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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,066 in Baghdad versus $723 in Al Kazimiyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,598 in Baghdad versus $1,154 in Al Kazimiyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,130 in Baghdad versus $1,585 in Al Kazimiyah.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 48% more expensive than in Al Kazimiyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 20% lower, Al Kazimiyah 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.30 IQD 6,947

$3.94 IQD 5,161

34.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.81 IQD 48.2K

$24.95 IQD 32.7K

47.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$6.91 IQD 9,055

12.59%

Cappuccino

$3.11 IQD 4,074

$2.55 IQD 3,337

21.96%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 IQD 522

$0.37 IQD 483

8.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 233

$0.16 IQD 214

12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.49 IQD 4,576

$2.99 IQD 3,917

16.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 IQD 3,686

$2.86 IQD 3,741

-1.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,722

$1.37 IQD 1,788

-4.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 IQD 1,100

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 IQD 2,152

$1.64 IQD 2,146

Eggs

$1.81 IQD 2,364

$1.80 IQD 2,357

0.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.52 IQD 5,923

$4.42 IQD 5,790

2.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.86 IQD 6,364

$4.78 IQD 6,259

1.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.16 IQD 18.5K

$13.42 IQD 17.6K

5.51%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,615

$1.20 IQD 1,578

2.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,519

$1.21 IQD 1,585

-4.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,366

$1.00 IQD 1,313

4.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 984

$0.73 IQD 961

2.74%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 843

$0.64 IQD 841

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 873

$0.62 IQD 814

8.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 828

$0.63 IQD 829

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 858

$0.56 IQD 737

17.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.07 IQD 2,707

$1.88 IQD 2,457

10.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.33 IQD 17.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 IQD 2,354

$1.84 IQD 2,416

-2.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 IQD 2,762

$2.15 IQD 2,822

-1.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 IQD 965

$0.40 IQD 518

85.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.86 IQD 36.5K

$31.10 IQD 40.7K

-10.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.72 IQD 4,870

$2.33 IQD 3,048

59.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 IQD 2,026

$1.53 IQD 2,007

1.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.49 IQD 9,803

$5.96 IQD 7,801

25.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 700

$0.57 IQD 752

-7.02%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

6.44%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

2.05%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$175 IQD 229.3K

$76.3 IQD 99.9K

129.42%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$26.17 IQD 34.3K

$17.47 IQD 22.9K

49.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.52 IQD 53.1K

$34.12 IQD 44.7K

18.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.04 IQD 55.1K

$36.07 IQD 47.2K

16.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.31 IQD 24.0K

$16.91 IQD 22.1K

8.28%

Cinema Ticket

$7.49 IQD 9,813

$7.73 IQD 10.1K

-3.10%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$166 IQD 217.8K

$151 IQD 197.3K

10.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,526 IQD 4.6M

$3,327 IQD 4.4M

5.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.00 IQD 36.7K

$27.55 IQD 36.1K

1.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.12 IQD 39.4K

$25.18 IQD 33.0K

19.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.9 IQD 83.7K

$62.0 IQD 81.2K

3.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.06 IQD 56.4K

$40.64 IQD 53.2K

5.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$548 IQD 717.9K

$241 IQD 315.8K

127.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$323 IQD 422.7K

$179 IQD 234.1K

80.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$834 IQD 1.1M

$580 IQD 759.4K

43.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$597 IQD 781.1K

$348 IQD 456.2K

71.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,734 IQD 6.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,570 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$629 IQD 823.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Baghdad: July 14, 2026

Last update for Al Kazimiyah: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $548 in Baghdad and $241 in Al Kazimiyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $37.00 in Baghdad vs $25.00 in Al Kazimiyah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $160 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

Baghdad vs Al Kazimiyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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.

You'd need roughly $1,600 in Baghdad and $1,084 in Al Kazimiyah 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $548 in Baghdad versus $241 in Al Kazimiyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

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.

All in, you'll spend $1,066 per month in Baghdad versus $723 in Al Kazimiyah – a 48% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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.

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.

Safety-wise, Baghdad and Al Kazimiyah are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

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.