Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Karbala Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Karbala

😐 Solo nomad: Baghdad is 22.6% more expensive than Karbala without rent, and 66.1% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Baghdad is 22.3% more expensive than Karbala without rent, and 66.4% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.44 IQD 7,129

$4.89 IQD 6,407

11.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.99 IQD 47.1K

$15.02 IQD 19.7K

139.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.88 IQD 10.3K

$5.48 IQD 7,177

43.80%

Cappuccino

$2.94 IQD 3,855

$1.66 IQD 2,169

77.11%

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

$0.37 IQD 481

$0.37 IQD 482

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 227

$0.28 IQD 365

-39.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.42 IQD 4,481

$1.90 IQD 2,486

80.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 IQD 3,797

$2.93 IQD 3,838

-1.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 IQD 1,774

$1.18 IQD 1,549

14.41%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,035

$0.68 IQD 897

16.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 IQD 2,071

$1.43 IQD 1,869

10.49%

Eggs

$1.72 IQD 2,254

$1.72 IQD 2,259

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.62 IQD 6,045

$5.23 IQD 6,844

-11.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.96 IQD 6,495

$4.64 IQD 6,078

6.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.02 IQD 18.4K

$9.52 IQD 12.5K

47.27%

Apples (1kg)

$1.29 IQD 1,684

$0.92 IQD 1,204

40.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,524

$1.08 IQD 1,411

7.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 IQD 1,312

$0.91 IQD 1,197

9.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 971

$0.67 IQD 883

10.45%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 911

$0.64 IQD 837

9.37%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 874

$0.51 IQD 666

31.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 823

$0.55 IQD 723

14.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 IQD 814

$0.62 IQD 817

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.12 IQD 2,778

$1.86 IQD 2,441

13.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.33 IQD 17.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 IQD 2,387

$1.06 IQD 1,382

71.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 IQD 2,836

$2.15 IQD 2,818

0.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 IQD 994

$0.36 IQD 478

111.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.28 IQD 37.0K

$30.74 IQD 40.3K

-8.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.72 IQD 4,875

$2.27 IQD 2,970

63.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 IQD 2,037

$1.49 IQD 1,949

4.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.80 IQD 10.2K

$7.60 IQD 9,956

2.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.58 IQD 754

$0.49 IQD 638

18.37%

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

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

$11.3K IQD 14.9M

74.33%

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

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

$14.3K IQD 18.7M

38.47%

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

$180 IQD 235.4K

$71.0 IQD 93.0K

153.12%

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

$26.19 IQD 34.3K

$24.77 IQD 32.4K

5.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.51 IQD 53.1K

$49.02 IQD 64.2K

-17.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.15 IQD 53.9K

$23.23 IQD 30.4K

77.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.70 IQD 24.5K

$16.89 IQD 22.1K

10.72%

Cinema Ticket

$7.52 IQD 9,854

$8.78 IQD 11.5K

-14.35%

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

$164 IQD 214.5K

$127 IQD 166.9K

28.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,599 IQD 4.7M

$769 IQD 1.0M

368.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.41 IQD 37.2K

$17.07 IQD 22.4K

66.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.14 IQD 40.8K

$14.05 IQD 18.4K

121.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.5 IQD 83.1K

$30.35 IQD 39.8K

109.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.59 IQD 55.8K

$32.45 IQD 42.5K

31.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$547 IQD 717.2K

$249 IQD 326.2K

119.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$322 IQD 421.3K

$148 IQD 193.8K

117.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$813 IQD 1.1M

$343 IQD 449.5K

136.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$583 IQD 764.2K

$248 IQD 325.1K

135.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,824 IQD 5.0M

$977 IQD 1.3M

291.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,413 IQD 1.9M

$325 IQD 425.7K

334.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$649 IQD 850.0K

$477 IQD 625.3K

35.94%

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: February 28, 2026

Last update for Karbala: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Similar cities

Medellin

🇨🇴 Colombia

Bangkok

🇹🇭 Thailand

Bansko

🇧🇬 Bulgaria

Sao Paulo

🇧🇷 Brazil

Kuala Lumpur

🇲🇾 Malaysia

Almaty

🇰🇿 Kazakhstan

Skopje

🇲🇰 North Macedonia

Beijing (Pekin)

🇨🇳 China