🙂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 Kazimiyah45% lower, Baghdad21% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Kazimiyah
Baghdad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.99IQD 5,226
$5.48IQD 7,181
-27.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.69IQD 32.3K
$36.97IQD 48.4K
-33.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.81IQD 8,912
$7.57IQD 9,909
-10.04%
Cappuccino
$2.64IQD 3,455
$3.06IQD 4,003
-13.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37IQD 483
$0.40IQD 518
-7.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21IQD 280
$0.18IQD 242
16.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.89IQD 3,779
$3.42IQD 4,485
-15.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81IQD 3,683
$2.94IQD 3,853
-4.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Kazimiyah
Baghdad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33IQD 1,741
$1.32IQD 1,726
0.76%
White Bread(500g)
$0.78IQD 1,015
$0.78IQD 1,017
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58IQD 2,064
$1.65IQD 2,166
-4.24%
Eggs
$1.72IQD 2,258
$1.79IQD 2,350
-3.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.48IQD 5,860
$4.40IQD 5,763
1.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.64IQD 6,082
$5.07IQD 6,636
-8.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.08IQD 17.1K
$14.34IQD 18.8K
-8.79%
Apples(1kg)
$1.15IQD 1,510
$1.23IQD 1,612
-6.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.15IQD 1,505
$1.17IQD 1,530
-1.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.05IQD 1,380
$1.01IQD 1,329
3.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.75IQD 979
$0.70IQD 922
7.14%
Potato(1kg)
$0.68IQD 892
$0.70IQD 911
-2.86%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67IQD 875
$0.64IQD 835
4.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.68IQD 884
$0.63IQD 822
7.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55IQD 720
$0.66IQD 871
-16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.88IQD 2,460
$2.11IQD 2,765
-10.90%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$13.35IQD 17.5K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86IQD 2,438
$1.76IQD 2,301
5.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07IQD 2,714
$2.15IQD 2,815
-3.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Al Kazimiyah
Baghdad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.40IQD 518
$0.78IQD 1,027
-48.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.41IQD 41.1K
$28.60IQD 37.4K
9.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.34IQD 3,069
$3.88IQD 5,087
-39.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.50IQD 1,960
$1.47IQD 1,923
2.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.86IQD 7,678
$7.85IQD 10.3K
-25.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.54IQD 704
$0.56IQD 737
-3.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.8KIQD 24.6M
$20.3KIQD 26.6M
-7.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8KIQD 25.9M
$19.9KIQD 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)
$76.2IQD 99.8K
$181IQD 237.4K
-57.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.58IQD 23.0K
$25.40IQD 33.3K
-30.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.07IQD 44.6K
$40.16IQD 52.6K
-15.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Kazimiyah
Baghdad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.20IQD 48.7K
$41.29IQD 54.1K
-9.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.68IQD 21.8K
$18.43IQD 24.1K
-9.50%
Cinema Ticket
$7.56IQD 9,905
$7.82IQD 10.2K
-3.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Kazimiyah
Baghdad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$152IQD 199.3K
$163IQD 213.2K
-6.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,248IQD 4.3M
$3,573IQD 4.7M
-9.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Kazimiyah
Baghdad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.60IQD 34.8K
$28.57IQD 37.4K
-6.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.38IQD 33.2K
$30.72IQD 40.2K
-17.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$60.1IQD 78.7K
$63.4IQD 83.0K
-5.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.64IQD 54.5K
$43.53IQD 57.0K
-4.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Kazimiyah
Baghdad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$247IQD 322.9K
$540IQD 707.6K
-54.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$177IQD 232.4K
$321IQD 420.5K
-44.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$572IQD 748.4K
$818IQD 1.1M
-30.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$350IQD 458.5K
$580IQD 759.9K
-39.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,034IQD 5.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,617IQD 2.1M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Kazimiyah
Baghdad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$642IQD 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