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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $766 in Al-Rumaitha versus $742 in Basra.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,181 in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,351 in Basra.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,596 in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,960 in Basra.

Living in Al-Rumaitha is roughly 3% more expensive than Basra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al-Rumaitha 43% lower, Basra 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.07 IQD 5,330

$3.81 IQD 4,990

6.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.66 IQD 32.3K

$24.77 IQD 32.4K

-0.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.94 IQD 9,087

$7.02 IQD 9,193

-1.14%

Cappuccino

$2.57 IQD 3,369

$2.06 IQD 2,695

24.76%

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

$0.39 IQD 516

$0.44 IQD 572

-11.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 IQD 216

$0.35 IQD 452

-54.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.86 IQD 3,743

$3.86 IQD 5,061

-25.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 IQD 3,869

$2.70 IQD 3,532

9.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 IQD 1,736

$1.23 IQD 1,607

8.13%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 IQD 1,112

$0.70 IQD 919

21.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 IQD 2,060

$1.41 IQD 1,850

11.35%

Eggs

$1.78 IQD 2,329

$1.92 IQD 2,512

-7.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.38 IQD 5,740

$8.05 IQD 10.5K

-45.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.73 IQD 6,192

$7.22 IQD 9,457

-34.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.99 IQD 17.0K

$13.20 IQD 17.3K

-1.59%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 IQD 1,577

$1.01 IQD 1,321

18.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,500

$1.42 IQD 1,858

-19.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,383

$1.02 IQD 1,331

3.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 918

$0.63 IQD 820

11.11%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 920

$0.71 IQD 932

-1.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 830

$0.57 IQD 744

10.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 IQD 835

$0.83 IQD 1,085

-22.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 722

$0.41 IQD 541

34.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 IQD 2,546

$1.88 IQD 2,458

3.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.18 IQD 17.3K

$12.76 IQD 16.7K

3.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 IQD 2,414

$2.97 IQD 3,892

-38.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,806

$3.78 IQD 4,947

-43.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 483

$0.39 IQD 516

-5.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.62 IQD 41.4K

$23.21 IQD 30.4K

36.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.34 IQD 3,070

$2.31 IQD 3,028

1.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 IQD 1,935

$2.21 IQD 2,891

-33.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.14 IQD 8,044

$6.76 IQD 8,847

-9.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 IQD 703

$0.58 IQD 762

-6.90%

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

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

$13.3K IQD 17.4M

41.41%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

$23.2K IQD 30.4M

-13.99%

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

$76.9 IQD 100.7K

$56.6 IQD 74.1K

35.90%

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

$17.44 IQD 22.8K

$25.19 IQD 33.0K

-30.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.89 IQD 45.7K

$38.41 IQD 50.3K

-9.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.96 IQD 48.4K

$37.07 IQD 48.5K

-0.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.50 IQD 21.6K

$15.48 IQD 20.3K

6.59%

Cinema Ticket

$7.64 IQD 10.0K

$7.75 IQD 10.2K

-1.42%

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

$150 IQD 196.0K

$97.0 IQD 127.0K

54.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,219 IQD 4.2M

$3,772 IQD 4.9M

-14.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.34 IQD 35.8K

$41.85 IQD 54.8K

-34.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.62 IQD 33.6K

$20.30 IQD 26.6K

26.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.5 IQD 81.9K

$72.9 IQD 95.4K

-14.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.65 IQD 53.2K

$40.68 IQD 53.3K

-0.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$244 IQD 319.4K

$455 IQD 595.7K

-46.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 IQD 229.9K

$133 IQD 174.1K

32.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$570 IQD 746.9K

$918 IQD 1.2M

-37.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$343 IQD 449.5K

$671 IQD 878.0K

-48.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,581 IQD 2.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$800 IQD 1.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$763 IQD 998.7K

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-Rumaitha: May 30, 2026

Last update for Basra: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $244 in Al-Rumaitha and $455 in Basra. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $25.00 in Al-Rumaitha vs $25.00 in Basra for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $184 vs $213 per month, with Al-Rumaitha 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-Rumaitha vs Basra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Basra is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,150 in Al-Rumaitha and $1,113 in Basra to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $244 in Al-Rumaitha versus $455 in Basra. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $766 per month in Al-Rumaitha versus $742 in Basra – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Basra runs roughly 36% less than in Al-Rumaitha. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $742 in Basra versus $766 in Al-Rumaitha, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Basra but tight or insufficient in Al-Rumaitha. The gap between the two cities makes Basra 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 Basra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Al-Rumaitha. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.