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: $777 in Al-Rumaitha versus $739 in Basra.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,176 in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,368 in Basra.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,574 in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,996 in Basra.

Living in Al-Rumaitha is roughly 5% more expensive than in Basra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al-Rumaitha 42% lower, Basra 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.00 IQD 5,239

$3.79 IQD 4,959

5.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.15 IQD 32.9K

$25.30 IQD 33.1K

-0.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.71 IQD 8,785

$6.74 IQD 8,831

-0.45%

Cappuccino

$2.60 IQD 3,408

$2.03 IQD 2,656

28.08%

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

$0.39 IQD 515

$0.47 IQD 612

-17.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 265

$0.35 IQD 452

-42.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.86 IQD 3,745

$3.72 IQD 4,866

-23.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 IQD 3,809

$2.59 IQD 3,391

12.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 IQD 1,738

$1.23 IQD 1,608

8.13%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,031

$0.70 IQD 922

12.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 IQD 2,168

$1.46 IQD 1,906

13.70%

Eggs

$1.74 IQD 2,274

$1.88 IQD 2,467

-7.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.37 IQD 5,727

$8.26 IQD 10.8K

-47.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.61 IQD 6,039

$6.93 IQD 9,071

-33.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.31 IQD 17.4K

$13.13 IQD 17.2K

1.37%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 IQD 1,570

$1.05 IQD 1,370

14.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,507

$1.34 IQD 1,756

-14.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,330

$1.00 IQD 1,316

2.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 964

$0.59 IQD 774

25.42%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 845

$0.68 IQD 894

-4.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 872

$0.60 IQD 789

11.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 813

$0.78 IQD 1,022

-20.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 722

$0.41 IQD 542

34.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.89 IQD 2,479

$1.95 IQD 2,559

-3.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.90 IQD 16.9K

$13.18 IQD 17.3K

-2.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 IQD 2,421

$3.02 IQD 3,957

-38.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 IQD 2,727

$3.92 IQD 5,139

-46.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 478

$0.37 IQD 479

-2.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.29 IQD 41.0K

$23.11 IQD 30.3K

35.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,054

$2.28 IQD 2,992

2.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 IQD 1,957

$2.26 IQD 2,957

-34.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.92 IQD 7,756

$6.93 IQD 9,071

-14.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 IQD 751

$0.56 IQD 732

1.79%

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

$19.2K IQD 25.2M

$13.1K IQD 17.2M

46.39%

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

$19.6K IQD 25.7M

$22.6K IQD 29.6M

-13.35%

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

$78.1 IQD 102.3K

$56.7 IQD 74.2K

37.83%

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

$17.49 IQD 22.9K

$25.66 IQD 33.6K

-31.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.43 IQD 45.1K

$38.60 IQD 50.5K

-10.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.84 IQD 48.2K

$36.33 IQD 47.6K

1.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 IQD 22.4K

$15.54 IQD 20.4K

10.17%

Cinema Ticket

$7.63 IQD 9,995

$7.82 IQD 10.2K

-2.43%

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

$153 IQD 200.1K

$98.0 IQD 128.3K

55.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,328 IQD 4.4M

$3,807 IQD 5.0M

-12.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.81 IQD 35.1K

$42.66 IQD 55.9K

-37.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.05 IQD 32.8K

$20.58 IQD 27.0K

21.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.3 IQD 81.5K

$70.1 IQD 91.9K

-11.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.45 IQD 53.0K

$41.08 IQD 53.8K

-1.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$239 IQD 313.3K

$445 IQD 582.7K

-46.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 IQD 234.9K

$136 IQD 178.0K

31.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 IQD 764.6K

$908 IQD 1.2M

-35.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$338 IQD 442.7K

$650 IQD 851.8K

-48.03%

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)

$752 IQD 985.3K

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Basra: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $239 in Al-Rumaitha and $445 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 $183 vs $212 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, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,165 in Al-Rumaitha and $1,109 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: $239 in Al-Rumaitha versus $445 in Basra. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $777 per month in Al-Rumaitha versus $739 in Basra – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Basra runs roughly 35% less than in Al-Rumaitha. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $739 in Basra versus $777 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 5% less than in Al-Rumaitha. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.