Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Basra Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Basra

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,124 in Baghdad versus $965 in Basra.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,692 in Baghdad versus $1,480 in Basra.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,259 in Baghdad versus $1,995 in Basra.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 17% more expensive than in Basra, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 18% lower, Basra 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.74 IQD 6,201

$4.66 IQD 6,102

1.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.69 IQD 44.1K

$31.09 IQD 40.7K

8.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 IQD 10.1K

$7.83 IQD 10.2K

-1.02%

Cappuccino

$3.07 IQD 4,019

$2.67 IQD 3,495

14.98%

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

$0.40 IQD 520

$0.47 IQD 609

-14.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 IQD 313

$0.34 IQD 448

-29.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.87 IQD 5,065

$3.81 IQD 4,981

1.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 IQD 4,905

$4.29 IQD 5,612

-12.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 IQD 1,422

$1.12 IQD 1,465

-2.68%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 IQD 1,041

$0.65 IQD 850

23.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 IQD 1,980

$1.40 IQD 1,828

7.86%

Eggs

$1.82 IQD 2,383

$1.87 IQD 2,445

-2.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.90 IQD 5,100

$7.61 IQD 9,951

-48.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.70 IQD 6,142

$6.18 IQD 8,084

-23.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.34 IQD 18.8K

$13.83 IQD 18.1K

3.69%

Apples (1kg)

$1.12 IQD 1,463

$0.97 IQD 1,275

15.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,388

$1.36 IQD 1,774

-22.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.07 IQD 1,398

$1.02 IQD 1,337

4.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 966

$0.65 IQD 855

13.85%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 859

$0.74 IQD 973

-10.81%

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 914

$0.66 IQD 857

6.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 812

$0.88 IQD 1,154

-29.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 IQD 844

$0.38 IQD 499

71.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.78 IQD 2,330

$2.13 IQD 2,786

-16.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.68 IQD 17.9K

$6.99 IQD 9,149

95.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,795

$2.98 IQD 3,898

-28.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 IQD 2,968

$3.71 IQD 4,848

-38.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 IQD 837

$0.55 IQD 719

16.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.99 IQD 30.1K

$19.15 IQD 25.1K

20.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,938

$2.24 IQD 2,928

0.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 IQD 1,942

$2.33 IQD 3,052

-36.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

$7.16 IQD 9,372

8.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 875

$0.55 IQD 725

21.82%

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

$19.4K IQD 25.3M

$13.3K IQD 17.3M

46.18%

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

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

$22.9K IQD 30.0M

-16.67%

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

$214 IQD 280.2K

$51.2 IQD 67.0K

318.28%

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

$21.41 IQD 28.0K

$25.63 IQD 33.5K

-16.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.10 IQD 55.1K

$38.53 IQD 50.4K

9.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.30 IQD 61.9K

$36.13 IQD 47.3K

30.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.04 IQD 28.8K

$13.80 IQD 18.1K

59.71%

Cinema Ticket

$10.76 IQD 14.1K

$7.51 IQD 9,825

43.28%

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

$165 IQD 215.2K

$124 IQD 162.3K

32.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,445 IQD 4.5M

$3,768 IQD 4.9M

-8.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.79 IQD 39.0K

$50.0 IQD 65.4K

-40.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 IQD 50.1K

$20.42 IQD 26.7K

87.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.4 IQD 97.4K

$78.5 IQD 102.7K

-5.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.59 IQD 62.2K

$41.85 IQD 54.7K

13.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$566 IQD 740.9K

$463 IQD 605.1K

22.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 IQD 453.0K

$348 IQD 454.7K

-0.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$959 IQD 1.3M

$843 IQD 1.1M

13.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$679 IQD 888.1K

$632 IQD 826.9K

7.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,665 IQD 6.1M

$1,566 IQD 2.0M

197.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,599 IQD 2.1M

$778 IQD 1.0M

105.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$615 IQD 804.6K

$769 IQD 1.0M

-19.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

5.67

-27.34%

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

Last update for Baghdad: September 6, 2026

Last update for Basra: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $566 in Baghdad and $463 in Basra. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Basra pays 25% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $34.00 in Baghdad vs $31.00 in Basra. Groceries flip the comparison at $186 vs $194, with Baghdad cheaper for home cooking.

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

Baghdad vs Basra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Basra wins on cost – living expenses run 17% lower than in Baghdad. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Basra the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 25% 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: $566 in Baghdad versus $463 in Basra. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Basra runs roughly 20% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $165 in Baghdad versus $124 in Basra. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $965 in Basra versus $1,124 in Baghdad, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Basra but tight or insufficient in Baghdad. 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 17% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.