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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $737 per month in Baghdadi vs $732 in Basra, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,137 per month in Baghdadi vs $1,351 in Basra, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,537 per month in Baghdadi vs $1,969 in Basra, rent included.

Baghdadi costs about 1% more than Basra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.88 IQD 6,388

$3.85 IQD 5,037

26.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.69 IQD 21.9K

$24.88 IQD 32.6K

-32.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.90 IQD 9,042

$7.03 IQD 9,205

-1.85%

Cappuccino

$1.76 IQD 2,308

$2.06 IQD 2,696

-14.56%

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

$0.42 IQD 549

$0.44 IQD 574

-4.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 IQD 313

$0.32 IQD 413

-25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 IQD 3,827

$3.80 IQD 4,982

-23.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 IQD 3,735

$2.71 IQD 3,551

5.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 IQD 1,490

$1.19 IQD 1,558

-4.20%

White Bread (500g)

$0.63 IQD 826

$0.70 IQD 920

-10.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 IQD 2,935

$1.47 IQD 1,927

52.38%

Eggs

$1.69 IQD 2,219

$1.83 IQD 2,401

-7.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.74 IQD 7,517

$7.95 IQD 10.4K

-27.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.38 IQD 5,735

$7.05 IQD 9,238

-37.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.05 IQD 11.9K

$13.29 IQD 17.4K

-31.90%

Apples (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,273

$1.01 IQD 1,325

-3.96%

Banana (1kg)

$0.98 IQD 1,288

$1.40 IQD 1,837

-30.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,328

$1.04 IQD 1,363

-2.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 IQD 744

$0.59 IQD 774

-3.39%

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 IQD 737

$0.69 IQD 900

-18.84%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 829

$0.57 IQD 746

10.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 IQD 920

$0.78 IQD 1,021

-10.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 IQD 629

$0.38 IQD 500

26.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.80 IQD 2,357

$1.88 IQD 2,468

-4.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.12 IQD 19.8K

$13.04 IQD 17.1K

15.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 IQD 2,385

$2.99 IQD 3,916

-39.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 IQD 2,826

$3.77 IQD 4,934

-42.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 477

$0.37 IQD 481

-2.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.64 IQD 40.1K

$22.77 IQD 29.8K

34.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.31 IQD 3,030

$2.33 IQD 3,051

-0.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 IQD 1,932

$2.30 IQD 3,017

-35.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.98 IQD 7,835

$6.83 IQD 8,942

-12.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 IQD 740

$0.59 IQD 778

-3.39%

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

$19.3K IQD 25.2M

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

42.63%

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

$20.2K IQD 26.4M

$22.5K IQD 29.5M

-10.57%

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

$77.4 IQD 101.4K

$57.8 IQD 75.6K

34.00%

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

$17.78 IQD 23.3K

$25.61 IQD 33.5K

-30.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.54 IQD 45.2K

$38.89 IQD 50.9K

-11.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.46 IQD 47.7K

$36.10 IQD 47.3K

1.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.04 IQD 22.3K

$15.35 IQD 20.1K

11.01%

Cinema Ticket

$7.75 IQD 10.2K

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

0.52%

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

$149 IQD 194.9K

$95.9 IQD 125.6K

55.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,218 IQD 4.2M

$3,881 IQD 5.1M

-17.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.30 IQD 35.7K

$42.37 IQD 55.5K

-35.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.13 IQD 32.9K

$20.39 IQD 26.7K

23.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.7 IQD 79.5K

$71.5 IQD 93.7K

-15.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.54 IQD 54.4K

$40.65 IQD 53.2K

2.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$242 IQD 317.1K

$443 IQD 580.2K

-45.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 IQD 237.7K

$136 IQD 177.8K

33.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 IQD 765.4K

$929 IQD 1.2M

-37.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$345 IQD 452.2K

$668 IQD 875.3K

-48.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,524 IQD 2.0M

$1,604 IQD 2.1M

-4.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$506 IQD 662.5K

$780 IQD 1.0M

-35.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$498 IQD 652.7K

$772 IQD 1.0M

-35.47%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Basra: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $242 in Baghdadi versus $443 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 55% 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 $25.00 in Basra. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $173 vs $211 – 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 1%, 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 $1,106 per month in Baghdadi and $1,099 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 $737 in Baghdadi and $732 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 $737 in Baghdadi and $732 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.