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 $1,074 in Baghdad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,150 in Tikrit versus $1,573 in Baghdad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,549 in Tikrit versus $2,073 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

$4.08 IQD 5,339

$5.27 IQD 6,895

-22.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.79 IQD 32.5K

$36.86 IQD 48.3K

-32.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.93 IQD 9,081

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

-10.93%

Cappuccino

$2.58 IQD 3,384

$2.98 IQD 3,909

-13.42%

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

$0.39 IQD 513

$0.39 IQD 512

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 277

$0.17 IQD 216

23.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 IQD 3,865

$3.38 IQD 4,429

-12.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 IQD 3,744

$2.89 IQD 3,785

-1.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 IQD 1,796

$1.30 IQD 1,702

5.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 IQD 1,094

$0.83 IQD 1,087

1.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 IQD 2,157

$1.67 IQD 2,181

-1.20%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,344

$1.79 IQD 2,343

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.62 IQD 6,044

$4.52 IQD 5,918

2.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.63 IQD 6,067

$4.84 IQD 6,342

-4.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.08 IQD 17.1K

$14.04 IQD 18.4K

-6.84%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,505

$1.28 IQD 1,680

-10.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,522

$1.15 IQD 1,504

0.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 IQD 1,374

$1.04 IQD 1,363

0.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 981

$0.70 IQD 914

7.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 848

$0.69 IQD 897

-5.80%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 888

$0.62 IQD 813

9.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 IQD 865

$0.67 IQD 883

-1.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 732

$0.63 IQD 824

-11.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 IQD 2,538

$2.13 IQD 2,786

-8.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.64 IQD 17.9K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 IQD 2,385

$1.79 IQD 2,348

1.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,805

$2.15 IQD 2,812

-0.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 518

$0.76 IQD 993

-47.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.84 IQD 40.4K

$28.16 IQD 36.9K

9.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.23 IQD 2,922

$3.78 IQD 4,954

-41.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 IQD 1,948

$1.53 IQD 1,999

-2.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.14 IQD 8,041

$7.54 IQD 9,868

-18.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 735

$0.57 IQD 750

-1.75%

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

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

-3.13%

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

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

-0.95%

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

$76.6 IQD 100.3K

$181 IQD 236.7K

-57.64%

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

$17.48 IQD 22.9K

$25.64 IQD 33.6K

-31.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.05 IQD 45.9K

$40.76 IQD 53.4K

-14.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.03 IQD 48.5K

$41.00 IQD 53.7K

-9.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.76 IQD 22.0K

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

-9.70%

Cinema Ticket

$7.75 IQD 10.1K

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

-0.77%

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

$153 IQD 199.9K

$166 IQD 217.8K

-8.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,246 IQD 4.2M

$3,523 IQD 4.6M

-7.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.95 IQD 35.3K

$28.27 IQD 37.0K

-4.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.06 IQD 32.8K

$30.19 IQD 39.5K

-16.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.1 IQD 78.7K

$63.3 IQD 82.9K

-5.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.46 IQD 54.3K

$43.71 IQD 57.2K

-5.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$246 IQD 321.8K

$553 IQD 724.7K

-55.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.5K

$320 IQD 418.5K

-45.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$581 IQD 760.8K

$818 IQD 1.1M

-29.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$341 IQD 447.1K

$583 IQD 763.6K

-41.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,017 IQD 5.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,614 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$332 IQD 435.1K

$648 IQD 848.7K

-48.73%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $246 in Tikrit and $553 in Baghdad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 95% 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 $159 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 43% 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 95% 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: $246 in Tikrit versus $553 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 $153 in Tikrit versus $166 in Baghdad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $751 in Tikrit versus $1,074 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 43% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.