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

😐 Solo nomad: Baghdad is 26.1% more expensive than Karbala without rent, and 56.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Baghdad is 38% more expensive than Karbala without rent, and 58.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Baghdad
Karbala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.33 IQD 6,974
$5.01 IQD 6,556
6.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.37 IQD 47.6K
$15.61 IQD 20.4K
132.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.43 IQD 9,729
$5.34 IQD 6,988
39.14%
Cappuccino
$2.99 IQD 3,920
$1.58 IQD 2,071
89.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.4 IQD 518
$0.36 IQD 476
11.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19 IQD 245
$0.3 IQD 395
-36.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.51 IQD 4,598
$1.93 IQD 2,521
81.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 IQD 3,734
$2.83 IQD 3,706
0.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Baghdad
Karbala
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 IQD 1,805
$1.19 IQD 1,562
15.97%
White Bread (500g)
$0.78 IQD 1,027
$0.7 IQD 914
11.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.66 IQD 2,170
$1.43 IQD 1,867
16.08%
Eggs
$1.79 IQD 2,346
$1.75 IQD 2,290
2.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.47 IQD 5,851
$5.2 IQD 6,811
-14.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.88 IQD 6,386
$4.85 IQD 6,348
0.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.18 IQD 18.6K
$9.7 IQD 12.7K
46.19%
Apples (1kg)
$1.22 IQD 1,597
$0.97 IQD 1,265
25.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.15 IQD 1,510
$1.03 IQD 1,346
11.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.01 IQD 1,322
$0.91 IQD 1,187
10.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.75 IQD 979
$0.66 IQD 863
13.64%
Potato (1kg)
$0.69 IQD 904
$0.63 IQD 821
9.52%
Onion (1kg)
$0.63 IQD 820
$0.54 IQD 712
16.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.63 IQD 824
$0.6 IQD 792
5.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 IQD 858
$0.6 IQD 783
10.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.15 IQD 2,812
$1.94 IQD 2,537
10.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.23 IQD 19.9K
$13.19 IQD 17.3K
15.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.8 IQD 2,351
$1.02 IQD 1,334
76.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 IQD 2,840
$2.19 IQD 2,869
-0.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Baghdad
Karbala
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.75 IQD 977
$0.37 IQD 482
102.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.02 IQD 36.7K
$30.86 IQD 40.4K
-9.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.77 IQD 4,936
$2.27 IQD 2,966
66.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.49 IQD 1,946
$1.5 IQD 1,958
-0.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.66 IQD 10K
$7.68 IQD 10K
-0.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.53 IQD 695
$0.48 IQD 634
10.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.4K IQD 26.7M
$11.4K IQD 14.9M
79.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.7K IQD 25.8M
$14.5K IQD 19M
35.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baghdad
Karbala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$180 IQD 235.2K
$70.3 IQD 92K
155.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.43 IQD 33.3K
$24.7 IQD 32.3K
2.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.85 IQD 53.5K
$48.37 IQD 63.3K
-15.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Baghdad
Karbala
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.33 IQD 54.1K
$22.76 IQD 29.8K
81.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.6 IQD 24.3K
$16.95 IQD 22.2K
9.73%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69 IQD 10.1K
$8.9 IQD 11.7K
-13.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Baghdad
Karbala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$163 IQD 213.3K
$126 IQD 165.2K
29.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,608 IQD 4.7M
$785 IQD 1M
359.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Baghdad
Karbala
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.36 IQD 37.1K
$17.44 IQD 22.8K
62.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.12 IQD 40.7K
$14.06 IQD 18.4K
121.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$63.6 IQD 83.2K
$30.32 IQD 39.7K
109.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.52 IQD 55.7K
$32.09 IQD 42K
32.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Baghdad
Karbala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$547 IQD 715.4K
$254 IQD 332K
115.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$321 IQD 420.7K
$148 IQD 193.2K
117.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$818 IQD 1.1M
$345 IQD 452.1K
136.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$593 IQD 776.1K
$242 IQD 317.3K
144.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,093 IQD 4M
$1,155 IQD 1.5M
167.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,323 IQD 1.7M
$339 IQD 443.7K
290.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Baghdad
Karbala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$579 IQD 757.9K
$504 IQD 659.7K
14.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.67
5.67
-

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

Last update for Baghdad: October 29, 2025

Last update for Karbala: October 29, 2025

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