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 $574 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $957 in Basra, rent included.

A couple spends around $882 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $1,450 in Basra, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,189 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $1,944 in Basra, rent included.

Ad Diwaniyah is about 40% cheaper than Basra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ad Diwaniyah and Basra are more affordable than the global median – Ad Diwaniyah 58% lower, Basra 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.32 IQD 4,342

$4.51 IQD 5,906

-26.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.67 IQD 15.3K

$30.88 IQD 40.4K

-62.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.38 IQD 7,041

$7.42 IQD 9,712

-27.49%

Cappuccino

$1.95 IQD 2,559

$2.55 IQD 3,345

-23.53%

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

$0.37 IQD 481

$0.44 IQD 571

-15.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 IQD 343

$0.34 IQD 445

-23.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.91 IQD 5,121

$3.90 IQD 5,113

0.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.84 IQD 5,024

$4.12 IQD 5,398

-6.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 IQD 1,368

$1.12 IQD 1,462

-7.14%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 IQD 981

$0.70 IQD 917

7.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.37 IQD 1,796

$1.47 IQD 1,919

-6.80%

Eggs

$1.91 IQD 2,495

$1.82 IQD 2,380

4.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.93 IQD 5,152

$7.53 IQD 9,861

-47.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.73 IQD 4,882

$6.36 IQD 8,333

-41.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.42 IQD 14.9K

$14.04 IQD 18.4K

-18.66%

Apples (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 958

$0.97 IQD 1,273

-24.74%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 IQD 1,020

$1.36 IQD 1,776

-42.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.79 IQD 1,037

$0.97 IQD 1,274

-18.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.78 IQD 1,027

$0.65 IQD 856

20.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 922

$0.77 IQD 1,013

-9.09%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 838

$0.65 IQD 856

-1.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 IQD 514

$0.87 IQD 1,133

-55.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 IQD 854

$0.39 IQD 509

66.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.80 IQD 2,356

$2.08 IQD 2,726

-13.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.79 IQD 4,966

$6.74 IQD 8,823

-43.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,798

$3.11 IQD 4,073

-31.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 IQD 2,841

$3.92 IQD 5,135

-44.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 IQD 784

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 IQD 24.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 IQD 3,083

$2.36 IQD 3,089

-0.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.00 IQD 1,306

$2.27 IQD 2,967

-55.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.58 IQD 9,930

$7.06 IQD 9,240

7.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.33 IQD 430

$0.60 IQD 783

-45.00%

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

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

40.34%

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

$18.9K IQD 24.7M

$23.2K IQD 30.4M

-18.86%

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

$37.82 IQD 49.5K

$51.4 IQD 67.3K

-26.46%

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

$17.08 IQD 22.4K

$25.89 IQD 33.9K

-34.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.02 IQD 49.8K

$39.73 IQD 52.0K

-4.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.73 IQD 24.5K

$36.24 IQD 47.5K

-48.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.76 IQD 10.2K

$13.93 IQD 18.2K

-44.29%

Cinema Ticket

$7.56 IQD 9,897

$7.60 IQD 9,955

-0.53%

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

$74.9 IQD 98.1K

$127 IQD 166.6K

-41.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,527 IQD 4.6M

$3,881 IQD 5.1M

-9.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.14 IQD 38.2K

$49.97 IQD 65.4K

-41.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.50 IQD 49.1K

$20.04 IQD 26.2K

87.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.8 IQD 95.3K

$77.1 IQD 101.0K

-5.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.48 IQD 62.2K

$41.43 IQD 54.3K

14.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$76.5 IQD 100.2K

$477 IQD 624.8K

-83.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$114 IQD 149.8K

$346 IQD 453.0K

-66.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$154 IQD 201.7K

$853 IQD 1.1M

-81.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$226 IQD 295.9K

$626 IQD 819.5K

-63.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,578 IQD 2.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$786 IQD 1.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 IQD 507.4K

$777 IQD 1.0M

-50.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

5.67

-27.34%

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

Last update for Ad Diwaniyah: September 13, 2026

Last update for Basra: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $76.5 in Ad Diwaniyah versus $477 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 100% 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 $12.00 in Ad Diwaniyah versus $31.00 in Basra. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $147 vs $197 – 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

Yes – Basra is pricier by about 67%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $862 per month in Ad Diwaniyah and $1,436 in Basra. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $574 in Ad Diwaniyah and $957 in Basra. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $74.9 per month in Ad Diwaniyah and $127 in Basra. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ad Diwaniyah, where all-in costs run around $574, than in Basra at $957. In Ad Diwaniyah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Basra it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.