Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdadi and Basra Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdadi and Basra

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $472 per month in Baghdadi vs $957 in Basra, rent included.

A couple spends around $766 per month in Baghdadi vs $1,450 in Basra, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,059 per month in Baghdadi vs $1,944 in Basra, rent included.

Baghdadi is about 51% cheaper than Basra, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Baghdadi and Basra are more affordable than the global median – Baghdadi 65% lower, Basra 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.66 IQD 10.0K

$4.51 IQD 5,906

69.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.10 IQD 18.5K

$30.88 IQD 40.4K

-54.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.42 IQD 9,712

Cappuccino

$1.85 IQD 2,420

$2.55 IQD 3,345

-27.45%

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

$0.38 IQD 501

$0.44 IQD 571

-13.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 273

$0.34 IQD 445

-38.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.90 IQD 5,113

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.12 IQD 5,398

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 IQD 1,331

$1.12 IQD 1,462

-8.93%

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 IQD 643

$0.70 IQD 917

-30.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.68 IQD 3,511

$1.47 IQD 1,919

82.31%

Eggs

$1.84 IQD 2,412

$1.82 IQD 2,380

1.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.77 IQD 8,859

$7.53 IQD 9,861

-10.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.29 IQD 4,311

$6.36 IQD 8,333

-48.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.09 IQD 10.6K

$14.04 IQD 18.4K

-42.38%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 IQD 1,348

$0.97 IQD 1,273

6.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,331

$1.36 IQD 1,776

-25.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,333

$0.97 IQD 1,274

5.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.24 IQD 314

$0.65 IQD 856

-63.08%

Potato (1kg)

$0.24 IQD 314

$0.77 IQD 1,013

-68.83%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 822

$0.65 IQD 856

-3.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 IQD 686

$0.87 IQD 1,133

-40.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 IQD 755

$0.39 IQD 509

48.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.01 IQD 1,324

$2.08 IQD 2,726

-51.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.10 IQD 19.8K

$6.74 IQD 8,823

124.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.11 IQD 4,073

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 IQD 5,135

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 IQD 375

$0.60 IQD 784

-51.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 IQD 24.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.96 IQD 6,501

$2.36 IQD 3,089

110.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.27 IQD 2,967

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.94 IQD 9,094

$7.06 IQD 9,240

-1.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.42 IQD 546

$0.60 IQD 783

-30.00%

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

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

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

$23.2K IQD 30.4M

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

$49.70 IQD 65.1K

$51.4 IQD 67.3K

-3.36%

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

$25.89 IQD 33.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.76 IQD 19.3K

$39.73 IQD 52.0K

-62.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.3 IQD 77.7K

$36.24 IQD 47.5K

63.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.93 IQD 18.2K

Cinema Ticket

$8.10 IQD 10.6K

$7.60 IQD 9,955

6.58%

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

$78.6 IQD 102.9K

$127 IQD 166.6K

-38.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,014 IQD 6.6M

$3,881 IQD 5.1M

29.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.04 IQD 19.7K

$49.97 IQD 65.4K

-69.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.04 IQD 26.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$24.60 IQD 32.2K

$77.1 IQD 101.0K

-68.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.57 IQD 51.8K

$41.43 IQD 54.3K

-4.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$153 IQD 200.3K

$477 IQD 624.8K

-67.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$49.10 IQD 64.3K

$346 IQD 453.0K

-85.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$457 IQD 598.6K

$853 IQD 1.1M

-46.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$152 IQD 199.1K

$626 IQD 819.5K

-75.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,507 IQD 2.0M

$1,578 IQD 2.1M

-4.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$499 IQD 652.8K

$786 IQD 1.0M

-36.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$491 IQD 643.1K

$777 IQD 1.0M

-36.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

76.37%

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

Last update for Baghdadi: September 14, 2026

Last update for Basra: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $153 in Baghdadi versus $477 in Basra. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 58% higher in Basra, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Baghdadi versus $31.00 in Basra. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $152 vs $197 – making Baghdadi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Baghdadi vs Basra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Basra is pricier by about 103%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $709 per month in Baghdadi and $1,436 in Basra. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Baghdadi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Baghdadi and $31.00 in Basra. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 29% more in Basra, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Baghdadi, where all-in costs run around $472, than in Basra at $957. In Baghdadi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Basra it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Baghdadi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Baghdadi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Basra makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.