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: $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 Kazimiyah 46% lower, Baghdad 20% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Kazimiyah
Baghdad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.94 IQD 5,161
$5.30 IQD 6,947
-25.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.95 IQD 32.7K
$36.81 IQD 48.2K
-32.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.91 IQD 9,055
$7.78 IQD 10.2K
-11.18%
Cappuccino
$2.55 IQD 3,337
$3.11 IQD 4,074
-18.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 IQD 483
$0.40 IQD 522
-7.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16 IQD 214
$0.18 IQD 233
-11.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 IQD 3,917
$3.49 IQD 4,576
-14.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 IQD 3,741
$2.82 IQD 3,686
1.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Kazimiyah
Baghdad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.37 IQD 1,788
$1.31 IQD 1,722
4.58%
White Bread (500g)
$0.84 IQD 1,100
$0.84 IQD 1,100
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 IQD 2,146
$1.64 IQD 2,152
-
Eggs
$1.80 IQD 2,357
$1.81 IQD 2,364
-0.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.42 IQD 5,790
$4.52 IQD 5,923
-2.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.78 IQD 6,259
$4.86 IQD 6,364
-1.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.42 IQD 17.6K
$14.16 IQD 18.5K
-5.23%
Apples (1kg)
$1.20 IQD 1,578
$1.23 IQD 1,615
-2.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.21 IQD 1,585
$1.16 IQD 1,519
4.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.00 IQD 1,313
$1.04 IQD 1,366
-3.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.73 IQD 961
$0.75 IQD 984
-2.67%
Potato (1kg)
$0.64 IQD 841
$0.64 IQD 843
-
Onion (1kg)
$0.62 IQD 814
$0.67 IQD 873
-7.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.63 IQD 829
$0.63 IQD 828
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 IQD 737
$0.66 IQD 858
-15.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.88 IQD 2,457
$2.07 IQD 2,707
-9.18%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$13.33 IQD 17.5K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 IQD 2,416
$1.80 IQD 2,354
2.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 IQD 2,822
$2.11 IQD 2,762
1.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Al Kazimiyah
Baghdad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.40 IQD 518
$0.74 IQD 965
-45.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.10 IQD 40.7K
$27.86 IQD 36.5K
11.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.33 IQD 3,048
$3.72 IQD 4,870
-37.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 IQD 2,007
$1.55 IQD 2,026
-1.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.96 IQD 7,801
$7.49 IQD 9,803
-20.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.57 IQD 752
$0.53 IQD 700
7.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.8K IQD 24.6M
$20.0K IQD 26.2M
-6.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.9K IQD 26.1M
$20.3K IQD 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)
$76.3 IQD 99.9K
$175 IQD 229.3K
-56.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.47 IQD 22.9K
$26.17 IQD 34.3K
-33.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.12 IQD 44.7K
$40.52 IQD 53.1K
-15.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Kazimiyah
Baghdad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.07 IQD 47.2K
$42.04 IQD 55.1K
-14.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.91 IQD 22.1K
$18.31 IQD 24.0K
-7.65%
Cinema Ticket
$7.73 IQD 10.1K
$7.49 IQD 9,813
3.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Kazimiyah
Baghdad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$151 IQD 197.3K
$166 IQD 217.8K
-9.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,327 IQD 4.4M
$3,526 IQD 4.6M
-5.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Kazimiyah
Baghdad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.55 IQD 36.1K
$28.00 IQD 36.7K
-1.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.18 IQD 33.0K
$30.12 IQD 39.4K
-16.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$62.0 IQD 81.2K
$63.9 IQD 83.7K
-2.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.64 IQD 53.2K
$43.06 IQD 56.4K
-5.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Kazimiyah
Baghdad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$241 IQD 315.8K
$548 IQD 717.9K
-56.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$179 IQD 234.1K
$323 IQD 422.7K
-44.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$580 IQD 759.4K
$834 IQD 1.1M
-30.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$348 IQD 456.2K
$597 IQD 781.1K
-41.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,734 IQD 6.2M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,570 IQD 2.1M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Kazimiyah
Baghdad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$629 IQD 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.

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