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 61.7% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Baghdad is 27.1% more expensive than Karbala without rent, and 62.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.27 IQD 6,914

$5.06 IQD 6,634

4.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.93 IQD 48.4K

$15.45 IQD 20.3K

139.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.47 IQD 9,802

$5.44 IQD 7,131

37.32%

Cappuccino

$2.96 IQD 3,875

$1.59 IQD 2,081

86.16%

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

$0.39 IQD 515

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 IQD 251

$0.28 IQD 364

-32.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.34 IQD 4,379

$1.96 IQD 2,568

70.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 IQD 3,713

$2.81 IQD 3,688

0.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 IQD 1,708

$1.17 IQD 1,541

11.11%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,035

$0.74 IQD 973

6.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 IQD 2,147

$1.50 IQD 1,972

9.33%

Eggs

$1.80 IQD 2,362

$1.74 IQD 2,285

3.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 IQD 5,768

$5.22 IQD 6,847

-15.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.00 IQD 6,556

$4.66 IQD 6,110

7.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.34 IQD 18.8K

$9.88 IQD 13.0K

45.14%

Apples (1kg)

$1.27 IQD 1,661

$0.92 IQD 1,205

38.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 IQD 1,581

$1.04 IQD 1,364

16.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,389

$0.95 IQD 1,250

11.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 929

$0.72 IQD 941

-1.39%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 920

$0.69 IQD 905

1.45%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 866

$0.55 IQD 716

20.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 IQD 880

$0.60 IQD 784

11.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 IQD 856

$0.59 IQD 776

10.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 IQD 2,801

$1.94 IQD 2,549

10.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.72 IQD 15.4K

$11.61 IQD 15.2K

0.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 IQD 2,390

$1.07 IQD 1,404

70.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,817

$2.09 IQD 2,741

2.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 IQD 991

$0.37 IQD 480

105.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.07 IQD 36.8K

$31.68 IQD 41.5K

-11.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.90 IQD 5,111

$2.27 IQD 2,979

71.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 IQD 2,019

$1.55 IQD 2,035

-0.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.61 IQD 9,985

$7.82 IQD 10.2K

-2.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 734

$0.48 IQD 635

16.67%

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

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

$11.5K IQD 15.1M

71.11%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.2M

$14.5K IQD 19.0M

37.36%

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

$176 IQD 231.2K

$71.5 IQD 93.7K

146.58%

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

$25.82 IQD 33.9K

$24.91 IQD 32.7K

3.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.52 IQD 53.1K

$49.60 IQD 65.0K

-18.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.63 IQD 54.6K

$22.92 IQD 30.1K

81.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.47 IQD 24.2K

$16.88 IQD 22.1K

9.42%

Cinema Ticket

$7.87 IQD 10.3K

$8.92 IQD 11.7K

-11.77%

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

$168 IQD 220.6K

$124 IQD 163.2K

35.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,602 IQD 4.7M

$798 IQD 1.0M

351.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.20 IQD 37.0K

$17.01 IQD 22.3K

65.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.72 IQD 40.3K

$13.92 IQD 18.2K

120.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.5 IQD 84.5K

$30.65 IQD 40.2K

110.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.42 IQD 56.9K

$32.35 IQD 42.4K

34.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$540 IQD 708.0K

$255 IQD 334.5K

111.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$323 IQD 423.1K

$148 IQD 193.6K

118.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$843 IQD 1.1M

$350 IQD 458.7K

140.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$590 IQD 773.3K

$248 IQD 324.8K

138.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,751 IQD 4.9M

$990 IQD 1.3M

278.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,448 IQD 1.9M

$328 IQD 430.7K

340.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$620 IQD 813.7K

$483 IQD 633.8K

28.37%

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: January 12, 2026

Last update for Karbala: January 11, 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

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