Cost of Living Comparison Between Ad Diwaniyah and Basra Cost of Living Comparison Between Ad Diwaniyah and Basra

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $621 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $728 in Basra, rent included.

A couple spends around $872 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $1,340 in Basra, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,123 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $1,953 in Basra, rent included.

Ad Diwaniyah is about 15% cheaper than Basra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ad Diwaniyah and Basra are more affordable than the global median – Ad Diwaniyah 54% lower, Basra 46% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ad Diwaniyah
Basra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.04 IQD 3,983
$3.72 IQD 4,876
-18.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.37 IQD 14.9K
$24.46 IQD 32.0K
-53.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.31 IQD 6,961
$7.02 IQD 9,194
-24.36%
Cappuccino
$1.49 IQD 1,948
$2.10 IQD 2,753
-29.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 IQD 521
$0.46 IQD 608
-13.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19 IQD 249
$0.34 IQD 449
-44.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.97 IQD 3,886
$3.76 IQD 4,926
-21.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 IQD 3,677
$2.71 IQD 3,553
3.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ad Diwaniyah
Basra
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 IQD 1,785
$1.23 IQD 1,614
10.57%
White Bread (500g)
$0.75 IQD 983
$0.70 IQD 918
7.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.35 IQD 1,768
$1.42 IQD 1,854
-4.93%
Eggs
$1.74 IQD 2,284
$1.89 IQD 2,474
-7.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.40 IQD 5,761
$7.93 IQD 10.4K
-44.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.05 IQD 6,620
$7.21 IQD 9,440
-29.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.21 IQD 13.4K
$12.95 IQD 17.0K
-21.16%
Apples (1kg)
$0.81 IQD 1,067
$1.01 IQD 1,316
-19.80%
Banana (1kg)
$0.92 IQD 1,201
$1.42 IQD 1,856
-35.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.89 IQD 1,171
$1.04 IQD 1,364
-14.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.60 IQD 787
$0.62 IQD 814
-3.23%
Potato (1kg)
$0.64 IQD 844
$0.67 IQD 879
-4.48%
Onion (1kg)
$0.62 IQD 816
$0.62 IQD 806
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.45 IQD 586
$0.78 IQD 1,021
-42.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 IQD 858
$0.42 IQD 545
57.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.96 IQD 2,565
$1.95 IQD 2,550
0.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.02 IQD 9,197
$12.85 IQD 16.8K
-45.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 IQD 2,389
$3.12 IQD 4,090
-41.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 IQD 2,819
$3.92 IQD 5,135
-45.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Ad Diwaniyah
Basra
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 IQD 474
$0.37 IQD 482
-2.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.64 IQD 40.1K
$23.25 IQD 30.5K
31.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.94 IQD 2,541
$2.35 IQD 3,083
-17.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.25 IQD 1,632
$2.31 IQD 3,032
-45.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.87 IQD 10.3K
$6.97 IQD 9,133
12.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.38 IQD 498
$0.56 IQD 733
-32.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$9,902 IQD 13.0M
$13.3K IQD 17.4M
-25.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.9K IQD 23.4M
$22.9K IQD 30.0M
-21.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ad Diwaniyah
Basra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$37.55 IQD 49.2K
$57.6 IQD 75.5K
-34.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.19 IQD 22.5K
$25.62 IQD 33.6K
-32.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.47 IQD 50.4K
$37.76 IQD 49.5K
1.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ad Diwaniyah
Basra
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$17.10 IQD 22.4K
$37.25 IQD 48.8K
-54.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.85 IQD 11.6K
$15.13 IQD 19.8K
-41.51%
Cinema Ticket
$5.62 IQD 7,363
$7.78 IQD 10.2K
-27.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ad Diwaniyah
Basra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$92.9 IQD 121.6K
$97.7 IQD 128.0K
-4.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$738 IQD 966.0K
$3,869 IQD 5.1M
-80.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ad Diwaniyah
Basra
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.20 IQD 26.5K
$42.39 IQD 55.5K
-52.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.87 IQD 40.4K
$20.70 IQD 27.1K
49.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$20.14 IQD 26.4K
$71.8 IQD 94.1K
-71.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$25.08 IQD 32.8K
$41.04 IQD 53.8K
-38.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ad Diwaniyah
Basra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$138 IQD 180.2K
$448 IQD 587.3K
-69.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$181 IQD 237.1K
$136 IQD 177.7K
33.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$241 IQD 315.0K
$917 IQD 1.2M
-73.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$199 IQD 260.9K
$676 IQD 885.0K
-70.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$757 IQD 990.9K
$1,608 IQD 2.1M
-52.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$302 IQD 395.3K
$777 IQD 1.0M
-61.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ad Diwaniyah
Basra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$481 IQD 630.0K
$767 IQD 1.0M
-37.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.67
5.67
-

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

Last update for Ad Diwaniyah: April 26, 2026

Last update for Basra: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $138 in Ad Diwaniyah versus $448 in Basra. 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 60% higher in Basra, 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 $11.00 in Ad Diwaniyah versus $24.00 in Basra. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $159 vs $213 – making Ad Diwaniyah 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
Ad Diwaniyah vs Basra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Basra cheaper than Ad Diwaniyah?
Yes – Basra is pricier by about 17%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $931 per month in Ad Diwaniyah and $1,092 in Basra. 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 Ad Diwaniyah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $92.9 per month in Ad Diwaniyah and $97.7 in Basra. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Ad Diwaniyah and Basra?
Groceries cost about 34% more in Basra, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,000 enough for either Ad Diwaniyah or Basra?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $621 in Ad Diwaniyah and $728 in Basra, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Ad Diwaniyah or Basra more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ad Diwaniyah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ad Diwaniyah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Basra makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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