Baghdad vs Mashhad: Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?
Mashhad costs roughly 22% less than Baghdad. The cost gap makes Mashhad the stronger pick for financial independence. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Baghdad is approximately 41% less expensive than Mashhad based on cost of living including rent. This makes Baghdad a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Baghdad has a FIRE Score of 75/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 40, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Baghdad is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Baghdad
Baghdad is a cheap place to live and not much else, with a cost of living index of 35/100 and a 1-bedroom in the center at $150/mo, yet a safety index of 40/100 and an air quality index of 120 make daily life a grind. The local average net salary of $500/mo keeps most people on a tight leash, and a small expat community plus limited English proficiency means you are largely on your own. The FIRE score of 75/100 is the one genuine draw, but a retiree score of 46/100 and an overall expat score of 50/100 tell the real story. Come for the math, not the lifestyle.
About Iraq
A Level 4 do-not-travel advisory, the same rating given to active war zones, outweighs the $521.80 monthly budget that undercuts most US rents alone. No retirement or digital nomad visa exists, English is scarce, and the expat friendliness is not measured in the available data. Cheap living means nothing without a legal pathway or basic safety floor. Skip this one entirely.
$2,687/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Mashhad
Mashhad is a cheap place to live and little else, with a cost of living index of 29/100 and a FIRE score of 86/100 that will appeal to anyone chasing extreme savings. But an average monthly net salary of $253/mo against $350/mo in single-person costs outside rent tells you the local economy is brutal, and an air quality index of 95 plus limited English and a small expat community make daily life harder than the numbers suggest. Come for the $150/mo rent outside the center, stay only if you can tolerate the air and the isolation.
About Iran
Rock-bottom rent under $300/mo suits only the most niche case: someone with existing ties or business reasons to be in Iran who can tolerate a Level 4 do-not-travel advisory and no digital nomad visa or retirement visa path. That cost advantage means little against a low ease-of-access evaluation and limited English-speaking healthcare. Bad fit: anyone prioritizing safety data, easy residency, or an expat support network.
$2,687/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
Battle of Lifestyles
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| Metric | Baghdad | Mashhad |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $150 | $211.67 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $50 | $150 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $450 | $396.67 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $150 | $268.17 |
| Safety Index | 40 | 66 |
| Internet Speed | 25Mbps | 14Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Baghdad | Mashhad |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $374/mo | $327/mo |
| Excluding rent | $324/mo | $177/mo |
| Rent | $50.00/mo | $150/mo |
| Groceries | $85.00/mo | $62.00/mo |
| Dining out | $75.00/mo | $30.00/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $99.00/mo | $37.00/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $65.00/mo | $44.00/mo |
| Transport | N/A | $4.00/mo |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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