Cost of Living Comparison Between Kalar and Baghdad Cost of Living Comparison Between Kalar and Baghdad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $523 in Kalar versus $1,066 in Baghdad.

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

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

Living in Kalar costs roughly 51% less than in Baghdad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 IQD 2,562

$5.30 IQD 6,947

-63.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.32 IQD 16.1K

$36.81 IQD 48.2K

-66.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.73 IQD 4,890

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

-52.06%

Cappuccino

$1.00 IQD 1,311

$3.11 IQD 4,074

-67.85%

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

$0.48 IQD 634

$0.40 IQD 522

20.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 IQD 212

$0.18 IQD 233

-11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 IQD 2,607

$3.49 IQD 4,576

-42.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,813

$2.82 IQD 3,687

-23.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 IQD 1,376

$1.31 IQD 1,722

-19.85%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,041

$0.84 IQD 1,100

-5.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 IQD 1,977

$1.64 IQD 2,152

-7.93%

Eggs

$1.31 IQD 1,710

$1.81 IQD 2,364

-27.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.42 IQD 4,481

$4.52 IQD 5,924

-24.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.25 IQD 2,944

$4.86 IQD 6,364

-53.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.60 IQD 16.5K

$14.16 IQD 18.5K

-11.02%

Apples (1kg)

$0.95 IQD 1,243

$1.23 IQD 1,615

-22.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,554

$1.16 IQD 1,519

2.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.94 IQD 1,233

$1.04 IQD 1,366

-9.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.77 IQD 1,003

$0.75 IQD 984

2.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 906

$0.64 IQD 843

7.81%

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 917

$0.67 IQD 873

4.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 IQD 958

$0.63 IQD 828

15.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 IQD 588

$0.66 IQD 858

-31.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.72 IQD 3,565

$2.07 IQD 2,707

31.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.58 IQD 16.5K

$13.33 IQD 17.5K

-5.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 IQD 1,811

$1.80 IQD 2,354

-23.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 IQD 2,529

$2.11 IQD 2,763

-8.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 773

$0.74 IQD 965

-20.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.84 IQD 40.4K

$27.86 IQD 36.5K

10.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.29 IQD 2,998

$3.72 IQD 4,870

-38.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 IQD 2,488

$1.55 IQD 2,026

22.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.79 IQD 4,957

$7.49 IQD 9,803

-49.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.68 IQD 892

$0.53 IQD 700

28.30%

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

$17.0K IQD 22.3M

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

-15.16%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

-6.59%

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

$53.7 IQD 70.3K

$175 IQD 229.3K

-69.33%

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

$13.49 IQD 17.7K

$26.17 IQD 34.3K

-48.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.54 IQD 32.1K

$40.52 IQD 53.1K

-39.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.45 IQD 25.5K

$42.04 IQD 55.1K

-53.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.62 IQD 21.8K

$18.31 IQD 24.0K

-9.23%

Cinema Ticket

$7.60 IQD 9,949

$7.49 IQD 9,813

1.47%

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

$50.1 IQD 65.6K

$166 IQD 217.8K

-69.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,558 IQD 2.0M

$3,526 IQD 4.6M

-55.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$12.57 IQD 16.5K

$28.00 IQD 36.7K

-55.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.16 IQD 18.5K

$30.12 IQD 39.4K

-52.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$27.05 IQD 35.4K

$63.9 IQD 83.7K

-57.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.87 IQD 43.0K

$43.06 IQD 56.4K

-23.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$170 IQD 222.8K

$548 IQD 717.9K

-68.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$105 IQD 137.4K

$323 IQD 422.7K

-67.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$290 IQD 379.7K

$834 IQD 1.1M

-65.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$149 IQD 195.4K

$597 IQD 781.2K

-74.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,310 IQD 4.3M

$4,734 IQD 6.2M

-30.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$459 IQD 601.3K

$1,570 IQD 2.1M

-70.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$337 IQD 441.5K

$629 IQD 823.3K

-46.37%

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 Kalar: July 14, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $170 in Kalar and $548 in Baghdad. 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: $12.00 in Kalar vs $37.00 in Baghdad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $156 vs $190 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

Kalar vs Baghdad: 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.

On paper, salaries run 86% lower in Baghdad. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $170 in Kalar versus $548 in Baghdad. 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 $50.1 in Kalar versus $166 in Baghdad. 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.