Cost Of Living For a Student in An-Najaf 2025

Average monthly spending for students in An-Najaf

How much money does a student need in a month to survive in An-Najaf?

Students in An-Najaf spend around 520,000 IQD per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 78,000 IQD or as high as 3.4M IQD. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.

How do students spend their money in An-Najaf?

We asked thousands of students about their spending habits and expenditure break down.

Housing and accomodation expenditure for students

Students in An-Najaf typically spend from 12% to 23% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 17% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 120,000 IQD with expenditure ranging from 19,000 IQD to 830,000 IQD. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.

Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for students

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in An-Najaf ranges from 5% to 11% of total expenses with 7% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 21,000 IQD with 3,100 IQD and 140,000 IQD being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.

Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a student resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a student would expect to spend from 5,500 IQD to 240,000 IQD in a month on commuting with 36,000 IQD being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 3% of total spending on average but can go as low as 4% or as high as 9%.

Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students

The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in An-Najaf is 100,000 IQD. The cost of groceries can range between 16,000 IQD to 690,000 IQD. Students spend on average about 24% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 18% and 28% respectively.

Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students

Students in An-Najaf allocate 7% to 13% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 10%. The range of medical expenses range from 4,700 IQD to 210,000 IQD with 31,000 IQD being the norm for most students.

Leisure and shopping expenditure for students

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 3,900 IQD to 170,000 IQD with 26,000 IQD being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 6% of total expenses with an average of 2% for most students.

Education and schooling expenditure for students

Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 18% of the monthly expenditure of students with 11% and 23% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 98,000 IQD per month with 15,000 IQD being the minimum spent amount and 650,000 IQD being the maximum.

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Affordable living in An-Najaf

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in An-Najaf?

Around 55% of surveyed students think that living in An-Najaf is affordable with proper budgeting while 45% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in An-Najaf

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked students how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options56%

Few low-cost options44%

Based on the survey, 56% of the students living in An-Najaf have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 44% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds For Students

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked students of An-Najaf whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes55%

No45%

Based on the survey, 45% of the students living in An-Najaf said that they don't have an emergency fund while 55% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in Iraq

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy51%

We asked student guardians and parents in An-Najaf whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 49% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 51% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether students of Iraq have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 40% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 60% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance40%

Easily manages finances60%

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in An-Najaf

Rent Cost in An-Najaf

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

86,000 IQD

130,000 IQD

340,000 IQD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$66

$98

$260

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

130,000 IQD

210,000 IQD

520,000 IQD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$98

$160

$390

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

170,000 IQD

260,000 IQD

690,000 IQD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$130

$200

$520

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

210,000 IQD

340,000 IQD

940,000 IQD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$160

$260

$720

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

410,000 IQD

1M IQD

2.1M IQD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$310

$790

$1,600

Townhouse monthly rent cost

340,000 IQD

520,000 IQD

1.5M IQD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$260

$390

$1,100

House monthly rent cost

410,000 IQD

1M IQD

2.1M IQD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$310

$790

$1,600

Villa monthly rent cost

520,000 IQD

1.3M IQD

2.1M IQD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$390

$980

$1,600

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in An-Najaf ranges between 86,000 IQD and 340,000 IQD, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 130,000 IQD to 520,000 IQD. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 170,000 IQD and 690,000 IQD per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 210,000 IQD to 940,000 IQD. The average rent of a townhouse in An-Najaf is around 520,000 IQD while house rental costs can be as high as 1M IQD per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 520,000 IQD to 2.1M IQD per month.

Apartment and house prices in An-Najaf

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

17M IQD

26M IQD

52M IQD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$13,000

$20,000

$39,000

1-bedroom apartment price

21M IQD

34M IQD

130M IQD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$16,000

$26,000

$98,000

2-bedroom apartment price

34M IQD

100M IQD

210M IQD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$26,000

$79,000

$160,000

3-bedroom apartment price

110M IQD

170M IQD

520M IQD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$87,000

$130,000

$390,000

Townhouse price

150M IQD

340M IQD

1,300M IQD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$110,000

$260,000

$980,000

House price

170M IQD

1,000M IQD

1,500M IQD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$130,000

$790,000

$1.1M

Villa price

210M IQD

1,100M IQD

1,700M IQD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$160,000

$870,000

$1.3M

The average price of a studio apartment in An-Najaf can range from 17M IQD to 52M IQD depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 21M IQD to 130M IQD. A villa can cost you 1,100M IQD on average with prices ranging from 210M IQD to 1,700M IQD.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in An-Najaf can be x82 to x185 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x82 multiples of the average monthly salary in An-Najaf.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in An-Najaf is around 27%. This means that people pay 27% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 18% to 37% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in An-Najaf

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in An-Najaf

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Student

3,100 IQD

21,000 IQD

140,000 IQD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.4

$16

$110

Internet and cable cost

5,000 IQD

10,000 IQD

13,000 IQD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.9

$7.7

$10

Mobile phone bill and charges

4,000 IQD

6,700 IQD

20,000 IQD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.1

$5.1

$15

The average monthly energy and water consumption of students is around 21,000 IQD. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 5,000 IQD to 13,000 IQD with 10,000 IQD being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 6,700 IQD but can range between 4,000 IQD and 20,000 IQD depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in An-Najaf is around 6.8%. This means that people pay 6.8% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 3.9% to 11% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in An-Najaf

Prices and cost of goods and services in An-Najaf

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

1,000 IQD

2,000 IQD

3,400 IQD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.77

$1.5

$2.6

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in An-Najaf is approximatly 2,000 IQD with meal cost ranging from 1,000 IQD to 3,400 IQD. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

3,400 IQD

5,100 IQD

10,000 IQD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.6

$3.9

$7.8

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 3,400 IQD and 10,000 IQD with 5,100 IQD being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in An-Najaf.

Fine dining meal for one price

6,800 IQD

10,000 IQD

41,000 IQD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$5.2

$7.8

$31

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 6,800 IQD to 41,000 IQD with the average cost being 10,000 IQD for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in An-Najaf.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

840 IQD

1,300 IQD

2,000 IQD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.64

$1

$1.5

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in An-Najaf is around 1,300 IQD. Price ranges between 840 IQD and 2,000 IQD depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

670 IQD

810 IQD

1,000 IQD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.51

$0.62

$0.77

The average price of a large bottle of milk in An-Najaf is 810 IQD. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 1,000 IQD and the minimum being 670 IQD depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

500 IQD

670 IQD

1,000 IQD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.39

$0.51

$0.77

A dozen eggs costs around 670 IQD on average with 500 IQD and 1,000 IQD being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

1,100 IQD

1,500 IQD

2,100 IQD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.88

$1.1

$1.6

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in An-Najaf is between 1,100 IQD and 2,100 IQD depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 1,500 IQD.

Pack of beef price

1,300 IQD

2,000 IQD

4,000 IQD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1

$1.5

$3.1

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 2,000 IQD. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

540 IQD

740 IQD

1,100 IQD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.41

$0.57

$0.80

A bag of rice in An-Najaf costs around 740 IQD on average with prices rangeing between 540 IQD and 1,100 IQD depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

200 IQD

270 IQD

500 IQD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.15

$0.21

$0.39

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 200 IQD to 500 IQD. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

360 IQD

470 IQD

780 IQD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.28

$0.36

$0.59

A bag of apples costs 470 IQD on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in An-Najaf is around 26%. This means that students spend 26% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 19% to 32% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for students