Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-'amarah and Basra Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-'amarah and Basra

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $273 per month in Al-'amarah vs $957 in Basra, rent included.

A couple spends around $294 per month in Al-'amarah vs $1,450 in Basra, rent included.

A family of three spends $316 per month in Al-'amarah vs $1,944 in Basra, rent included.

Al-'amarah is about 72% cheaper than Basra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Al-'amarah and Basra are more affordable than the global median – Al-'amarah 80% lower, Basra 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.89 IQD 2,477

$4.51 IQD 5,906

-58.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.88 IQD 40.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.49 IQD 5,883

$7.42 IQD 9,712

-39.49%

Cappuccino

$2.55 IQD 3,345

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

$0.44 IQD 571

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 IQD 445

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.90 IQD 5,113

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.12 IQD 5,398

Milk (1 liter)

$2.72 IQD 3,567

$1.12 IQD 1,462

142.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 IQD 965

$0.70 IQD 917

5.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.93 IQD 1,214

$1.47 IQD 1,919

-36.73%

Eggs

$1.49 IQD 1,945

$1.82 IQD 2,380

-18.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.53 IQD 9,861

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.36 IQD 8,334

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.04 IQD 18.4K

Apples (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 978

$0.97 IQD 1,273

-22.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,519

$1.36 IQD 1,776

-14.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.79 IQD 1,029

$0.97 IQD 1,274

-18.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.26 IQD 340

$0.65 IQD 856

-60.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.79 IQD 1,029

$0.77 IQD 1,013

2.60%

Onion (1kg)

$0.40 IQD 519

$0.65 IQD 856

-38.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 IQD 1,133

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 733

$0.39 IQD 509

43.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 IQD 2,726

Wine (Bottle)

$6.74 IQD 8,823

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.11 IQD 4,073

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 IQD 5,135

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 IQD 784

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 IQD 24.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.31 IQD 3,030

$2.36 IQD 3,089

-2.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.27 IQD 2,967

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.06 IQD 9,240

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.33 IQD 431

$0.60 IQD 783

-45.00%

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

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

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

$23.2K IQD 30.4M

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

$51.4 IQD 67.3K

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

$25.89 IQD 33.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.98 IQD 35.3K

$39.73 IQD 52.0K

-32.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.44 IQD 39.9K

$36.24 IQD 47.5K

-16.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.93 IQD 18.2K

Cinema Ticket

$7.60 IQD 9,955

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

$127 IQD 166.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,881 IQD 5.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.97 IQD 65.4K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.04 IQD 26.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.1 IQD 101.0K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.43 IQD 54.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$152 IQD 198.5K

$477 IQD 624.8K

-68.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$115 IQD 150.3K

$346 IQD 453.0K

-66.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$195 IQD 254.9K

$853 IQD 1.1M

-77.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$626 IQD 819.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$578 IQD 757.5K

$1,578 IQD 2.1M

-63.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$786 IQD 1.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$501 IQD 655.7K

$777 IQD 1.0M

-35.52%

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 Al-'amarah: September 12, 2026

Last update for Basra: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $152 in Al-'amarah 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 55% higher in Basra, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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

Al-'amarah vs Basra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Basra is pricier by about 251%, 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 $409 per month in Al-'amarah 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 Al-'amarah, 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 $273 in Al-'amarah and $957 in Basra. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 184% 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 Al-'amarah, where all-in costs run around $273, than in Basra at $957. In Al-'amarah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Basra it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Al-'amarah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Al-'amarah. 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.