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 $683 per month in Al-'amarah vs $739 in Basra, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,105 per month in Al-'amarah vs $1,368 in Basra, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,526 per month in Al-'amarah vs $1,996 in Basra, rent included.

Al-'amarah is about 8% cheaper than Basra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Al-'amarah and Basra are more affordable than the global median – Al-'amarah 49% lower, Basra 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.95 IQD 5,168

$3.79 IQD 4,959

4.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.27 IQD 33.1K

$25.30 IQD 33.1K

-0.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.96 IQD 9,120

$6.74 IQD 8,831

3.26%

Cappuccino

$2.59 IQD 3,397

$2.03 IQD 2,656

27.59%

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

$0.37 IQD 479

$0.47 IQD 612

-21.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 260

$0.35 IQD 452

-42.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 IQD 3,842

$3.72 IQD 4,866

-21.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 IQD 3,671

$2.59 IQD 3,391

8.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 IQD 2,436

$1.23 IQD 1,608

51.22%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 IQD 951

$0.70 IQD 922

4.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 IQD 1,416

$1.46 IQD 1,906

-26.03%

Eggs

$1.54 IQD 2,014

$1.88 IQD 2,467

-18.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 IQD 5,766

$8.26 IQD 10.8K

-46.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.62 IQD 6,048

$6.93 IQD 9,071

-33.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.12 IQD 17.2K

$13.13 IQD 17.2K

-0.08%

Apples (1kg)

$0.92 IQD 1,204

$1.05 IQD 1,370

-12.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 IQD 1,415

$1.34 IQD 1,756

-19.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 IQD 1,111

$1.00 IQD 1,316

-15.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.37 IQD 484

$0.59 IQD 774

-37.29%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 929

$0.68 IQD 894

4.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.37 IQD 488

$0.60 IQD 789

-38.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 811

$0.78 IQD 1,022

-20.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.44 IQD 570

$0.41 IQD 542

7.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.95 IQD 2,554

$1.95 IQD 2,559

Wine (Bottle)

$13.18 IQD 17.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 IQD 2,335

$3.02 IQD 3,957

-41.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 IQD 2,728

$3.92 IQD 5,139

-46.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 513

$0.37 IQD 479

5.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.25 IQD 40.9K

$23.11 IQD 30.3K

35.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 IQD 2,114

$2.28 IQD 2,992

-29.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 IQD 2,032

$2.26 IQD 2,957

-31.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.05 IQD 7,921

$6.93 IQD 9,071

-12.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.31 IQD 405

$0.56 IQD 732

-44.64%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

$13.1K IQD 17.2M

44.99%

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

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

$22.6K IQD 29.6M

-12.51%

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

$78.8 IQD 103.2K

$56.7 IQD 74.2K

39.08%

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

$17.95 IQD 23.5K

$25.66 IQD 33.6K

-30.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.13 IQD 44.7K

$38.60 IQD 50.5K

-11.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.91 IQD 30.0K

$36.33 IQD 47.6K

-36.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.78 IQD 22.0K

$15.54 IQD 20.4K

7.98%

Cinema Ticket

$7.72 IQD 10.1K

$7.82 IQD 10.2K

-1.28%

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

$154 IQD 201.4K

$98.0 IQD 128.3K

56.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,260 IQD 4.3M

$3,807 IQD 5.0M

-14.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.76 IQD 35.0K

$42.66 IQD 55.9K

-37.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.81 IQD 32.5K

$20.58 IQD 27.0K

20.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.0 IQD 81.2K

$70.1 IQD 91.9K

-11.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.86 IQD 53.5K

$41.08 IQD 53.8K

-0.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$329 IQD 431.3K

$445 IQD 582.7K

-25.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$134 IQD 175.3K

$136 IQD 178.0K

-1.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$454 IQD 594.7K

$908 IQD 1.2M

-50.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$342 IQD 447.8K

$650 IQD 851.8K

-47.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$567 IQD 741.9K

$1,605 IQD 2.1M

-64.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$783 IQD 1.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$491 IQD 643.0K

$752 IQD 985.3K

-34.74%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Basra: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $329 in Al-'amarah versus $445 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 53% 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 $25.00 in Al-'amarah versus $25.00 in Basra. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $152 vs $212 – making Al-'amarah 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

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

Yes – Basra is pricier by about 8%, 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 $1,025 per month in Al-'amarah and $1,109 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.

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 mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Al-'amarah and $25.00 in Basra. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al-'amarah, where all-in costs run around $683, than in Basra at $739. 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.