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: $751 in Tikrit versus $1,055 in Baghdad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,152 in Tikrit versus $1,565 in Baghdad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,553 in Tikrit versus $2,074 in Baghdad.

Living in Tikrit costs roughly 29% less than in Baghdad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tikrit 44% lower, Baghdad 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.99 IQD 5,219

$5.50 IQD 7,206

-27.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.41 IQD 32.0K

$36.22 IQD 47.4K

-32.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.81 IQD 8,924

$7.70 IQD 10.1K

-11.56%

Cappuccino

$2.57 IQD 3,362

$2.98 IQD 3,903

-13.76%

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

$0.36 IQD 476

$0.36 IQD 477

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 229

$0.17 IQD 219

5.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.97 IQD 3,890

$3.51 IQD 4,590

-15.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 IQD 3,868

$2.93 IQD 3,839

0.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,709

$1.35 IQD 1,768

-2.96%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,027

$0.78 IQD 1,023

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 IQD 2,098

$1.59 IQD 2,076

0.63%

Eggs

$1.71 IQD 2,240

$1.79 IQD 2,338

-4.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 IQD 5,763

$4.58 IQD 5,999

-3.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.61 IQD 6,040

$4.81 IQD 6,296

-4.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.41 IQD 17.6K

$14.13 IQD 18.5K

-5.10%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,510

$1.23 IQD 1,612

-6.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,532

$1.21 IQD 1,590

-3.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 IQD 1,371

$1.00 IQD 1,311

5.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 965

$0.74 IQD 970

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 843

$0.65 IQD 854

-1.54%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 868

$0.67 IQD 881

-1.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 IQD 892

$0.62 IQD 817

9.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 728

$0.66 IQD 861

-15.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.96 IQD 2,565

$2.05 IQD 2,690

-4.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.49 IQD 17.7K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,349

$1.79 IQD 2,346

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 IQD 2,836

$2.15 IQD 2,821

0.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 519

$0.75 IQD 976

-46.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.53 IQD 40.0K

$27.88 IQD 36.5K

9.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,051

$3.93 IQD 5,147

-40.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 IQD 1,942

$1.47 IQD 1,922

0.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.91 IQD 7,738

$7.50 IQD 9,826

-21.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 739

$0.56 IQD 740

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

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

-3.81%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.5M

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

1.77%

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

$76.4 IQD 100.1K

$176 IQD 230.7K

-56.62%

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

$17.79 IQD 23.3K

$25.81 IQD 33.8K

-31.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.93 IQD 44.4K

$41.29 IQD 54.1K

-17.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.77 IQD 48.2K

$42.14 IQD 55.2K

-12.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.55 IQD 21.7K

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

-10.83%

Cinema Ticket

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

0.51%

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

$151 IQD 197.9K

$168 IQD 220.3K

-10.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,306 IQD 4.3M

$3,627 IQD 4.7M

-8.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.51 IQD 36.0K

$27.92 IQD 36.6K

-1.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.02 IQD 32.8K

$30.46 IQD 39.9K

-17.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.8 IQD 80.9K

$64.9 IQD 85.0K

-4.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.18 IQD 53.9K

$43.79 IQD 57.3K

-5.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$238 IQD 312.2K

$554 IQD 725.1K

-56.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 IQD 238.0K

$321 IQD 419.7K

-43.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$571 IQD 747.1K

$839 IQD 1.1M

-31.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$339 IQD 444.1K

$583 IQD 764.1K

-41.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,745 IQD 6.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,597 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$319 IQD 418.2K

$612 IQD 800.9K

-47.78%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $238 in Tikrit and $554 in Baghdad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 91% 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: $24.00 in Tikrit vs $36.00 in Baghdad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $157 vs $190 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 40% 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, salaries run 91% 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: $238 in Tikrit versus $554 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 $151 in Tikrit versus $168 in Baghdad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $751 in Tikrit versus $1,055 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 40% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.