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 $606 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $728 in Basra, rent included.

A couple spends around $860 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $1,366 in Basra, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,114 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $2,003 in Basra, rent included.

Ad Diwaniyah is about 17% 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

$3.07 IQD 4,024

$3.80 IQD 4,974

-19.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.59 IQD 15.2K

$24.38 IQD 31.9K

-52.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.08 IQD 6,651

$7.09 IQD 9,289

-28.35%

Cappuccino

$1.47 IQD 1,930

$2.04 IQD 2,675

-27.94%

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

$0.40 IQD 522

$0.47 IQD 609

-14.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 260

$0.35 IQD 454

-42.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 IQD 3,875

$3.85 IQD 5,038

-23.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 IQD 3,868

$2.58 IQD 3,382

14.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,735

$1.18 IQD 1,551

11.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.76 IQD 1,001

$0.70 IQD 917

8.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 IQD 1,759

$1.42 IQD 1,857

-5.63%

Eggs

$1.81 IQD 2,367

$1.85 IQD 2,428

-2.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.52 IQD 5,913

$8.27 IQD 10.8K

-45.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.90 IQD 6,414

$6.97 IQD 9,131

-29.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.43 IQD 13.7K

$13.33 IQD 17.5K

-21.76%

Apples (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 999

$1.06 IQD 1,382

-28.30%

Banana (1kg)

$0.89 IQD 1,169

$1.36 IQD 1,776

-34.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,270

$1.04 IQD 1,363

-6.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 IQD 780

$0.59 IQD 769

1.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 846

$0.67 IQD 872

-2.99%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 836

$0.56 IQD 737

14.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 IQD 640

$0.80 IQD 1,044

-38.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 871

$0.42 IQD 548

57.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.87 IQD 2,443

$1.89 IQD 2,479

-1.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.72 IQD 4,870

$12.87 IQD 16.8K

-71.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 IQD 2,308

$3.15 IQD 4,125

-44.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 IQD 2,715

$3.94 IQD 5,155

-47.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 515

$0.39 IQD 511

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.61 IQD 40.1K

$22.72 IQD 29.7K

34.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.98 IQD 2,589

$2.31 IQD 3,025

-14.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.19 IQD 1,559

$2.31 IQD 3,028

-48.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.63 IQD 9,993

$6.80 IQD 8,900

12.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.39 IQD 506

$0.58 IQD 766

-32.76%

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

$9,833 IQD 12.9M

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

-27.22%

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

$18.2K IQD 23.8M

$23.1K IQD 30.3M

-21.47%

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

$38.45 IQD 50.4K

$56.6 IQD 74.1K

-32.01%

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

$17.23 IQD 22.6K

$25.64 IQD 33.6K

-32.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.07 IQD 49.8K

$37.70 IQD 49.4K

0.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.81 IQD 22.0K

$36.14 IQD 47.3K

-53.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.99 IQD 11.8K

$15.55 IQD 20.4K

-42.19%

Cinema Ticket

$5.47 IQD 7,167

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

-29.05%

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

$92.0 IQD 120.5K

$95.4 IQD 124.9K

-3.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$743 IQD 973.4K

$3,754 IQD 4.9M

-80.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.82 IQD 26.0K

$41.53 IQD 54.4K

-52.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.71 IQD 40.2K

$20.02 IQD 26.2K

53.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$20.23 IQD 26.5K

$71.7 IQD 93.8K

-71.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.24 IQD 33.1K

$41.57 IQD 54.4K

-39.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$140 IQD 183.4K

$453 IQD 593.2K

-69.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 IQD 231.9K

$132 IQD 172.4K

34.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$241 IQD 315.3K

$902 IQD 1.2M

-73.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$203 IQD 266.1K

$655 IQD 857.9K

-68.98%

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)

$389 IQD 509.3K

$761 IQD 996.3K

-48.88%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Basra: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $140 in Ad Diwaniyah 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.

Salaries run about 96% 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 $24.00 in Basra. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $152 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

Yes – Basra is pricier by about 20%, 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 $909 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.

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 $92.0 per month in Ad Diwaniyah and $95.4 in Basra. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 40% more in Basra, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ad Diwaniyah, where all-in costs run around $606, than in Basra at $728. 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.