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 $620 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $732 in Basra, rent included.

A couple spends around $873 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $1,351 in Basra, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,127 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $1,969 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 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.01 IQD 3,943

$3.85 IQD 5,037

-21.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.58 IQD 15.2K

$24.88 IQD 32.6K

-53.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.04 IQD 6,602

$7.03 IQD 9,205

-28.31%

Cappuccino

$1.47 IQD 1,926

$2.06 IQD 2,696

-28.64%

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

$0.37 IQD 484

$0.44 IQD 574

-15.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 IQD 245

$0.32 IQD 413

-40.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.87 IQD 3,756

$3.80 IQD 4,982

-24.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 IQD 3,867

$2.71 IQD 3,551

8.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 IQD 1,796

$1.19 IQD 1,558

15.13%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 IQD 975

$0.70 IQD 920

5.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 IQD 1,774

$1.47 IQD 1,927

-8.16%

Eggs

$1.73 IQD 2,265

$1.83 IQD 2,401

-5.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.59 IQD 6,009

$7.95 IQD 10.4K

-42.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.00 IQD 6,546

$7.05 IQD 9,238

-29.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.40 IQD 13.6K

$13.29 IQD 17.4K

-21.75%

Apples (1kg)

$0.80 IQD 1,048

$1.01 IQD 1,325

-20.79%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,266

$1.40 IQD 1,837

-30.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 IQD 1,184

$1.04 IQD 1,363

-13.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 IQD 727

$0.59 IQD 774

-5.08%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 857

$0.69 IQD 900

-5.80%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 868

$0.57 IQD 746

15.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 IQD 643

$0.78 IQD 1,021

-37.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 IQD 811

$0.38 IQD 500

63.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.93 IQD 2,534

$1.88 IQD 2,468

2.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.09 IQD 9,290

$13.04 IQD 17.1K

-45.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,338

$2.99 IQD 3,916

-40.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 IQD 2,859

$3.77 IQD 4,934

-42.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 519

$0.37 IQD 481

8.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.85 IQD 40.4K

$22.77 IQD 29.8K

35.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 IQD 2,567

$2.33 IQD 3,051

-15.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.24 IQD 1,630

$2.30 IQD 3,017

-46.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.80 IQD 10.2K

$6.83 IQD 8,942

14.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.38 IQD 504

$0.59 IQD 778

-35.59%

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

$9,802 IQD 12.8M

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

-27.39%

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

$18.2K IQD 23.8M

$22.5K IQD 29.5M

-19.27%

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

$38.14 IQD 49.9K

$57.8 IQD 75.6K

-33.98%

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

$17.12 IQD 22.4K

$25.61 IQD 33.5K

-33.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.65 IQD 50.6K

$38.89 IQD 50.9K

-0.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.24 IQD 22.6K

$36.10 IQD 47.3K

-52.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.01 IQD 11.8K

$15.35 IQD 20.1K

-41.30%

Cinema Ticket

$5.51 IQD 7,219

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

-28.53%

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

$91.8 IQD 120.1K

$95.9 IQD 125.6K

-4.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$756 IQD 989.9K

$3,881 IQD 5.1M

-80.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.63 IQD 25.7K

$42.37 IQD 55.5K

-53.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.39 IQD 39.8K

$20.39 IQD 26.7K

49.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.73 IQD 25.8K

$71.5 IQD 93.7K

-72.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$24.74 IQD 32.4K

$40.65 IQD 53.2K

-39.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$138 IQD 180.1K

$443 IQD 580.2K

-68.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 IQD 237.3K

$136 IQD 177.8K

33.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$237 IQD 310.8K

$929 IQD 1.2M

-74.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$196 IQD 256.5K

$668 IQD 875.3K

-70.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$743 IQD 972.5K

$1,604 IQD 2.1M

-53.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$298 IQD 389.6K

$780 IQD 1.0M

-61.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$482 IQD 631.3K

$772 IQD 1.0M

-37.59%

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 Ad Diwaniyah: June 8, 2026

Last update for Basra: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $138 in Ad Diwaniyah 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.

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 $12.00 in Ad Diwaniyah versus $25.00 in Basra. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $160 vs $211 – 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 18%, 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 $930 per month in Ad Diwaniyah 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 Ad Diwaniyah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $91.8 per month in Ad Diwaniyah and $95.9 in Basra. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 32% more in Basra, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $620 in Ad Diwaniyah and $732 in Basra, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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.