Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Belgrade and Al-'amarah

For one person, living is cheaper in Al-'amarah: $662 a month against $1,554 in Belgrade, rent and utilities included – about $10,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Belgrade
🇷🇸 Serbia
$1,554
/mo nomad
Al-'amarah
🇮🇶 Iraq
$662
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Belgrade and in Al-'amarah

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Belgrade and in Al-'amarah actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,554 per month in Belgrade vs $662 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

  • Belgrade $1,554
  • Al-'amarah $662

A couple spends around $2,337 per month in Belgrade vs $1,031 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

  • Belgrade $2,337
  • Al-'amarah $1,031

A family of three spends $3,121 per month in Belgrade vs $1,400 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

  • Belgrade $3,121
  • Al-'amarah $1,400

Belgrade costs about 135% more than Al-'amarah, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Belgrade sits 15% above the global median, while Al-'amarah is 51% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Belgrade
Al-'amarah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.15 RSD 1,371
$3.93 IQD 5,936
234.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.5 RSD 5,999
$21.93 IQD 33.1K
162.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.38 RSD 1,394
$6.22 IQD 9,391
115.11%
Cappuccino
$3.10 RSD 323
$2.08 IQD 3,146
49.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 RSD 294
$0.33 IQD 502
754.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 RSD 231
$0.20 IQD 304
1010.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 RSD 362
$3.22 IQD 4,863
7.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 RSD 412
$2.90 IQD 4,384
36.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Belgrade
Al-'amarah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 RSD 144
$0.99 IQD 1,501
39.39%
White Bread (500g)
$1.13 RSD 118
$0.67 IQD 1,006
68.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.66 RSD 277
$1.36 IQD 2,061
95.59%
Eggs
$2.78 RSD 290
$1.57 IQD 2,368
77.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.99 RSD 1,146
$3.72 IQD 5,616
195.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.56 RSD 684
$4.21 IQD 6,361
55.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.07 RSD 1,571
$11.50 IQD 17.4K
31.04%
Apples (1kg)
$1.66 RSD 173
$0.93 IQD 1,405
78.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.79 RSD 186
$0.93 IQD 1,411
92.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 RSD 195
$0.90 IQD 1,362
107.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.03 RSD 315
$0.61 IQD 921
396.72%
Potato (1kg)
$0.92 RSD 96.3
$0.56 IQD 846
64.29%
Onion (1kg)
$0.71 RSD 73.8
$0.61 IQD 924
16.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 RSD 77.6
$0.52 IQD 782
42.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 RSD 77.2
$0.51 IQD 770
45.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.61 RSD 481
$1.83 IQD 2,765
151.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.81 RSD 918
$12.08 IQD 18.3K
-27.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.89 RSD 92.7
$1.60 IQD 2,412
-44.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 RSD 151
$1.78 IQD 2,683
-18.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Belgrade
Al-'amarah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.45 IQD 680
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$19.17 IQD 29.0K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 RSD 315
$1.81 IQD 2,734
66.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.98 RSD 103
$1.13 IQD 1,712
-13.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.08 RSD 1,780
$5.76 IQD 8,707
196.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.91 RSD 199
$0.54 IQD 813
253.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.0K RSD 3.2M
$16.4K IQD 24.8M
88.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7K RSD 2.6M
$15.1K IQD 22.8M
63.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Belgrade
Al-'amarah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$220 RSD 23.0K
$96.2 IQD 145.4K
129.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.41 RSD 2,544
$13.00 IQD 19.7K
87.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.64 RSD 3,715
$24.03 IQD 36.3K
48.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Belgrade
Al-'amarah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.20 RSD 4,295
$37.10 IQD 56.1K
11.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.60 RSD 2,356
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.59 RSD 896
$8.87 IQD 13.4K
-3.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Belgrade
Al-'amarah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$424 RSD 44.2K
$153 IQD 231.6K
176.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.0K RSD 1.1M
$2,868 IQD 4.3M
282.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Belgrade
Al-'amarah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$111 RSD 11.5K
$22.93 IQD 34.6K
382.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.28 RSD 4,929
$21.34 IQD 32.2K
121.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 RSD 11.8K
$51.9 IQD 78.4K
118.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$157 RSD 16.3K
$34.23 IQD 51.7K
357.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Belgrade
Al-'amarah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$805 RSD 83.9K
$178 IQD 268.4K
353.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$546 RSD 56.9K
$129 IQD 195.4K
322.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,452 RSD 151.4K
$371 IQD 561.0K
291.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$931 RSD 97.0K
$298 IQD 449.9K
212.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,368 RSD 559.6K
$717 IQD 1.1M
648.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,155 RSD 328.9K
$573 IQD 865.9K
450.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Belgrade
Al-'amarah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,237 RSD 128.9K
$435 IQD 657.8K
184.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.61
3.33
38.44%

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

Last update for Belgrade: October 12, 2026

Last update for Al-'amarah: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Belgrade
$546
Al-'amarah
$129 76.3% $417
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Belgrade
$280
Al-'amarah
$133 52.5% $147
Groceries & Markets
Belgrade
$241
Al-'amarah
$159 34% $82
Eating Out
Belgrade
$228
Al-'amarah
$99 56.5% $129
Clothing & Footwear
Belgrade
$192
Al-'amarah
$59 69.5% $134
Sport & Entertainment
Belgrade
$58
Al-'amarah
$55 6.1% $3.6
Getting Around
Belgrade
$7.9 *
Al-'amarah
$28 258% $21

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $805 in Belgrade versus $178 in Al-'amarah. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 184% higher in Belgrade, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $58.0 in Belgrade versus $22.00 in Al-'amarah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $159 – making Al-'amarah the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇷🇸 Belgrade
🇮🇶 Al-'amarah
🕒 Local time
20:10 8:10 PM
21:10 9:10 PM
1 h ahead of Belgrade
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,197,714 Capital
511,542
💱 Currency
Iraqi Dinar IQD ع.د
Exchange rates and currency converter

IQD, USD, EUR to RSD – Serbian Dinar Converter

Serbian Dinar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 104 RSD (1,000 RSD = 9.59 USD). 1 EUR = 117 RSD (1,000 RSD = 8.53 EUR).

Iraqi Dinar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1,511 IQD (10,000 IQD = 6.62 USD). 1 EUR = 1,699 IQD (10,000 IQD = 5.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Belgrade Al-'amarah 2,720 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Belgrade
  • Al-'amarah

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Belgrade vs Al-'amarah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Al-'amarah cheaper than Belgrade?
Yes – Belgrade is pricier by about 135%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,331 per month in Belgrade and $993 in Al-'amarah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Al-'amarah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Belgrade or in Al-'amarah?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $58.0 in Belgrade and $22.00 in Al-'amarah. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Belgrade and in Al-'amarah?
Groceries cost about 52% more in Belgrade, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Belgrade or in Al-'amarah?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al-'amarah, where all-in costs run around $662, than in Belgrade at $1,554. In Al-'amarah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Belgrade it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Belgrade or Al-'amarah more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Al-'amarah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Belgrade or Al-'amarah?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Al-'amarah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Belgrade makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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