🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $723 in Al Kazimiyah versus $1,066 in Baghdad.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,154 in Al Kazimiyah versus $1,598 in Baghdad.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,585 in Al Kazimiyah versus $2,130 in Baghdad.
🌍Living in Al Kazimiyah costs roughly 32% less than in Baghdad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Al Kazimiyah46% lower, Baghdad20% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Kazimiyah
Baghdad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.94IQD 5,161
$5.30IQD 6,947
-25.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.95IQD 32.7K
$36.81IQD 48.2K
-32.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.91IQD 9,055
$7.78IQD 10.2K
-11.18%
Cappuccino
$2.55IQD 3,337
$3.11IQD 4,074
-18.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37IQD 483
$0.40IQD 522
-7.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16IQD 214
$0.18IQD 233
-11.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.99IQD 3,917
$3.49IQD 4,576
-14.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86IQD 3,741
$2.82IQD 3,686
1.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Kazimiyah
Baghdad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.37IQD 1,788
$1.31IQD 1,722
4.58%
White Bread(500g)
$0.84IQD 1,100
$0.84IQD 1,100
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64IQD 2,146
$1.64IQD 2,152
-
Eggs
$1.80IQD 2,357
$1.81IQD 2,364
-0.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.42IQD 5,790
$4.52IQD 5,923
-2.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.78IQD 6,259
$4.86IQD 6,364
-1.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.42IQD 17.6K
$14.16IQD 18.5K
-5.23%
Apples(1kg)
$1.20IQD 1,578
$1.23IQD 1,615
-2.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21IQD 1,585
$1.16IQD 1,519
4.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.00IQD 1,313
$1.04IQD 1,366
-3.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.73IQD 961
$0.75IQD 984
-2.67%
Potato(1kg)
$0.64IQD 841
$0.64IQD 843
-
Onion(1kg)
$0.62IQD 814
$0.67IQD 873
-7.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.63IQD 829
$0.63IQD 828
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56IQD 737
$0.66IQD 858
-15.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.88IQD 2,457
$2.07IQD 2,707
-9.18%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$13.33IQD 17.5K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84IQD 2,416
$1.80IQD 2,354
2.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15IQD 2,822
$2.11IQD 2,762
1.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Al Kazimiyah
Baghdad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.40IQD 518
$0.74IQD 965
-45.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.10IQD 40.7K
$27.86IQD 36.5K
11.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.33IQD 3,048
$3.72IQD 4,870
-37.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.53IQD 2,007
$1.55IQD 2,026
-1.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.96IQD 7,801
$7.49IQD 9,803
-20.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.57IQD 752
$0.53IQD 700
7.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.8KIQD 24.6M
$20.0KIQD 26.2M
-6.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.9KIQD 26.1M
$20.3KIQD 26.6M
-2.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Kazimiyah
Baghdad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$76.3IQD 99.9K
$175IQD 229.3K
-56.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.47IQD 22.9K
$26.17IQD 34.3K
-33.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.12IQD 44.7K
$40.52IQD 53.1K
-15.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Kazimiyah
Baghdad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.07IQD 47.2K
$42.04IQD 55.1K
-14.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.91IQD 22.1K
$18.31IQD 24.0K
-7.65%
Cinema Ticket
$7.73IQD 10.1K
$7.49IQD 9,813
3.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Kazimiyah
Baghdad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$151IQD 197.3K
$166IQD 217.8K
-9.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,327IQD 4.4M
$3,526IQD 4.6M
-5.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Kazimiyah
Baghdad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.55IQD 36.1K
$28.00IQD 36.7K
-1.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.18IQD 33.0K
$30.12IQD 39.4K
-16.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$62.0IQD 81.2K
$63.9IQD 83.7K
-2.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.64IQD 53.2K
$43.06IQD 56.4K
-5.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Kazimiyah
Baghdad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$241IQD 315.8K
$548IQD 717.9K
-56.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$179IQD 234.1K
$323IQD 422.7K
-44.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$580IQD 759.4K
$834IQD 1.1M
-30.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$348IQD 456.2K
$597IQD 781.1K
-41.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,734IQD 6.2M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,570IQD 2.1M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Kazimiyah
Baghdad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$629IQD 823.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.67
5.67
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Al Kazimiyah: July 12, 2026
Last update for Baghdad: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $241 in Al Kazimiyah and $548 in Baghdad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $25.00 in Al Kazimiyah vs $37.00 in Baghdad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $160 vs $190 per month, with Al Kazimiyah cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Al Kazimiyah vs Baghdad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Baghdad cheaper than Al Kazimiyah?
Al Kazimiyah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 48% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,084 in Al Kazimiyah and $1,600 in Baghdad to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Al Kazimiyah and Baghdad?
Rent for a central apartment: $241 in Al Kazimiyah versus $548 in Baghdad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Al Kazimiyah or in Baghdad?
Dining out is cheaper in Al Kazimiyah – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $37.00 in Baghdad. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Al Kazimiyah and in Baghdad?
All in, you'll spend $723 per month in Al Kazimiyah versus $1,066 in Baghdad – a 48% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Al Kazimiyah or in Baghdad?
At $723 in Al Kazimiyah versus $1,066 in Baghdad, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al Kazimiyah but tight or insufficient in Baghdad. The gap between the two cities makes Al Kazimiyah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Al Kazimiyah or in Baghdad?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Al Kazimiyah or Baghdad?
Safety-wise, Al Kazimiyah and Baghdad are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Al Kazimiyah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Al Kazimiyah vs other spots: cost of living compared