Cost of Living Comparison Between 'aqrah and Basra Cost of Living Comparison Between 'aqrah and Basra

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $747 per month in 'aqrah vs $732 in Basra, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,157 per month in 'aqrah vs $1,351 in Basra, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,568 per month in 'aqrah vs $1,969 in Basra, rent included.

'aqrah costs about 2% more than Basra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both 'aqrah and Basra are more affordable than the global median – 'aqrah 44% lower, Basra 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.04 IQD 5,286

$3.85 IQD 5,037

4.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.76 IQD 32.4K

$24.88 IQD 32.6K

-0.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.84 IQD 8,959

$7.03 IQD 9,205

-2.70%

Cappuccino

$2.60 IQD 3,410

$2.06 IQD 2,696

26.21%

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

$0.36 IQD 475

$0.44 IQD 574

-18.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 218

$0.32 IQD 413

-46.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.82 IQD 3,697

$3.80 IQD 4,982

-25.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 IQD 3,741

$2.71 IQD 3,551

5.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 IQD 1,739

$1.19 IQD 1,558

11.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 IQD 1,100

$0.70 IQD 920

20.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 IQD 2,100

$1.47 IQD 1,927

8.84%

Eggs

$1.81 IQD 2,372

$1.83 IQD 2,401

-1.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.57 IQD 5,989

$7.95 IQD 10.4K

-42.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.78 IQD 6,266

$7.05 IQD 9,238

-32.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 IQD 17.4K

$13.29 IQD 17.4K

-0.30%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,558

$1.01 IQD 1,325

17.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 IQD 1,585

$1.40 IQD 1,837

-13.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,388

$1.04 IQD 1,363

1.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 974

$0.59 IQD 774

25.42%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 912

$0.69 IQD 900

1.45%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 885

$0.57 IQD 746

19.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 823

$0.78 IQD 1,021

-19.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 690

$0.38 IQD 500

39.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 IQD 2,575

$1.88 IQD 2,468

4.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.04 IQD 17.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 IQD 2,307

$2.99 IQD 3,916

-41.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 IQD 2,832

$3.77 IQD 4,934

-42.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 512

$0.37 IQD 481

5.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.75 IQD 41.6K

$22.77 IQD 29.8K

39.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.26 IQD 2,954

$2.33 IQD 3,051

-3.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 IQD 1,959

$2.30 IQD 3,017

-34.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 IQD 8,065

$6.83 IQD 8,942

-9.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 IQD 702

$0.59 IQD 778

-8.47%

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

$18.9K IQD 24.7M

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

39.71%

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

$19.8K IQD 26.0M

$22.5K IQD 29.5M

-12.03%

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

$78.7 IQD 103.1K

$57.8 IQD 75.6K

36.23%

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

$17.29 IQD 22.6K

$25.61 IQD 33.5K

-32.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.72 IQD 45.5K

$38.89 IQD 50.9K

-10.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.58 IQD 47.9K

$36.10 IQD 47.3K

1.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.65 IQD 21.8K

$15.35 IQD 20.1K

8.47%

Cinema Ticket

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

1.30%

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

$149 IQD 195.7K

$95.9 IQD 125.6K

55.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,313 IQD 4.3M

$3,881 IQD 5.1M

-14.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.58 IQD 36.1K

$42.37 IQD 55.5K

-34.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.89 IQD 32.6K

$20.39 IQD 26.7K

22.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.1 IQD 78.7K

$71.5 IQD 93.7K

-15.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.61 IQD 53.2K

$40.65 IQD 53.2K

-0.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$245 IQD 320.2K

$443 IQD 580.2K

-44.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 IQD 230.7K

$136 IQD 177.8K

29.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$571 IQD 747.7K

$929 IQD 1.2M

-38.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$350 IQD 458.5K

$668 IQD 875.3K

-47.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,604 IQD 2.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$780 IQD 1.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$772 IQD 1.0M

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 'aqrah: June 8, 2026

Last update for Basra: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $245 in 'aqrah versus $443 in Basra. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in 'aqrah versus $25.00 in Basra. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $159 vs $211 – making 'aqrah the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

'aqrah vs Basra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

'aqrah costs about 2% more than Basra, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,120 per month in 'aqrah and $1,099 in Basra. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Basra, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $747 in 'aqrah and $732 in Basra. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 39% less in Basra. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $747 in 'aqrah and $732 in Basra, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Basra – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Basra. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, 'aqrah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.