Cost of Living Comparison Between Spain and IraqCost of Living Comparison Between Spain and Iraq
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,642 in Spain versus $761 in Iraq.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,399 in Spain versus $1,168 in Iraq.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,155 in Spain versus $1,575 in Iraq.
😐Living in Spain is roughly 116% more expensive than Iraq on average.
📊Spain (22% above) and Iraq (43% below) straddle the global median.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in Spain: monthly costs span $1,127 to $3,255, compared to $535–$1,074 in Iraq. City choice carries more weight in Spain.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Spain
Iraq
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.98€13.81
$4.62IQD 6,049
245.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.6€49.77
$23.22IQD 30.4K
148.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.27€8.88
$6.17IQD 8,081
66.45%
Cappuccino
$2.38€2.05
$2.24IQD 2,936
6.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58€2.23
$0.42IQD 549
514.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83€1.59
$0.17IQD 227
976.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.54€3.06
$2.25IQD 2,951
57.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.09€3.53
$2.73IQD 3,574
49.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Spain
Iraq
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22€1.06
$1.23IQD 1,611
-0.81%
White Bread(500g)
$1.53€1.32
$0.82IQD 1,073
86.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.60€1.39
$1.58IQD 2,065
1.27%
Eggs
$2.93€2.53
$1.79IQD 2,346
63.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.33€12.38
$4.98IQD 6,517
187.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.31€7.18
$4.11IQD 5,376
102.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.62€13.50
$12.42IQD 16.3K
25.76%
Apples(1kg)
$2.53€2.18
$1.04IQD 1,356
143.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.99€1.72
$1.13IQD 1,475
76.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.11€1.83
$1.05IQD 1,373
100.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.20
$0.68IQD 895
273.53%
Potato(1kg)
$1.77€1.53
$0.62IQD 807
185.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.98€1.71
$0.65IQD 852
204.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.30€1.12
$0.66IQD 865
96.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74€0.64
$0.51IQD 672
45.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.19€5.35
$2.00IQD 2,624
209.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.93€5.12
$11.92IQD 15.6K
-50.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25€1.08
$1.86IQD 2,435
-32.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07€1.79
$2.16IQD 2,834
-4.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Spain
Iraq
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.78€1.54
$0.40IQD 521
345.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.91€30.16
$32.71IQD 42.8K
6.73%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.48€3.87
$2.35IQD 3,073
90.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34€1.15
$1.74IQD 2,273
-22.99%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.24€22.68
$6.10IQD 7,990
330.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.76€1.52
$0.60IQD 781
193.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2K€33.0K
$18.3KIQD 24.0M
108.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.6K€27.3K
$19.9KIQD 26.0M
59.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
Iraq
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$149€128
$98.4IQD 128.9K
51.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.16€17.42
$19.08IQD 25.0K
5.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.11€29.48
$32.47IQD 42.5K
5.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Spain
Iraq
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.12€40.72
$34.81IQD 45.6K
35.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.83€13.68
$14.82IQD 19.4K
6.82%
Cinema Ticket
$9.47€8.18
$7.77IQD 10.2K
21.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Spain
Iraq
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$517€446
$134IQD 174.8K
286.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.2K€8,777
$2,580IQD 3.4M
293.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Spain
Iraq
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.2€75.3
$22.33IQD 29.2K
290.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.36€32.28
$26.27IQD 34.4K
42.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.3€78.9
$57.6IQD 75.4K
58.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106€91.2
$39.99IQD 52.4K
163.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Spain
Iraq
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,074€928
$300IQD 392.7K
257.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$815€704
$198IQD 258.8K
312.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,691€1,461
$547IQD 716.9K
208.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,228€1,061
$376IQD 493.0K
226.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,338€3,749
$1,635IQD 2.1M
165.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,744€2,371
$779IQD 1.0M
252.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Spain
Iraq
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,031€1,755
$576IQD 754.6K
252.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.51
8.23
-57.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Spain: June 9, 2026
Last update for Iraq: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $898 in Spain, $255 in Iraq. Capital cities: $1,609 in Madrid vs $553 in Baghdad.
💰National salary averages: $2,011 in Spain, $557 in Iraq. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 252% higher in Spain.
⭐Dining out costs 121% more in Spain.
⭐Salaries are 261% higher in Spain, giving Spain 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
Spain vs Iraq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How does the cost of living in Iraq compare to Spain?
At $805 per month in Iraq and $2,191 in Spain, there's a 172% gap. 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?
Iraq 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.
Is rent more expensive in Iraq or Spain?
Rent in Spain beats Iraq across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Can you live in both Iraq and Spain on $1,000 per month?
In Iraq, $1,000 covers most cities easily. In Spain, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Which country is better for expats: Iraq or Spain?
It depends on what you're after. Iraq wins on affordability; Spain may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.