Cost of Living Comparison Between Ba'qubah and Basra Cost of Living Comparison Between Ba'qubah and Basra

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $638 in Ba'qubah versus $728 in Basra.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $985 in Ba'qubah versus $1,340 in Basra.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,333 in Ba'qubah versus $1,953 in Basra.

Living in Ba'qubah costs roughly 12% less than in Basra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ba'qubah 52% lower, Basra 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.03 IQD 6,592

$3.72 IQD 4,876

35.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.37 IQD 20.1K

$24.46 IQD 32.0K

-37.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.35 IQD 8,317

$7.02 IQD 9,194

-9.54%

Cappuccino

$1.13 IQD 1,478

$2.10 IQD 2,753

-46.19%

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

$0.48 IQD 628

$0.46 IQD 608

4.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 242

$0.34 IQD 449

-47.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 IQD 2,533

$3.76 IQD 4,926

-48.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 IQD 2,697

$2.71 IQD 3,553

-23.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 IQD 1,485

$1.23 IQD 1,614

-8.13%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 IQD 725

$0.70 IQD 918

-21.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 IQD 1,473

$1.42 IQD 1,854

-21.13%

Eggs

$1.41 IQD 1,851

$1.89 IQD 2,474

-25.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.26 IQD 2,963

$7.93 IQD 10.4K

-71.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.52 IQD 3,297

$7.21 IQD 9,440

-65.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 IQD 14.1K

$12.95 IQD 17.0K

-16.83%

Apples (1kg)

$0.92 IQD 1,201

$1.01 IQD 1,316

-8.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,479

$1.42 IQD 1,856

-20.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.99 IQD 1,291

$1.04 IQD 1,364

-4.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 IQD 782

$0.62 IQD 814

-3.23%

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 IQD 728

$0.67 IQD 879

-16.42%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 901

$0.62 IQD 806

11.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.47 IQD 612

$0.78 IQD 1,021

-39.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 281

$0.42 IQD 545

-50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.71 IQD 3,556

$1.95 IQD 2,550

38.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.24 IQD 16.0K

$12.85 IQD 16.8K

-4.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 IQD 1,873

$3.12 IQD 4,090

-54.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 IQD 2,654

$3.92 IQD 5,135

-48.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 522

$0.37 IQD 482

8.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.61 IQD 41.4K

$23.25 IQD 30.5K

35.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 IQD 3,099

$2.35 IQD 3,083

0.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.10 IQD 2,750

$2.31 IQD 3,032

-9.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.32 IQD 6,971

$6.97 IQD 9,133

-23.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.33 IQD 427

$0.56 IQD 733

-41.07%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

$13.3K IQD 17.4M

42.76%

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

$20.9K IQD 27.4M

$22.9K IQD 30.0M

-8.74%

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

$59.3 IQD 77.7K

$57.6 IQD 75.5K

2.95%

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

$17.97 IQD 23.5K

$25.62 IQD 33.6K

-29.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.11 IQD 35.5K

$37.76 IQD 49.5K

-28.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.94 IQD 24.8K

$37.25 IQD 48.8K

-49.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.61 IQD 21.8K

$15.13 IQD 19.8K

9.78%

Cinema Ticket

$3.82 IQD 4,998

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

-50.90%

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

$27.30 IQD 35.8K

$97.7 IQD 128.0K

-72.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$632 IQD 827.5K

$3,869 IQD 5.1M

-83.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.99 IQD 24.9K

$42.39 IQD 55.5K

-55.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.97 IQD 24.9K

$20.70 IQD 27.1K

-8.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.8 IQD 109.8K

$71.8 IQD 94.1K

16.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$27.25 IQD 35.7K

$41.04 IQD 53.8K

-33.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$244 IQD 320.2K

$448 IQD 587.3K

-45.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 IQD 238.5K

$136 IQD 177.7K

34.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$570 IQD 746.1K

$917 IQD 1.2M

-37.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$345 IQD 451.4K

$676 IQD 885.0K

-48.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$768 IQD 1.0M

$1,608 IQD 2.1M

-52.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$188 IQD 246.6K

$777 IQD 1.0M

-75.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$730 IQD 956.2K

$767 IQD 1.0M

-4.85%

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 Ba'qubah: April 27, 2026

Last update for Basra: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $244 in Ba'qubah and $448 in Basra. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Basra pays 5% 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: $15.00 in Ba'qubah vs $24.00 in Basra for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $140 vs $213 per month, with Ba'qubah 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

Ba'qubah vs Basra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ba'qubah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Basra earns 5% less. 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: $244 in Ba'qubah versus $448 in Basra. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 52% higher in Basra. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Ba'qubah – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $24.00 in Basra. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Ba'qubah gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 Ba'qubah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Basra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.