Iraq, Baghdad Cost of Living April 2010

Country Full Name: Republic of Iraq.

Location: Iraq is in the Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait.

Country Climate: Mostly desert; mild to cool winters with dry, hot, cloudless summers; northern mountainous regions along Iranian and Turkish borders experience cold winters with occasionally heavy snows that melt in early spring, sometimes causing extensive flooding in central and southern Iraq.

Country Terrain: Mostly broad plains; reedy marshes along Iranian border in south with large flooded areas; mountains along borders with Iran and Turkey.

Major Languages: Arabic, Kurdish.

Major Religions: Islam.

Country Population: 30.4 million (2008 est.) 31.2 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Iraq is dominated by the oil sector, which has traditionally provided about 95% of foreign exchange earnings. There have been attempts by the international community to improve and repair the infrastructure of Iraq in the aftermath of the 2003 invasion, when much was destroyed.

Currency: Iraqi Dinar (IQD).

Country Inflation: 2.7% (2008 est.) 6.9% (2009 est.).

City: Baghdad is the capital of Iraq.

City Economy: Efforts have been devoted to the restoration and repair of badly damaged urban infrastructure.
Cost of Living: Baghdad has an overall cost of living index which equates it with low cost of living locations. The overall cost of living index is comprised of the prices for defined quantities of the same goods and services across all 13 Basket Groups. Baghdad is currently ranked 266 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

For more cost of living information on Iraq, Baghdad