Baghdad - Post Report Question and Answers
How would you describe the availability and cost of groceries and household supplies relative to your home country?
Limited variety, but plenty of basics. Supplement with your consumables shipments. Plenty of cleaning supplies so don't waste your time shipping any of those items. - Apr 2019
There is a PX with basically everything Walgreens or CVS would have (maybe not the exact brand you want). You could get by without sending consumables. Groceries is N/A unless you want to get stuff to grill yourself. - Jul 2018
The Diplomart was pretty well stocked with everything that you actually need, but the best bet was to rely on the DPO. Most DOS contractors were unable to use the mail, though, so they'd load up while on leave. - Jan 2016
There are a few options at the small stores on compound but you would do better to ship non-perishables in your small consumables shipment. - Feb 2014
The PX is going away, and shipping takes months, so bring all the toiletries you'll need before your first R&R. Your shoes will be ruined by the cobblestones, so bring flats or wedges if you're a woman. It gets chilly in the winter so bring sweaters and a jacket. Bring stuff to gussy up your apartment. And lots and lots of specialty food supplies if you plan on cooking - which you should, as you can now get good Iraqi fruit and vegetables pretty easily at the 215 apartments and by Babylon restaurant across the street. The DFAC is disgusting and your hair and clothes will stink after "dining" there. - Jan 2014
You can get things super cheap at the PX (as long as it stays open, there's noise about closing it since the military is long gone), only don't expect to do much actual grocery shopping here. All you can get, food-wise, is frozen junk food, cake mixes, noodle cups, and more varieties of beef jerky than you knew existed (ditto protein powder). And a lot of meats for barbecuing. The selection of toiletries/cleaning products is not bad, though. There's also a small local grocery on the compound where you can get more normal "ingredients" (vs. just heat-and-eat), dairy, and produce. - Jan 2013
AAFES. Currently, food is free in the DFAC, and nobody has said anything about that changing after the military leaves. - Nov 2011
The prices at the PX are about what you would pay in the US. Many people opt to do their own laundry and buy detergent there. You can buy booze, dvds, cleaning supplies, etc at the PX. - Sep 2010
