Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-mawsil and Basra Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-mawsil and Basra

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $721 in Al-mawsil versus $739 in Basra.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,075 in Al-mawsil versus $1,368 in Basra.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,429 in Al-mawsil versus $1,996 in Basra.

Living in Al-mawsil costs roughly 3% less than in Basra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al-mawsil 46% lower, Basra 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

$3.79 IQD 4,959

105.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.27 IQD 16.1K

$25.30 IQD 33.1K

-51.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.84 IQD 7,645

$6.74 IQD 8,831

-13.35%

Cappuccino

$0.81 IQD 1,055

$2.03 IQD 2,656

-60.10%

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

$0.40 IQD 517

$0.47 IQD 612

-14.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 224

$0.35 IQD 452

-51.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.94 IQD 1,225

$3.72 IQD 4,866

-74.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 IQD 1,960

$2.59 IQD 3,391

-42.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 IQD 1,112

$1.23 IQD 1,608

-30.89%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 IQD 1,049

$0.70 IQD 922

14.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,391

$1.46 IQD 1,906

-27.40%

Eggs

$1.92 IQD 2,515

$1.88 IQD 2,467

2.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.29 IQD 9,548

$8.26 IQD 10.8K

-11.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.24 IQD 4,242

$6.93 IQD 9,071

-53.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.05 IQD 9,229

$13.13 IQD 17.2K

-46.31%

Apples (1kg)

$0.91 IQD 1,195

$1.05 IQD 1,370

-13.33%

Banana (1kg)

$0.91 IQD 1,192

$1.34 IQD 1,756

-32.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,061

$1.00 IQD 1,316

-19.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.39 IQD 517

$0.59 IQD 774

-33.90%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 IQD 538

$0.68 IQD 894

-39.71%

Onion (1kg)

$0.43 IQD 562

$0.60 IQD 789

-28.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.51 IQD 669

$0.78 IQD 1,022

-34.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 700

$0.41 IQD 542

29.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.95 IQD 2,553

$1.95 IQD 2,559

Wine (Bottle)

$12.24 IQD 16.0K

$13.18 IQD 17.3K

-7.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 IQD 1,825

$3.02 IQD 3,957

-53.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 IQD 2,533

$3.92 IQD 5,139

-50.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 520

$0.37 IQD 479

8.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.67 IQD 41.5K

$23.11 IQD 30.3K

37.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.17 IQD 2,839

$2.28 IQD 2,992

-4.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.98 IQD 2,591

$2.26 IQD 2,957

-12.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 IQD 4,298

$6.93 IQD 9,071

-52.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.33 IQD 432

$0.56 IQD 732

-41.07%

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

$15.1K IQD 19.7M

$13.1K IQD 17.2M

14.69%

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

$17.7K IQD 23.1M

$22.6K IQD 29.6M

-21.90%

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

$99.4 IQD 130.2K

$56.7 IQD 74.2K

75.39%

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

$17.52 IQD 22.9K

$25.66 IQD 33.6K

-31.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.27 IQD 35.7K

$38.60 IQD 50.5K

-29.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.23 IQD 31.7K

$36.33 IQD 47.6K

-33.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.85 IQD 24.7K

$15.54 IQD 20.4K

21.30%

Cinema Ticket

$11.28 IQD 14.8K

$7.82 IQD 10.2K

44.25%

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

$202 IQD 264.4K

$98.0 IQD 128.3K

106.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$694 IQD 909.2K

$3,807 IQD 5.0M

-81.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.87 IQD 18.2K

$42.66 IQD 55.9K

-67.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.89 IQD 23.4K

$20.58 IQD 27.0K

-13.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.9 IQD 108.6K

$70.1 IQD 91.9K

18.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$19.54 IQD 25.6K

$41.08 IQD 53.8K

-52.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$242 IQD 316.7K

$445 IQD 582.7K

-45.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 IQD 234.4K

$136 IQD 178.0K

31.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$572 IQD 748.7K

$908 IQD 1.2M

-37.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$339 IQD 443.7K

$650 IQD 851.8K

-47.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,605 IQD 2.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$783 IQD 1.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$608 IQD 795.8K

$752 IQD 985.3K

-19.23%

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-mawsil: July 14, 2026

Last update for Basra: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $242 in Al-mawsil and $445 in Basra. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Basra pays 24% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $12.00 in Al-mawsil vs $25.00 in Basra for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $149 vs $212 per month, with Al-mawsil cheaper across the board.

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-mawsil vs Basra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al-mawsil is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 24% lower in Basra. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $242 in Al-mawsil versus $445 in Basra. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $202 in Al-mawsil versus $98.0 in Basra. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 43% higher in Basra. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $721 in Al-mawsil versus $739 in Basra, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al-mawsil but tight or insufficient in Basra. The gap between the two cities makes Al-mawsil the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Al-mawsil gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Basra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.