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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $750 per month in 'aqrah vs $728 in Basra, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,160 per month in 'aqrah vs $1,366 in Basra, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,570 per month in 'aqrah vs $2,003 in Basra, rent included.

'aqrah costs about 3% 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

$4.13 IQD 5,408

$3.80 IQD 4,974

8.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.77 IQD 32.4K

$24.38 IQD 31.9K

1.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.87 IQD 8,996

$7.09 IQD 9,289

-3.10%

Cappuccino

$2.64 IQD 3,462

$2.04 IQD 2,675

29.41%

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

$0.40 IQD 522

$0.47 IQD 609

-14.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 IQD 250

$0.35 IQD 454

-45.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.89 IQD 3,783

$3.85 IQD 5,038

-24.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 IQD 3,854

$2.58 IQD 3,382

13.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 IQD 1,773

$1.18 IQD 1,551

14.41%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,017

$0.70 IQD 917

11.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 IQD 2,093

$1.42 IQD 1,857

12.68%

Eggs

$1.81 IQD 2,368

$1.85 IQD 2,428

-2.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.60 IQD 6,027

$8.27 IQD 10.8K

-44.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.78 IQD 6,262

$6.97 IQD 9,131

-31.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.32 IQD 17.4K

$13.33 IQD 17.5K

-0.08%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,552

$1.06 IQD 1,382

12.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 IQD 1,590

$1.36 IQD 1,776

-11.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,389

$1.04 IQD 1,363

1.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 929

$0.59 IQD 769

20.34%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 855

$0.67 IQD 872

-2.99%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 869

$0.56 IQD 737

17.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 813

$0.80 IQD 1,044

-22.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 IQD 682

$0.42 IQD 548

23.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 IQD 2,541

$1.89 IQD 2,479

2.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.87 IQD 16.8K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 IQD 2,401

$3.15 IQD 4,125

-41.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 IQD 2,706

$3.94 IQD 5,155

-47.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 482

$0.39 IQD 511

-5.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.55 IQD 41.3K

$22.72 IQD 29.7K

38.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 IQD 2,928

$2.31 IQD 3,025

-3.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 IQD 2,013

$2.31 IQD 3,028

-33.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.90 IQD 7,729

$6.80 IQD 8,900

-13.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 IQD 701

$0.58 IQD 766

-6.90%

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

$19.3K IQD 25.2M

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

42.58%

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

$19.7K IQD 25.7M

$23.1K IQD 30.3M

-15.04%

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

$76.5 IQD 100.1K

$56.6 IQD 74.1K

35.23%

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

$17.41 IQD 22.8K

$25.64 IQD 33.6K

-32.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.96 IQD 44.5K

$37.70 IQD 49.4K

-9.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.59 IQD 47.9K

$36.14 IQD 47.3K

1.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.49 IQD 21.6K

$15.55 IQD 20.4K

6.05%

Cinema Ticket

$7.50 IQD 9,817

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

-2.72%

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

$150 IQD 197.1K

$95.4 IQD 124.9K

57.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,228 IQD 4.2M

$3,754 IQD 4.9M

-14.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.10 IQD 35.5K

$41.53 IQD 54.4K

-34.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.99 IQD 32.7K

$20.02 IQD 26.2K

24.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.3 IQD 80.2K

$71.7 IQD 93.8K

-14.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.99 IQD 53.7K

$41.57 IQD 54.4K

-1.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$243 IQD 318.8K

$453 IQD 593.2K

-46.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 IQD 237.3K

$132 IQD 172.4K

37.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$583 IQD 763.3K

$902 IQD 1.2M

-35.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$348 IQD 455.2K

$655 IQD 857.9K

-46.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,567 IQD 2.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$795 IQD 1.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$761 IQD 996.3K

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Basra: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $243 in 'aqrah versus $453 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 $24.00 in Basra. Groceries tell a different story – $159 in 'aqrah vs $213 in Basra – so 'aqrah wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 3% 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 $1,125 per month in 'aqrah and $1,092 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 $750 in 'aqrah and $728 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.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Basra, where all-in costs run around $728, than in 'aqrah at $750. In Basra it covers expenses comfortably, while in 'aqrah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.