Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdadi and Basra

For one person, living is cheaper in Baghdadi: $641 a month against $662 in Basra, rent and utilities included – about $250 less a year. The total is higher in Basra despite lower rent and utilities.

Baghdadi, Iraq
Basra, Iraq
Baghdadi
🇮🇶 Iraq
$641
/mo nomad
Basra
🇮🇶 Iraq
$662
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Baghdadi and in Basra

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Baghdadi and in Basra actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $641 per month in Baghdadi vs $662 in Basra, rent included.

  • Baghdadi $641
  • Basra $662

A couple spends around $978 per month in Baghdadi vs $1,191 in Basra, rent included.

  • Baghdadi $978
  • Basra $1,191

A family of three spends $1,316 per month in Baghdadi vs $1,719 in Basra, rent included.

  • Baghdadi $1,316
  • Basra $1,719

Baghdadi is about 3% cheaper than Basra, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Baghdadi and Basra are more affordable than the global median – Baghdadi 53% lower, Basra 51% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Baghdadi
Basra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.02 IQD 6,071
$4.02 IQD 6,082
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.93 IQD 21.1K
$26.47 IQD 40.0K
-47.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.17 IQD 9,325
$6.62 IQD 10.0K
-6.80%
Cappuccino
$1.88 IQD 2,846
$2.17 IQD 3,285
-13.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 IQD 628
$0.37 IQD 554
13.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18 IQD 274
$0.28 IQD 417
-35.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.25 IQD 4,906
$3.25 IQD 4,916
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 IQD 3,890
$3.57 IQD 5,393
-28.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Baghdadi
Basra
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.03 IQD 1,553
$0.92 IQD 1,389
11.96%
White Bread (500g)
$0.48 IQD 729
$0.60 IQD 902
-20.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.75 IQD 4,159
$1.22 IQD 1,842
125.41%
Eggs
$1.85 IQD 2,790
$1.62 IQD 2,448
14.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.83 IQD 5,790
$6.41 IQD 9,681
-40.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.29 IQD 4,969
$5.58 IQD 8,429
-41.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.24 IQD 12.5K
$12.22 IQD 18.5K
-32.57%
Apples (1kg)
$0.94 IQD 1,418
$0.84 IQD 1,267
11.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.00 IQD 1,507
$1.16 IQD 1,753
-13.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.93 IQD 1,406
$0.89 IQD 1,342
4.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.68 IQD 1,023
$0.60 IQD 910
13.33%
Potato (1kg)
$0.60 IQD 902
$0.69 IQD 1,044
-13.04%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 IQD 1,009
$0.56 IQD 846
19.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.51 IQD 777
$0.82 IQD 1,236
-37.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 IQD 814
$0.36 IQD 547
50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.70 IQD 2,569
$1.85 IQD 2,790
-8.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.28 IQD 17.0K
$11.16 IQD 16.9K
1.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 IQD 2,401
$1.57 IQD 2,365
1.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 IQD 2,740
$1.80 IQD 2,717
0.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Baghdadi
Basra
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 IQD 518
$0.50 IQD 762
-32.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$16.56 IQD 25.0K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.80 IQD 2,727
$2.02 IQD 3,056
-10.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.29 IQD 1,948
$2.00 IQD 3,023
-35.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.64 IQD 8,529
$6.34 IQD 9,581
-11.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.58 IQD 875
$0.55 IQD 838
5.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.4K IQD 24.8M
$11.7K IQD 17.7M
40.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.0K IQD 25.6M
$19.9K IQD 30.1M
-14.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baghdadi
Basra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$87.6 IQD 132.3K
$43.26 IQD 65.4K
102.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.62 IQD 20.6K
$21.81 IQD 33.0K
-37.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.52 IQD 43.1K
$34.04 IQD 51.4K
-16.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Baghdadi
Basra
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.52 IQD 55.2K
$31.25 IQD 47.2K
16.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$12.28 IQD 18.6K
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.06 IQD 13.7K
$6.69 IQD 10.1K
35.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Baghdadi
Basra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$143 IQD 216.5K
$107 IQD 161.7K
33.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,771 IQD 4.2M
$3,309 IQD 5.0M
-16.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Baghdadi
Basra
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.10 IQD 31.9K
$43.15 IQD 65.2K
-51.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.93 IQD 34.6K
$17.34 IQD 26.2K
32.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$60.6 IQD 91.6K
$67.0 IQD 101.2K
-9.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$37.63 IQD 56.9K
$36.13 IQD 54.6K
4.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Baghdadi
Basra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$207 IQD 313.2K
$405 IQD 612.0K
-48.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$136 IQD 205.3K
$138 IQD 208.2K
-1.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$382 IQD 576.4K
$370 IQD 559.6K
3.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$313 IQD 472.7K
$545 IQD 823.8K
-42.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$870 IQD 1.3M
$1,398 IQD 2.1M
-37.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$487 IQD 735.4K
$704 IQD 1.1M
-30.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Baghdadi
Basra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$499 IQD 753.6K
$672 IQD 1.0M
-25.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.12
4.12
-

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

Last update for Baghdadi: November 2, 2026

Last update for Basra: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Baghdadi
$150
Basra
$173 15.2% $23
Accommodation & Living
Baghdadi
$136
Basra
$138 1.4% $1.9
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baghdadi
$130
Basra
$99 23.6% $31
Eating Out
Baghdadi
$97
Basra
$104 7.3% $7.1
Clothing & Footwear
Baghdadi
$64
Basra
$74 15% $9.6
Sport & Entertainment
Baghdadi
$55
Basra
$45 18.3% $10
Getting Around
Baghdadi
$9.6 *
Basra
$31 218% $21

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $207 in Baghdadi versus $405 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 35% higher in Basra. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14 in Baghdadi versus $26 in Basra. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $150 vs $173 – making Baghdadi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇶 Baghdadi
🇮🇶 Basra
🕒 Local time
00:24 12:24 AM
00:24 12:24 AM
Same time as Baghdadi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,150,000
💱 Currency
Iraqi Dinar IQD ع.د
Iraqi Dinar IQD ع.د
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to IQD – Iraqi Dinar Converter

Iraqi Dinar exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 1,511 IQD (10,000 IQD = 6.62 USD). 1 EUR = 1,696 IQD (10,000 IQD = 5.9 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Baghdadi Basra 620 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Baghdadi
  • Basra

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Is Baghdadi cheaper than Basra?
Yes – Basra is pricier by about 3%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $961 per month in Baghdadi and $994 in Basra. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Baghdadi, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $207 there versus $405 in Basra.
Is eating out cheaper in Baghdadi or in Basra?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $14 in Baghdadi and $26 in Basra. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Baghdadi and in Basra?
Groceries cost about 15% more in Basra, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is $1,000 enough for either Baghdadi or Basra?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $641 in Baghdadi and $662 in Basra, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Baghdadi. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Basra makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Baghdadi vs other spots: cost of living compared

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