 862
250.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.31€1.17
$0.53IQD 801
147.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77€0.69
$0.44IQD 670
75.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.36€5.71
$1.69IQD 2,555
276.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.64€5.06
$10.22IQD 15.4K
-44.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30€1.17
$1.65IQD 2,498
-21.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09€1.87
$1.82IQD 2,755
14.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Spain
Iraq
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.64€1.47
$0.34IQD 514
382.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.91€29.53
$19.96IQD 30.1K
64.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43€3.97
$2.03IQD 3,067
118.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.47€1.32
$1.47IQD 2,219
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.98€22.42
$5.20IQD 7,858
380.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.77€1.59
$0.56IQD 852
216.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K€31.9K
$16.7KIQD 25.3M
112.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6K€27.5K
$16.6KIQD 25.1M
83.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
Iraq
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$149€134
$96.4IQD 145.6K
54.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.67€15.86
$13.50IQD 20.4K
30.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.88€28.61
$29.17IQD 44.0K
9.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Spain
Iraq
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.24€39.69
$30.82IQD 46.5K
43.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.29€13.72
$16.41IQD 24.8K
-6.83%
Cinema Ticket
$9.66€8.67
$6.94IQD 10.5K
39.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Spain
Iraq
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$544€488
$158IQD 238.0K
245.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.6K€9,517
$2,605IQD 3.9M
307.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Spain
Iraq
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.9€76.2
$19.03IQD 28.7K
346.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.11€33.30
$23.52IQD 35.5K
57.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.2€80.0
$52.2IQD 78.8K
70.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106€94.9
$38.65IQD 58.4K
173.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Spain
Iraq
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,056€948
$273IQD 411.7K
287.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$808€725
$187IQD 282.3K
332.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621€1,454
$508IQD 767.8K
218.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,118
$358IQD 540.2K
248.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,135€3,711
$1,491IQD 2.3M
177.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,633€2,362
$685IQD 1.0M
284.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Spain
Iraq
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,999€1,794
$492IQD 743.4K
306.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.3
6.32
-47.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Spain: October 24, 2026
Last update for Iraq: October 24, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Spain
$808 45.5%
Iraq
$187 26% ↓ 76.9%$621
🛒Groceries & Markets
Spain
$272 15.3%
Iraq
$153 21.3% ↓ 43.6%$119
🍽Eating Out
Spain
$239 13.5%
Iraq
$106 14.7% ↓ 55.9%$134
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
$199 11.2%
Iraq
$139 19.3% ↓ 30.1%$60
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Spain
$143 8%
Iraq
$60 8.3% ↓ 57.9%$83
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Spain
$64 3.6%
Iraq
$45 6.2% ↓ 29.7%$19
🚌Getting Around
Spain
$51 2.9%
Iraq
$31 4.3% ↓ 40.1%$21
🏠Accommodation & Living
Spain
$1.2K 36.3%
Iraq
$358 24.5% ↓ 71.3%$888
🛒Groceries & Markets
Spain
$646 18.8%
Iraq
$345 23.7% ↓ 46.6%$301
🍽Eating Out
Spain
$763 22.2%
Iraq
$303 20.8% ↓ 60.3%$461
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
$217 6.3%
Iraq
$153 10.5% ↓ 29.5%$64
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Spain
$317 9.2%
Iraq
$133 9.1% ↓ 57.9%$184
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Spain
$142 4.1%
Iraq
$106 7.3% ↓ 25.7%$37
🚌Getting Around
Spain
$106 3.1%
Iraq
$62 4.3% ↓ 41.3%$44
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $920 in Spain, $225 in Iraq. Capital cities: $1,508 in Madrid vs $537 in Baghdad.
💰National salary averages: $1,972 in Spain, $491 in Iraq. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 309% higher in Spain.
⭐Dining out costs 159% more in Spain.
⭐Salaries are about 4 times higher in Spain, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Spain.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
Spain vs Iraq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How does the cost of living in Iraq compare to the cost in Spain?
At $720 per month in Iraq and $1,775 in Spain, Iraq comes out about 59% cheaper. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
How do daily expenses compare in Iraq vs Spain?
Day-to-day life is cheaper in Iraq: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Is rent more expensive in Iraq or in Spain?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $920 in Spain and $225 in Iraq. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Which country is better for expats: Iraq or Spain?
It depends on what you’re after: Iraq wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.