Cost of living comparison

 Damascus, Syria
compared to
 Baghdad, Iraq
Baghdad vs. Damascus Cost of Living Summary

Baghdad is 45.4% more expensive than Damascus.

Restaurants
pay 16.8% less in Baghdad
Groceries
pay 3.3% more in Baghdad
Transportation
pay 2.9% less in Baghdad
Housing
pay 50.6% more in Baghdad
Childcare
pay 2.7 times more in Baghdad
Entertainment and Sports
pay 92.1% more in Baghdad
Clothing
pay 19.3% more in Baghdad

The cost of childcare, entertainment and sports, housing, clothing, and groceries in Baghdad are more expensive than in Damascus. Expenses including restaurants and transportation are lower in Baghdad. Notably, childcare and entertainment and sports are significantly more expensive in Baghdad.

Baghdad vs. Damascus Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Baghdad instead of Damascus, you would:

pay 16.8% less for restaurants

 
Damascus
Baghdad
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $5.00
SYP65,010
$5.31
IQD6,959
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$5.00
SYP65,010
$7.59
IQD9,941
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $1.05
SYP13,652
$0.42
IQD552

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pay 3.3% more for groceries

 
Damascus
Baghdad
Bread
1 loaf
$0.63
SYP8,217
$0.88
IQD1,148
Local cheese (8 oz) $1.67
SYP21,752
$2.38
IQD3,116
Milk (1 gallon) $4.05
SYP52,594
$5.13
IQD6,718

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pay 2.9% less for transportation

 
Damascus
Baghdad
Gasoline (1 gallon) $15.92
SYP207,051
$1.78
IQD2,337
Monthly public transit pass $17.00
SYP221,034
$22.77
IQD29,824
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $18,500.00
SYP240,537,000
$18,213.31
IQD23,859,432

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pay 50.6% more for housing

 
Damascus
Baghdad
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$66.75
SYP867,884
$35.21
IQD46,126
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $282.23
SYP3,669,607
$443.62
IQD581,148
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $145.72
SYP1,894,661
$264.28
IQD346,204

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pay 2.7 times more for childcare

 
Damascus
Baghdad
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $48.33
SYP628,430
$162.43
IQD212,780
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $1,650.00
SYP21,453,300
$3,438.23
IQD4,504,076

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pay 92.1% more for entertainment and sports

 
Damascus
Baghdad
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $1.25
SYP16,252
$2.28
IQD2,982
Cappuccino in mid-range area $1.27
SYP16,578
$2.89
IQD3,790
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$3.00
SYP39,006
$2.28
IQD2,982

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pay 19.3% more for clothing

 
Damascus
Baghdad
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$22.00
SYP286,044
$28.72
IQD37,628
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$23.50
SYP305,547
$34.03
IQD44,581
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$47.50
SYP617,595
$61.01
IQD79,920

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: April 2025
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