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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $743 per month in Baghdadi vs $728 in Basra, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,118 per month in Baghdadi vs $1,340 in Basra, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,492 per month in Baghdadi vs $1,953 in Basra, rent included.

Baghdadi costs about 2% more than Basra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Baghdadi and Basra are more affordable than the global median – Baghdadi 44% lower, Basra 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.03 IQD 6,587

$3.72 IQD 4,876

35.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.32 IQD 22.7K

$24.46 IQD 32.0K

-29.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.91 IQD 9,055

$7.02 IQD 9,194

-1.57%

Cappuccino

$1.75 IQD 2,286

$2.10 IQD 2,753

-16.67%

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

$0.42 IQD 553

$0.46 IQD 608

-8.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 IQD 314

$0.34 IQD 449

-29.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.98 IQD 3,904

$3.76 IQD 4,926

-20.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 IQD 3,658

$2.71 IQD 3,553

2.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 IQD 1,432

$1.23 IQD 1,614

-11.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 IQD 819

$0.70 IQD 918

-11.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.29 IQD 2,996

$1.42 IQD 1,854

61.27%

Eggs

$1.76 IQD 2,309

$1.89 IQD 2,474

-6.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.76 IQD 7,544

$7.93 IQD 10.4K

-27.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.53 IQD 5,929

$7.21 IQD 9,440

-37.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 IQD 12.3K

$12.95 IQD 17.0K

-27.26%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 IQD 1,346

$1.01 IQD 1,316

1.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,328

$1.42 IQD 1,856

-28.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,330

$1.04 IQD 1,364

-1.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 IQD 691

$0.62 IQD 814

-14.52%

Potato (1kg)

$0.54 IQD 707

$0.67 IQD 879

-19.40%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 884

$0.62 IQD 806

8.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 IQD 835

$0.78 IQD 1,021

-17.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 IQD 631

$0.42 IQD 545

14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.77 IQD 2,316

$1.95 IQD 2,550

-9.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.64 IQD 17.9K

$12.85 IQD 16.8K

6.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,349

$3.12 IQD 4,090

-42.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 IQD 2,843

$3.92 IQD 5,135

-44.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 480

$0.37 IQD 482

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.34 IQD 41.1K

$23.25 IQD 30.5K

34.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.34 IQD 3,067

$2.35 IQD 3,083

-0.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 IQD 2,010

$2.31 IQD 3,032

-33.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.98 IQD 7,837

$6.97 IQD 9,133

-14.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 699

$0.56 IQD 733

-5.36%

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

$19.2K IQD 25.2M

$13.3K IQD 17.4M

44.64%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.0M

$22.9K IQD 30.0M

-13.12%

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

$77.0 IQD 100.8K

$57.6 IQD 75.5K

33.64%

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

$17.90 IQD 23.4K

$25.62 IQD 33.6K

-30.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.87 IQD 45.7K

$37.76 IQD 49.5K

-7.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.02 IQD 48.5K

$37.25 IQD 48.8K

-0.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.75 IQD 21.9K

$15.13 IQD 19.8K

10.71%

Cinema Ticket

$7.75 IQD 10.2K

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

-0.39%

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

$153 IQD 200.8K

$97.7 IQD 128.0K

56.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,309 IQD 4.3M

$3,869 IQD 5.1M

-14.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.55 IQD 36.1K

$42.39 IQD 55.5K

-35.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.49 IQD 33.4K

$20.70 IQD 27.1K

23.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.3 IQD 80.3K

$71.8 IQD 94.1K

-14.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.54 IQD 54.4K

$41.04 IQD 53.8K

1.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$246 IQD 321.6K

$448 IQD 587.3K

-45.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 IQD 231.7K

$136 IQD 177.7K

30.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$574 IQD 752.2K

$917 IQD 1.2M

-37.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$345 IQD 452.0K

$676 IQD 885.0K

-48.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,479 IQD 1.9M

$1,608 IQD 2.1M

-8.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$502 IQD 658.1K

$777 IQD 1.0M

-35.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$491 IQD 643.6K

$767 IQD 1.0M

-35.96%

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 Baghdadi: April 27, 2026

Last update for Basra: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $246 in Baghdadi versus $448 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 56% higher in Basra, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Baghdadi versus $24.00 in Basra. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $171 vs $213 – 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 – Baghdadi is pricier by about 2%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,115 per month in Baghdadi and $1,092 in Basra. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $743 in Baghdadi and $728 in Basra. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 35% less in Basra. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $743 in Baghdadi and $728 in Basra, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Basra – 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 Basra. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Baghdadi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.