How Much Does It Cost to Live in Iraq?
Economy-wise, in Iraq there is a huge difference between the people and their classes.
It’s mostly divided between a very rich and a very poor layer.
It is said that the middle class is about to disappear and melt into either of the other two classes based on their resources.
Then there are cities that are better off than other ones, like Basra.
This is the economic center of Iraq, which offers enough jobs for those who finished their studies.
It is also a rich city, full of opportunities for those wanting to start their own business.
Cost of Living Breakdown in Iraq
RESTAURANTS
You could say that the prices in Iraq, when it comes to restaurants, aren’t too high, but they aren’t too low either.
There’s always the option of street food, but if you want to have a meal in one of the restaurants, be ready to pay around 4.81$ – and that’s in an inexpensive restaurant, too.
Mid-range restaurants will cost around 21.01$ per person.
| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $4.81 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $2.00 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $0.23 |
MARKETS
Now, if you choose to make your own food, this is a much cheaper option – and probably a healthier one than eating street food (as delicious as it might be).
Markets in Iraq offer a great range of products, most of them being very affordable, and you’ll know what you’re eating.
| Average Market Prices | |
|---|---|
| Milk (1 Liter) | $1.10 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $0.77 |
| Eggs (12) | $1.68 |
TRANSPORTATION
It can be said that transportation is most affordable in Iraq, especially if you’re using public transport and avoiding taxis.
A monthly pass for public transportation is around 28.65$, which is relatively okay but can be expensive for the poor people.
However, a daily ticket is around 0.42$ which is reasonable.
| Average Transport Prices | |
|---|---|
| One Way Ticket | $0.42 |
| Monthly Pass | $28.65 |
| Gasoline | $0.49 |
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
Utilities in Iraq are definitely not cheap.
You can count on cashing out around 100$ just in order to cover the basic bills, like electricity, heating, cooling, and water, but if you’re living in a normal-sized apartment (we mean around 85m2). 1 min. of prepaid mobile services is 0.09$.
| Average Utilities Prices | |
|---|---|
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $97.04 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.09 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $33.46 |
SPORTS & LEISURE
This applies to sports and leisure too (with the exception that sports and leisure are optional for everyone, while bills are not).
So, if you want to get in shape in Iraq, count on paying just short of 31.70$.
Cinema tickets here are around 9$ per person so watching movies in Iraq is a rather expensive pastime.
| Average Leisure Prices | |
|---|---|
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $31.70 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $12.76 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $8.37 |
CLOTHING & SHOES
Surprisingly, shopping for clothes and shoes isn’t that expensive in Iraq, so go ahead and immerse yourself in a shopping spree.
Quality jeans cost around 30$, and light pieces of clothes like summer dresses and shirts cost less than that.
Sneakers of brands like Nike are around 45$.
| Average Clothing Prices | |
|---|---|
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $26.27 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $25.41 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $45.73 |
RENT PER MONTH
Rent per month, in comparison to the utilities, is not expensive either.
Of course, it always depends on the part of the city you want to live in, or even the city itself.
Renting an apartment in the city center usually amounts to around 346.7$, and outside of the center is less than that.
| Average Rent Prices | |
|---|---|
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $346.7 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $218.69 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $597.19 |
HEALTHCARE
Iraq’s healthcare system includes public services, but coverage is often limited, and many patients rely on private care or direct payment; out-of-pocket spending accounts for more than half of health spending.
Typical out-of-pocket costs per person can be roughly 300 to 800 USD annually.
Private insurance markets are small, with policy costs varying widely.
With average monthly salaries of around 300 to 400 USD, healthcare expenses are often substantial relative to income.
EDUCATION
Public primary and secondary schooling is generally free, though families pay for uniforms, books, and materials.
Private schools charge higher tuition, often several thousand dollars per year.
Public universities charge variable tuition, typically low for local students but higher for some programs; private universities can cost more.
Students also pay housing, food, and transport costs.
Average monthly incomes are around $550 to $600, so education expenses, especially private tuition and student living costs, are a notable share of household budgets.
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Iraq?
People in Iraq spend most of their money on markets, food, and other necessities.
Apart from that, the biggest part of their expenses is rent – which means there are many people out there renting apartments.
Restaurants and transportation also take up an important part of Iraqi people’s expenses, while sports and leisure also have a high rate in these statistics – this is probably practiced by the high-class society.
Shopping for clothes and shoes is the last on the list, with statistics showing that only 2.6% of all expenses go to clothing.
Average Costs Breakdown
Iraq: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
Salaries in Iraq are higher, which makes sense taking into consideration that the expenses are rather high too.
Still, with rent costing around 300$ and utilities being around 100$ a month, there are surely members of this society that aren’t able to pay all their expenses and make ends meet.
For instance, those with a minimum monthly wage, which is 241.4 per month, surely have problems paying for necessities and with such a low minimum wage, they surely don’t have enough to indulge in sports, leisure, or buy new clothes regularly.
The mortgage interest rate in this country is also relatively high.
Iraq Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Iraq Safety Review
| OVERALL RISK | HIGH |
|---|---|
| TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK | MEDIUM |
| PICKPOCKETS RISK | MEDIUM |
| NATURAL DISASTERS RISK | MEDIUM |
| MUGGING RISK | HIGH |
| TERRORISM RISK | HIGH |
| SCAMS RISK | MEDIUM |
| WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK | HIGH |
| TAP WATER RISK | HIGH |
Cost of Living by City in Iraq
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
 Baghdad |
47.17 |
| Irbil |
42.51 |
It’s wild to think how such a small stretch of land can have such a huge economic divide. Makes you appreciate where you stand a bit more, doesn’t it?
It’s wild to think about how extreme the economic divide is in Iraq right now. Seeing the middle class shrinking is really concerning, especially when you have cities like Basra thriving while others struggle. Makes you wonder what the future holds for those on the edge.