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: $617 in Al-mawsil versus $957 in Basra.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $827 in Al-mawsil versus $1,450 in Basra.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,038 in Al-mawsil versus $1,944 in Basra.

Living in Al-mawsil costs roughly 36% less than in Basra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al-mawsil 55% lower, Basra 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.55 IQD 9,891

$4.51 IQD 5,906

67.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.36 IQD 16.2K

$30.88 IQD 40.4K

-59.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.61 IQD 7,344

$7.42 IQD 9,712

-24.39%

Cappuccino

$0.75 IQD 981

$2.55 IQD 3,345

-70.59%

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

$0.37 IQD 484

$0.44 IQD 571

-15.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 IQD 252

$0.34 IQD 445

-44.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.97 IQD 1,265

$3.90 IQD 5,113

-75.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 IQD 1,982

$4.12 IQD 5,398

-63.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 IQD 1,015

$1.12 IQD 1,462

-30.36%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 IQD 959

$0.70 IQD 917

4.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 815

$1.47 IQD 1,919

-57.82%

Eggs

$1.13 IQD 1,482

$1.82 IQD 2,380

-37.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.97 IQD 10.4K

$7.53 IQD 9,861

5.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.48 IQD 4,551

$6.36 IQD 8,333

-45.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.22 IQD 12.1K

$14.04 IQD 18.4K

-34.33%

Apples (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 956

$0.97 IQD 1,273

-24.74%

Banana (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 965

$1.36 IQD 1,776

-45.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.60 IQD 781

$0.97 IQD 1,274

-38.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.28 IQD 368

$0.65 IQD 856

-56.92%

Potato (1kg)

$0.32 IQD 425

$0.77 IQD 1,013

-58.44%

Onion (1kg)

$0.37 IQD 482

$0.65 IQD 856

-43.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,028

$0.87 IQD 1,133

-10.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 IQD 772

$0.39 IQD 509

51.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.87 IQD 2,444

$2.08 IQD 2,726

-10.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.38 IQD 16.2K

$6.74 IQD 8,823

83.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 IQD 2,210

$3.11 IQD 4,073

-45.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 IQD 2,720

$3.92 IQD 5,135

-46.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 514

$0.60 IQD 784

-35.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.48 IQD 39.9K

$18.72 IQD 24.5K

62.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 IQD 2,426

$2.36 IQD 3,089

-21.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 IQD 2,382

$2.27 IQD 2,967

-19.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.54 IQD 5,945

$7.06 IQD 9,240

-35.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.33 IQD 430

$0.60 IQD 783

-45.00%

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

$15.3K IQD 20.0M

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

13.08%

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

$17.8K IQD 23.3M

$23.2K IQD 30.4M

-23.55%

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

$109 IQD 142.3K

$51.4 IQD 67.3K

111.32%

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

$13.97 IQD 18.3K

$25.89 IQD 33.9K

-46.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.34 IQD 34.5K

$39.73 IQD 52.0K

-33.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.02 IQD 30.1K

$36.24 IQD 47.5K

-36.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.44 IQD 9,736

$13.93 IQD 18.2K

-46.59%

Cinema Ticket

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

$7.60 IQD 9,955

2.76%

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

$306 IQD 401.0K

$127 IQD 166.6K

140.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$688 IQD 900.4K

$3,881 IQD 5.1M

-82.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.01 IQD 24.9K

$49.97 IQD 65.4K

-61.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.44 IQD 20.2K

$20.04 IQD 26.2K

-22.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.5 IQD 92.3K

$77.1 IQD 101.0K

-8.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$18.06 IQD 23.6K

$41.43 IQD 54.3K

-56.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$113 IQD 148.3K

$477 IQD 624.8K

-76.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$76.3 IQD 100.0K

$346 IQD 453.0K

-77.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$301 IQD 393.7K

$853 IQD 1.1M

-64.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$626 IQD 819.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,578 IQD 2.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$786 IQD 1.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$608 IQD 795.7K

$777 IQD 1.0M

-21.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.53

5.67

-55.38%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Al-mawsil: September 14, 2026

Last update for Basra: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $113 in Al-mawsil and $477 in Basra. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Basra pays 28% 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 $31.00 in Basra for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $152 vs $197 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 55% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 28% 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: $113 in Al-mawsil versus $477 in Basra. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $306 in Al-mawsil versus $127 in Basra. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 29% higher in Basra. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $617 in Al-mawsil versus $957 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 55% less than in Basra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.