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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $753 per month in Baghdadi vs $728 in Basra, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,140 per month in Baghdadi vs $1,366 in Basra, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,526 per month in Baghdadi vs $2,003 in Basra, rent included.

Baghdadi costs about 3% more than Basra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Baghdadi and Basra are more affordable than the global median – Baghdadi 43% lower, Basra 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.07 IQD 6,644

$3.80 IQD 4,974

33.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.69 IQD 21.9K

$24.38 IQD 31.9K

-31.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.03 IQD 9,209

$7.09 IQD 9,289

-0.85%

Cappuccino

$1.71 IQD 2,235

$2.04 IQD 2,675

-16.18%

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

$0.43 IQD 562

$0.47 IQD 609

-8.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 IQD 342

$0.35 IQD 454

-25.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 IQD 3,840

$3.85 IQD 5,038

-23.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 IQD 3,808

$2.58 IQD 3,382

12.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 IQD 1,490

$1.18 IQD 1,551

-3.39%

White Bread (500g)

$0.67 IQD 879

$0.70 IQD 917

-4.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 IQD 2,929

$1.42 IQD 1,857

57.75%

Eggs

$1.69 IQD 2,215

$1.85 IQD 2,428

-8.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.05 IQD 7,920

$8.27 IQD 10.8K

-26.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.43 IQD 5,798

$6.97 IQD 9,131

-36.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.22 IQD 12.1K

$13.33 IQD 17.5K

-30.83%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,337

$1.06 IQD 1,382

-3.77%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,275

$1.36 IQD 1,776

-28.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,323

$1.04 IQD 1,363

-2.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 IQD 695

$0.59 IQD 769

-10.17%

Potato (1kg)

$0.57 IQD 747

$0.67 IQD 872

-14.93%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 832

$0.56 IQD 737

14.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 IQD 857

$0.80 IQD 1,044

-18.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 IQD 675

$0.42 IQD 548

23.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.72 IQD 2,255

$1.89 IQD 2,479

-8.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.22 IQD 19.9K

$12.87 IQD 16.8K

18.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 IQD 2,425

$3.15 IQD 4,125

-41.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 IQD 2,708

$3.94 IQD 5,155

-47.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 480

$0.39 IQD 511

-5.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.42 IQD 41.1K

$22.72 IQD 29.7K

38.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,944

$2.31 IQD 3,025

-2.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,925

$2.31 IQD 3,028

-36.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.02 IQD 7,879

$6.80 IQD 8,900

-11.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 IQD 748

$0.58 IQD 766

-1.72%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.8M

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

40.27%

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

$19.6K IQD 25.7M

$23.1K IQD 30.3M

-15.11%

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

$76.3 IQD 99.9K

$56.6 IQD 74.1K

34.98%

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

$17.46 IQD 22.9K

$25.64 IQD 33.6K

-31.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.09 IQD 45.9K

$37.70 IQD 49.4K

-6.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.50 IQD 47.8K

$36.14 IQD 47.3K

1.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.50 IQD 21.6K

$15.55 IQD 20.4K

6.11%

Cinema Ticket

$7.44 IQD 9,746

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

-3.50%

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

$153 IQD 200.0K

$95.4 IQD 124.9K

60.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,291 IQD 4.3M

$3,754 IQD 4.9M

-12.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.23 IQD 35.7K

$41.53 IQD 54.4K

-34.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.11 IQD 32.9K

$20.02 IQD 26.2K

25.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.4 IQD 79.1K

$71.7 IQD 93.8K

-15.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.99 IQD 53.7K

$41.57 IQD 54.4K

-1.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$240 IQD 313.6K

$453 IQD 593.2K

-47.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 IQD 230.6K

$132 IQD 172.4K

33.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$590 IQD 772.5K

$902 IQD 1.2M

-34.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$348 IQD 455.1K

$655 IQD 857.9K

-46.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,528 IQD 2.0M

$1,567 IQD 2.1M

-2.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$492 IQD 643.7K

$795 IQD 1.0M

-38.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$509 IQD 665.9K

$761 IQD 996.3K

-33.16%

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Basra: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $240 in Baghdadi versus $453 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 50% 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: $175 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 3%, 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 $1,129 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 $753 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 38% less in Basra. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Basra, where all-in costs run around $728, than in Baghdadi at $753. In Basra it covers expenses comfortably, while in Baghdadi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.