Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Kazimiyah and Baghdad Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Kazimiyah and Baghdad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $732 in Al Kazimiyah versus $1,054 in Baghdad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,160 in Al Kazimiyah versus $1,592 in Baghdad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,589 in Al Kazimiyah versus $2,130 in Baghdad.

Living in Al Kazimiyah costs roughly 31% less than in Baghdad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al Kazimiyah 45% lower, Baghdad 21% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Kazimiyah
Baghdad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.99 IQD 5,226
$5.48 IQD 7,181
-27.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.69 IQD 32.3K
$36.97 IQD 48.4K
-33.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.81 IQD 8,912
$7.57 IQD 9,909
-10.04%
Cappuccino
$2.64 IQD 3,455
$3.06 IQD 4,003
-13.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 IQD 483
$0.40 IQD 518
-7.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21 IQD 280
$0.18 IQD 242
16.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.89 IQD 3,779
$3.42 IQD 4,485
-15.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 IQD 3,683
$2.94 IQD 3,853
-4.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Kazimiyah
Baghdad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.33 IQD 1,741
$1.32 IQD 1,726
0.76%
White Bread (500g)
$0.78 IQD 1,015
$0.78 IQD 1,017
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.58 IQD 2,064
$1.65 IQD 2,166
-4.24%
Eggs
$1.72 IQD 2,258
$1.79 IQD 2,350
-3.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.48 IQD 5,860
$4.40 IQD 5,763
1.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.64 IQD 6,082
$5.07 IQD 6,636
-8.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.08 IQD 17.1K
$14.34 IQD 18.8K
-8.79%
Apples (1kg)
$1.15 IQD 1,510
$1.23 IQD 1,612
-6.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.15 IQD 1,505
$1.17 IQD 1,530
-1.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.05 IQD 1,380
$1.01 IQD 1,329
3.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.75 IQD 979
$0.70 IQD 922
7.14%
Potato (1kg)
$0.68 IQD 892
$0.70 IQD 911
-2.86%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 IQD 875
$0.64 IQD 835
4.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 IQD 884
$0.63 IQD 822
7.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 IQD 720
$0.66 IQD 871
-16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.88 IQD 2,460
$2.11 IQD 2,765
-10.90%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$13.35 IQD 17.5K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 IQD 2,438
$1.76 IQD 2,301
5.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 IQD 2,714
$2.15 IQD 2,815
-3.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Al Kazimiyah
Baghdad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.40 IQD 518
$0.78 IQD 1,027
-48.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.41 IQD 41.1K
$28.60 IQD 37.4K
9.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.34 IQD 3,069
$3.88 IQD 5,087
-39.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.50 IQD 1,960
$1.47 IQD 1,923
2.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.86 IQD 7,678
$7.85 IQD 10.3K
-25.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.54 IQD 704
$0.56 IQD 737
-3.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.8K IQD 24.6M
$20.3K IQD 26.6M
-7.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K IQD 25.9M
$19.9K IQD 26.1M
-0.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Kazimiyah
Baghdad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$76.2 IQD 99.8K
$181 IQD 237.4K
-57.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.58 IQD 23.0K
$25.40 IQD 33.3K
-30.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.07 IQD 44.6K
$40.16 IQD 52.6K
-15.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Kazimiyah
Baghdad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.20 IQD 48.7K
$41.29 IQD 54.1K
-9.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.68 IQD 21.8K
$18.43 IQD 24.1K
-9.50%
Cinema Ticket
$7.56 IQD 9,905
$7.82 IQD 10.2K
-3.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Kazimiyah
Baghdad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$152 IQD 199.3K
$163 IQD 213.2K
-6.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,248 IQD 4.3M
$3,573 IQD 4.7M
-9.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Kazimiyah
Baghdad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.60 IQD 34.8K
$28.57 IQD 37.4K
-6.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.38 IQD 33.2K
$30.72 IQD 40.2K
-17.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$60.1 IQD 78.7K
$63.4 IQD 83.0K
-5.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.64 IQD 54.5K
$43.53 IQD 57.0K
-4.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Kazimiyah
Baghdad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$247 IQD 322.9K
$540 IQD 707.6K
-54.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$177 IQD 232.4K
$321 IQD 420.5K
-44.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$572 IQD 748.4K
$818 IQD 1.1M
-30.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$350 IQD 458.5K
$580 IQD 759.9K
-39.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,034 IQD 5.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,617 IQD 2.1M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Kazimiyah
Baghdad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$642 IQD 841.2K
-
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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $247 in Al Kazimiyah and $540 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 $157 vs $191 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, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 44% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,098 in Al Kazimiyah and $1,581 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: $247 in Al Kazimiyah versus $540 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 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 vs Baghdad?
All in, you'll spend $732 per month in Al Kazimiyah versus $1,054 in Baghdad – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Al Kazimiyah or Baghdad?
At $732 in Al Kazimiyah versus $1,054 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 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 44% 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

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