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: $1,148 in Baghdad versus $962 in Basra.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,708 in Baghdad versus $1,458 in Basra.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,269 in Baghdad versus $1,955 in Basra.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 19% more expensive than in Basra, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 16% lower, Basra 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.81 IQD 6,302

$4.60 IQD 6,028

4.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.76 IQD 44.2K

$30.03 IQD 39.3K

12.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.68 IQD 10.1K

$7.50 IQD 9,827

2.40%

Cappuccino

$3.07 IQD 4,018

$2.56 IQD 3,351

19.92%

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

$0.40 IQD 520

$0.46 IQD 604

-13.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 IQD 342

$0.35 IQD 453

-25.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.89 IQD 5,091

$3.85 IQD 5,047

1.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 IQD 4,906

$4.31 IQD 5,640

-12.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 IQD 1,424

$1.11 IQD 1,460

-1.80%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,091

$0.64 IQD 844

29.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 IQD 2,005

$1.40 IQD 1,836

9.29%

Eggs

$1.89 IQD 2,473

$1.87 IQD 2,452

1.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.80 IQD 4,971

$7.57 IQD 9,914

-49.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.58 IQD 5,992

$6.38 IQD 8,353

-28.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.59 IQD 19.1K

$14.01 IQD 18.3K

4.14%

Apples (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,492

$1.03 IQD 1,343

10.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 IQD 1,399

$1.38 IQD 1,802

-22.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,391

$0.99 IQD 1,292

7.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 971

$0.69 IQD 904

7.25%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 860

$0.79 IQD 1,033

-16.46%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 843

$0.63 IQD 824

1.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 827

$0.87 IQD 1,146

-27.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 IQD 920

$0.41 IQD 539

70.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.83 IQD 2,400

$2.12 IQD 2,779

-13.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.65 IQD 17.9K

$6.75 IQD 8,838

102.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 IQD 2,890

$3.10 IQD 4,058

-28.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 IQD 2,861

$3.83 IQD 5,020

-43.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 IQD 854

$0.55 IQD 716

18.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.62 IQD 29.6K

$19.45 IQD 25.5K

16.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.32 IQD 3,037

$2.22 IQD 2,910

4.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 IQD 2,025

$2.34 IQD 3,059

-33.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.79 IQD 10.2K

$7.44 IQD 9,746

4.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 IQD 801

$0.55 IQD 722

10.91%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

$13.2K IQD 17.3M

44.44%

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

$19.2K IQD 25.1M

$23.0K IQD 30.2M

-16.87%

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

$213 IQD 278.8K

$49.68 IQD 65.1K

328.62%

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

$20.99 IQD 27.5K

$25.37 IQD 33.2K

-17.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.26 IQD 55.3K

$39.02 IQD 51.1K

8.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.87 IQD 61.4K

$36.29 IQD 47.5K

29.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.00 IQD 28.8K

$13.74 IQD 18.0K

60.12%

Cinema Ticket

$10.57 IQD 13.8K

$7.70 IQD 10.1K

37.27%

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

$165 IQD 216.6K

$127 IQD 165.9K

30.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,462 IQD 4.5M

$3,845 IQD 5.0M

-9.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.18 IQD 39.5K

$49.73 IQD 65.1K

-39.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.06 IQD 49.8K

$20.19 IQD 26.4K

88.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 IQD 95.5K

$79.4 IQD 104.0K

-8.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.63 IQD 62.4K

$41.95 IQD 54.9K

13.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$575 IQD 753.1K

$469 IQD 614.4K

22.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$350 IQD 457.9K

$339 IQD 443.5K

3.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$959 IQD 1.3M

$860 IQD 1.1M

11.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$687 IQD 899.8K

$628 IQD 822.0K

9.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,743 IQD 6.2M

$1,564 IQD 2.0M

203.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,576 IQD 2.1M

$800 IQD 1.0M

96.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$604 IQD 791.2K

$769 IQD 1.0M

-21.47%

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: August 30, 2026

Last update for Basra: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $575 in Baghdad and $469 in Basra. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Basra pays 27% 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 $30.00 in Basra. Groceries flip the comparison at $188 vs $197, 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 19% 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 27% 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: $575 in Baghdad versus $469 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 16% 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 $127 in Basra. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $962 in Basra versus $1,148 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 19% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.