Cost of Living Comparison Between Tikrit and Baghdad Cost of Living Comparison Between Tikrit and Baghdad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $747 in Tikrit versus $1,074 in Baghdad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,153 in Tikrit versus $1,581 in Baghdad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,558 in Tikrit versus $2,088 in Baghdad.

Living in Tikrit costs roughly 30% less than in Baghdad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tikrit 44% lower, Baghdad 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.11 IQD 5,379

$5.26 IQD 6,892

-21.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.00 IQD 32.7K

$36.91 IQD 48.3K

-32.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.82 IQD 8,935

$7.46 IQD 9,777

-8.58%

Cappuccino

$2.65 IQD 3,473

$3.01 IQD 3,939

-11.96%

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

$0.36 IQD 478

$0.36 IQD 477

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 237

$0.18 IQD 230

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.98 IQD 3,910

$3.51 IQD 4,596

-15.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 IQD 3,674

$2.83 IQD 3,706

-0.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,731

$1.36 IQD 1,784

-2.94%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 IQD 1,110

$0.80 IQD 1,042

6.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 IQD 2,092

$1.61 IQD 2,102

-0.62%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,345

$1.72 IQD 2,247

4.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.58 IQD 6,000

$4.40 IQD 5,759

4.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.62 IQD 6,058

$4.87 IQD 6,373

-5.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.21 IQD 17.3K

$13.88 IQD 18.2K

-4.83%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,505

$1.28 IQD 1,678

-10.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.20 IQD 1,574

$1.16 IQD 1,523

3.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,387

$1.01 IQD 1,323

4.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 923

$0.70 IQD 920

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 914

$0.68 IQD 895

2.94%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 828

$0.63 IQD 831

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 IQD 871

$0.63 IQD 823

4.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 IQD 674

$0.66 IQD 867

-22.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.96 IQD 2,566

$2.07 IQD 2,713

-5.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.58 IQD 17.8K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 IQD 2,434

$1.84 IQD 2,413

1.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 IQD 2,715

$2.07 IQD 2,712

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 515

$0.74 IQD 964

-47.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.07 IQD 40.7K

$28.32 IQD 37.1K

9.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 IQD 3,078

$3.90 IQD 5,113

-39.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 IQD 2,000

$1.47 IQD 1,923

4.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.97 IQD 7,817

$7.61 IQD 9,964

-21.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 IQD 706

$0.53 IQD 700

1.89%

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

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

$19.9K IQD 26.0M

-2.72%

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

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

0.66%

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

$78.2 IQD 102.4K

$179 IQD 234.3K

-56.30%

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

$17.96 IQD 23.5K

$25.76 IQD 33.7K

-30.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.16 IQD 44.7K

$40.94 IQD 53.6K

-16.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.04 IQD 48.5K

$41.54 IQD 54.4K

-10.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.99 IQD 22.3K

$18.57 IQD 24.3K

-8.51%

Cinema Ticket

$7.52 IQD 9,856

$7.66 IQD 10.0K

-1.83%

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

$154 IQD 201.9K

$168 IQD 220.3K

-8.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,253 IQD 4.3M

$3,533 IQD 4.6M

-7.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.75 IQD 35.0K

$28.32 IQD 37.1K

-5.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.66 IQD 33.6K

$30.84 IQD 40.4K

-16.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.4 IQD 81.7K

$65.0 IQD 85.1K

-4.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.91 IQD 54.9K

$43.91 IQD 57.5K

-4.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$247 IQD 323.5K

$557 IQD 729.9K

-55.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.3K

$324 IQD 424.8K

-46.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$570 IQD 746.1K

$822 IQD 1.1M

-30.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$339 IQD 444.6K

$594 IQD 777.9K

-42.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,867 IQD 5.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,428 IQD 1.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$341 IQD 446.2K

$622 IQD 814.4K

-45.21%

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 Tikrit: April 27, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $247 in Tikrit and $557 in Baghdad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 83% 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: $25.00 in Tikrit vs $37.00 in Baghdad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $158 vs $189 per month, with Tikrit 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

Tikrit vs Baghdad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tikrit wins on cost – living expenses run 44% lower than in Baghdad. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tikrit the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Baghdad earns 83% less. 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: $247 in Tikrit versus $557 in Baghdad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Tikrit runs roughly 10% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $154 in Tikrit versus $168 in Baghdad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $747 in Tikrit versus $1,074 in Baghdad, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Tikrit but tight or insufficient in Baghdad. The gap between the two cities makes Tikrit 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 Tikrit gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.