🙂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 Diwaniyah54% lower, Basra46% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ad Diwaniyah
Basra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.04IQD 3,983
$3.72IQD 4,876
-18.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.37IQD 14.9K
$24.46IQD 32.0K
-53.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.31IQD 6,961
$7.02IQD 9,194
-24.36%
Cappuccino
$1.49IQD 1,948
$2.10IQD 2,753
-29.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40IQD 521
$0.46IQD 608
-13.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19IQD 249
$0.34IQD 449
-44.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.97IQD 3,886
$3.76IQD 4,926
-21.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81IQD 3,677
$2.71IQD 3,553
3.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ad Diwaniyah
Basra
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36IQD 1,785
$1.23IQD 1,614
10.57%
White Bread(500g)
$0.75IQD 983
$0.70IQD 918
7.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.35IQD 1,768
$1.42IQD 1,854
-4.93%
Eggs
$1.74IQD 2,284
$1.89IQD 2,474
-7.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40IQD 5,761
$7.93IQD 10.4K
-44.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.05IQD 6,620
$7.21IQD 9,440
-29.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.21IQD 13.4K
$12.95IQD 17.0K
-21.16%
Apples(1kg)
$0.81IQD 1,067
$1.01IQD 1,316
-19.80%
Banana(1kg)
$0.92IQD 1,201
$1.42IQD 1,856
-35.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.89IQD 1,171
$1.04IQD 1,364
-14.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.60IQD 787
$0.62IQD 814
-3.23%
Potato(1kg)
$0.64IQD 844
$0.67IQD 879
-4.48%
Onion(1kg)
$0.62IQD 816
$0.62IQD 806
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.45IQD 586
$0.78IQD 1,021
-42.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66IQD 858
$0.42IQD 545
57.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.96IQD 2,565
$1.95IQD 2,550
0.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.02IQD 9,197
$12.85IQD 16.8K
-45.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82IQD 2,389
$3.12IQD 4,090
-41.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15IQD 2,819
$3.92IQD 5,135
-45.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Ad Diwaniyah
Basra
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36IQD 474
$0.37IQD 482
-2.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.64IQD 40.1K
$23.25IQD 30.5K
31.78%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.94IQD 2,541
$2.35IQD 3,083
-17.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.25IQD 1,632
$2.31IQD 3,032
-45.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.87IQD 10.3K
$6.97IQD 9,133
12.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.38IQD 498
$0.56IQD 733
-32.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$9,902IQD 13.0M
$13.3KIQD 17.4M
-25.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.9KIQD 23.4M
$22.9KIQD 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)
$37.55IQD 49.2K
$57.6IQD 75.5K
-34.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.19IQD 22.5K
$25.62IQD 33.6K
-32.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.47IQD 50.4K
$37.76IQD 49.5K
1.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ad Diwaniyah
Basra
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.10IQD 22.4K
$37.25IQD 48.8K
-54.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.85IQD 11.6K
$15.13IQD 19.8K
-41.51%
Cinema Ticket
$5.62IQD 7,363
$7.78IQD 10.2K
-27.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ad Diwaniyah
Basra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$92.9IQD 121.6K
$97.7IQD 128.0K
-4.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$738IQD 966.0K
$3,869IQD 5.1M
-80.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ad Diwaniyah
Basra
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.20IQD 26.5K
$42.39IQD 55.5K
-52.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.87IQD 40.4K
$20.70IQD 27.1K
49.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$20.14IQD 26.4K
$71.8IQD 94.1K
-71.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$25.08IQD 32.8K
$41.04IQD 53.8K
-38.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ad Diwaniyah
Basra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$138IQD 180.2K
$448IQD 587.3K
-69.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$181IQD 237.1K
$136IQD 177.7K
33.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$241IQD 315.0K
$917IQD 1.2M
-73.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$199IQD 260.9K
$676IQD 885.0K
-70.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$757IQD 990.9K
$1,608IQD 2.1M
-52.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$302IQD 395.3K
$777IQD 1.0M
-61.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ad Diwaniyah
Basra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$481IQD 630.0K
$767IQD 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.
Ad Diwaniyah vs other spots: cost of living compared