MigrantoCost of living in Iraq
Average monthly spending, by standard of living, by category, and against other countries
Monthly cost
IQD 205,000
what a typical person spends
Spending by standard of living
IQD 105,000richest 20%
IQD 459,000
For the most part, Iraq is an inexpensive place to cover the basics, and life looks broadly similar whether you have a little more or a little less. The catch is housing: in a country rich in oil but short of decent homes, finding a place to live can eat up a surprising share of the money. So the easy day-to-day comes with one heavy exception.
Where people spend money in Iraq
Housing is what dominates a month here, unusual in a country where most other things stay cheap — a scarce supply of decent homes does the damage. Groceries come next, and getting around takes a real slice too. For anyone on a fixed budget, the lesson is clear: food and transport stay manageable, but rent is the line that will define what you can afford.
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What it costs to live in Iraq
Tell us what you earn and spend today — we'll estimate what the same lifestyle would cost in Iraq and how much you could have left each month
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Cost of living in Iraq
IQD 105,000/mo
vs IQD 1,050,000 in your country
Take-home
IQD 1,250,000
vs IQD 1,570,000 in your country
Potential savings
IQD 1,150,000
more than in your country
Standard of living
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How living costs in Iraq compare
Iraq ranks at the bottom of its region for cost and on the cheaper end of the world as well, in keeping with low wages and a domestic economy where most goods and services come cheap. Unlike many places this far down the scale, the distance between richer and poorer lives stays narrow, so the affordability is widely felt rather than confined to a lucky few. For someone deciding, it is genuinely inexpensive — with eyes open to the strains underneath.
Data source: household consumption 2024 (World Bank), International Comparison Program 2021 (World Bank), category breakdown 2022 (United Nations Statistics Division), adjusted to 2026 using IMF GDP-per-capita growth
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Frequently asked questions
What is the cost of living in Iraq?
A typical person in Iraq spends about IQD 205,000 a month — around IQD 2,450,000 a year — on housing, groceries, transport and other everyday costs. It's a nationwide average across different regions, cities and types of housing.
What is the cost of living in Iraq in US dollars?
The cost of living in Iraq is about $156 a month, or roughly $1,872 a year per person.
How much money do you need to live comfortably in Iraq?
It all depends on your standard of living. A modest budget runs about IQD 105,000 a month per person, a typical one around IQD 205,000, and a comfortable life around IQD 264,000. In big cities and for a family, costs are usually higher.
What do people spend the most on in Iraq?
The biggest expense is groceries, at about IQD 70,800 a month (34% of spending). Then come housing (IQD 51,100, 25%) and transport (IQD 21,000, 10%).
Is Iraq an expensive country to live in?
No. Iraq is more expensive than 27% of countries worldwide and ranks 16th of 17 in the Middle East by cost of living.
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Living in Iraq
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