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: $1,054 in Baghdad versus $732 in Al Kazimiyah.

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

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

Living in Baghdad is roughly 44% more expensive than Al Kazimiyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.48 IQD 7,181

$3.99 IQD 5,226

37.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.97 IQD 48.4K

$24.69 IQD 32.3K

49.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.57 IQD 9,909

$6.81 IQD 8,912

11.16%

Cappuccino

$3.06 IQD 4,003

$2.64 IQD 3,455

15.91%

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

$0.40 IQD 518

$0.37 IQD 483

8.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 242

$0.21 IQD 280

-14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.42 IQD 4,485

$2.89 IQD 3,779

18.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 IQD 3,853

$2.81 IQD 3,683

4.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,726

$1.33 IQD 1,741

-0.75%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,017

$0.78 IQD 1,015

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 IQD 2,166

$1.58 IQD 2,064

4.43%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,350

$1.72 IQD 2,258

4.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 IQD 5,763

$4.48 IQD 5,860

-1.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.07 IQD 6,636

$4.64 IQD 6,082

9.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.34 IQD 18.8K

$13.08 IQD 17.1K

9.63%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,612

$1.15 IQD 1,510

6.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,530

$1.15 IQD 1,505

1.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,329

$1.05 IQD 1,380

-3.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 922

$0.75 IQD 979

-6.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 911

$0.68 IQD 892

2.94%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 835

$0.67 IQD 875

-4.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 822

$0.68 IQD 884

-7.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 871

$0.55 IQD 720

20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.11 IQD 2,765

$1.88 IQD 2,460

12.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.35 IQD 17.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 IQD 2,301

$1.86 IQD 2,438

-5.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,815

$2.07 IQD 2,714

3.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 IQD 1,027

$0.40 IQD 518

95.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.60 IQD 37.4K

$31.41 IQD 41.1K

-8.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.88 IQD 5,087

$2.34 IQD 3,069

65.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,923

$1.50 IQD 1,960

-2.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

$5.86 IQD 7,678

33.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 737

$0.54 IQD 704

3.70%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

8.33%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

0.74%

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

$181 IQD 237.4K

$76.2 IQD 99.8K

137.81%

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

$25.40 IQD 33.3K

$17.58 IQD 23.0K

44.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.16 IQD 52.6K

$34.07 IQD 44.6K

17.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 IQD 54.1K

$37.20 IQD 48.7K

10.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.43 IQD 24.1K

$16.68 IQD 21.8K

10.49%

Cinema Ticket

$7.82 IQD 10.2K

$7.56 IQD 9,905

3.44%

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

$163 IQD 213.2K

$152 IQD 199.3K

6.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,573 IQD 4.7M

$3,248 IQD 4.3M

10.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.57 IQD 37.4K

$26.60 IQD 34.8K

7.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.72 IQD 40.2K

$25.38 IQD 33.2K

21.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.4 IQD 83.0K

$60.1 IQD 78.7K

5.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.53 IQD 57.0K

$41.64 IQD 54.5K

4.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$540 IQD 707.6K

$247 IQD 322.9K

119.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$321 IQD 420.5K

$177 IQD 232.4K

80.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$818 IQD 1.1M

$572 IQD 748.4K

43.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$580 IQD 759.9K

$350 IQD 458.5K

65.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,034 IQD 5.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,617 IQD 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$642 IQD 841.2K

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Al Kazimiyah: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $540 in Baghdad and $247 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 $191 vs $157 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 44% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,581 in Baghdad and $1,098 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: $540 in Baghdad versus $247 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 $1,054 per month in Baghdad versus $732 in Al Kazimiyah – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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.

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 44% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.