Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Kalar Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Kalar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,054 in Baghdad versus $519 in Kalar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,592 in Baghdad versus $776 in Kalar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,130 in Baghdad versus $1,034 in Kalar.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 103% more expensive than Kalar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 21% lower, Kalar 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.48 IQD 7,181

$1.86 IQD 2,435

194.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.97 IQD 48.4K

$12.16 IQD 15.9K

204.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.57 IQD 9,909

$3.61 IQD 4,722

109.70%

Cappuccino

$3.06 IQD 4,003

$1.04 IQD 1,365

194.23%

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

$0.40 IQD 518

$0.49 IQD 637

-18.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 242

$0.15 IQD 200

20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.42 IQD 4,485

$1.93 IQD 2,528

77.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 IQD 3,853

$2.06 IQD 2,700

42.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,726

$1.05 IQD 1,374

25.71%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,017

$0.85 IQD 1,107

-8.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 IQD 2,166

$1.56 IQD 2,042

5.77%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,350

$1.32 IQD 1,730

35.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 IQD 5,763

$3.52 IQD 4,604

25.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.07 IQD 6,636

$2.35 IQD 3,079

115.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.34 IQD 18.8K

$12.29 IQD 16.1K

16.68%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,612

$0.92 IQD 1,204

33.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,530

$1.14 IQD 1,495

2.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,329

$1.00 IQD 1,309

1.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 922

$0.75 IQD 980

-6.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 911

$0.70 IQD 920

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 835

$0.72 IQD 941

-11.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 822

$0.71 IQD 934

-11.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 871

$0.44 IQD 581

50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.11 IQD 2,765

$2.65 IQD 3,468

-20.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.35 IQD 17.5K

$12.66 IQD 16.6K

5.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 IQD 2,301

$1.43 IQD 1,877

23.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,815

$1.95 IQD 2,550

10.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 IQD 1,027

$0.59 IQD 776

32.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.60 IQD 37.4K

$31.03 IQD 40.6K

-7.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.88 IQD 5,087

$2.33 IQD 3,054

66.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,923

$1.88 IQD 2,456

-21.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

$3.79 IQD 4,966

107.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 737

$0.64 IQD 840

-12.50%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$16.9K IQD 22.2M

20.08%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

5.90%

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

$181 IQD 237.4K

$54.5 IQD 71.3K

232.93%

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

$25.40 IQD 33.3K

$13.55 IQD 17.7K

87.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.16 IQD 52.6K

$23.89 IQD 31.3K

68.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 IQD 54.1K

$19.20 IQD 25.1K

115.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.43 IQD 24.1K

$17.14 IQD 22.4K

7.53%

Cinema Ticket

$7.82 IQD 10.2K

$7.55 IQD 9,881

3.58%

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

$163 IQD 213.2K

$52.0 IQD 68.1K

212.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,573 IQD 4.7M

$1,522 IQD 2.0M

134.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.57 IQD 37.4K

$12.83 IQD 16.8K

122.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.72 IQD 40.2K

$13.93 IQD 18.2K

120.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.4 IQD 83.0K

$26.51 IQD 34.7K

139.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.53 IQD 57.0K

$32.27 IQD 42.3K

34.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$540 IQD 707.6K

$174 IQD 228.0K

210.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$321 IQD 420.5K

$105 IQD 137.0K

207.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$818 IQD 1.1M

$282 IQD 368.6K

190.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$580 IQD 759.9K

$146 IQD 190.5K

298.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,034 IQD 5.3M

$3,312 IQD 4.3M

21.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,617 IQD 2.1M

$456 IQD 597.7K

254.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$642 IQD 841.2K

$337 IQD 441.8K

90.40%

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 Kalar: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $540 in Baghdad and $174 in Kalar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 90% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $37.00 in Baghdad vs $12.00 in Kalar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $191 vs $157 per month, with Kalar 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 Kalar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kalar wins on cost – living expenses run 103% lower than in Baghdad. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kalar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Baghdad pays 90% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $540 in Baghdad versus $174 in Kalar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Kalar runs roughly 8% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $163 in Baghdad versus $52.0 in Kalar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $519 in Kalar versus $1,054 in Baghdad, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kalar but tight or insufficient in Baghdad. The gap between the two cities makes Kalar 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.

Expats usually find Kalar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 103% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.