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: $1,066 in Baghdad versus $523 in Kalar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,598 in Baghdad versus $785 in Kalar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,130 in Baghdad versus $1,047 in Kalar.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 104% more expensive than in Kalar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 20% lower, Kalar 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.30 IQD 6,947

$1.96 IQD 2,562

170.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.81 IQD 48.2K

$12.32 IQD 16.1K

198.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$3.73 IQD 4,890

108.58%

Cappuccino

$3.11 IQD 4,074

$1.00 IQD 1,311

211.00%

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

$0.40 IQD 522

$0.48 IQD 634

-16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 233

$0.16 IQD 212

12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.49 IQD 4,576

$1.99 IQD 2,607

75.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 IQD 3,687

$2.15 IQD 2,813

31.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,722

$1.05 IQD 1,376

24.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 IQD 1,100

$0.79 IQD 1,041

6.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 IQD 2,152

$1.51 IQD 1,977

8.61%

Eggs

$1.81 IQD 2,364

$1.31 IQD 1,710

38.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.52 IQD 5,924

$3.42 IQD 4,481

32.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.86 IQD 6,364

$2.25 IQD 2,944

116.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.16 IQD 18.5K

$12.60 IQD 16.5K

12.38%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,615

$0.95 IQD 1,243

29.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,519

$1.19 IQD 1,554

-2.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,366

$0.94 IQD 1,233

10.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 984

$0.77 IQD 1,003

-2.60%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 843

$0.69 IQD 906

-7.25%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 873

$0.70 IQD 917

-4.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 828

$0.73 IQD 958

-13.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 858

$0.45 IQD 588

46.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.07 IQD 2,707

$2.72 IQD 3,565

-23.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.33 IQD 17.5K

$12.58 IQD 16.5K

5.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 IQD 2,354

$1.38 IQD 1,811

30.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 IQD 2,763

$1.93 IQD 2,529

9.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 IQD 965

$0.59 IQD 773

25.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.86 IQD 36.5K

$30.84 IQD 40.4K

-9.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.72 IQD 4,870

$2.29 IQD 2,998

62.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 IQD 2,026

$1.90 IQD 2,488

-18.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.49 IQD 9,803

$3.79 IQD 4,957

97.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 700

$0.68 IQD 892

-22.06%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

$17.0K IQD 22.3M

17.86%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

7.06%

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

$175 IQD 229.3K

$53.7 IQD 70.3K

226.08%

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

$26.17 IQD 34.3K

$13.49 IQD 17.7K

94.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.52 IQD 53.1K

$24.54 IQD 32.1K

65.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.04 IQD 55.1K

$19.45 IQD 25.5K

116.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.31 IQD 24.0K

$16.62 IQD 21.8K

10.17%

Cinema Ticket

$7.49 IQD 9,813

$7.60 IQD 9,949

-1.45%

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

$166 IQD 217.8K

$50.1 IQD 65.6K

232.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,526 IQD 4.6M

$1,558 IQD 2.0M

126.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.00 IQD 36.7K

$12.57 IQD 16.5K

122.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.12 IQD 39.4K

$14.16 IQD 18.5K

112.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.9 IQD 83.7K

$27.05 IQD 35.4K

136.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.06 IQD 56.4K

$32.87 IQD 43.0K

31.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$548 IQD 717.9K

$170 IQD 222.8K

222.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$323 IQD 422.7K

$105 IQD 137.4K

207.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$834 IQD 1.1M

$290 IQD 379.7K

187.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$597 IQD 781.2K

$149 IQD 195.4K

299.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,734 IQD 6.2M

$3,310 IQD 4.3M

43.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,570 IQD 2.1M

$459 IQD 601.3K

241.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$629 IQD 823.3K

$337 IQD 441.5K

86.48%

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 Kalar: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $548 in Baghdad and $170 in Kalar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 86% 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 $190 vs $156 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 104% 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.

Average pay runs 86% higher in Baghdad, 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: $548 in Baghdad versus $170 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 11% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $166 in Baghdad versus $50.1 in Kalar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $523 in Kalar versus $1,066 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 104% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.