Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and 'aqrah Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and 'aqrah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $732 per month in Basra vs $747 in 'aqrah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Basra vs $1,157 in 'aqrah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,969 per month in Basra vs $1,568 in 'aqrah, rent included.

Basra is about 2% cheaper than 'aqrah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Basra and 'aqrah are more affordable than the global median – Basra 45% lower, 'aqrah 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.85 IQD 5,037

$4.04 IQD 5,286

-4.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.88 IQD 32.6K

$24.76 IQD 32.4K

0.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.03 IQD 9,205

$6.84 IQD 8,959

2.78%

Cappuccino

$2.06 IQD 2,696

$2.60 IQD 3,410

-20.77%

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

$0.44 IQD 574

$0.36 IQD 475

22.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 IQD 413

$0.17 IQD 218

88.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.80 IQD 4,982

$2.82 IQD 3,697

34.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 IQD 3,551

$2.86 IQD 3,741

-5.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 IQD 1,558

$1.33 IQD 1,739

-10.53%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 920

$0.84 IQD 1,100

-16.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 IQD 1,927

$1.60 IQD 2,100

-8.13%

Eggs

$1.83 IQD 2,401

$1.81 IQD 2,372

1.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.95 IQD 10.4K

$4.57 IQD 5,989

73.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.05 IQD 9,238

$4.78 IQD 6,266

47.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.29 IQD 17.4K

$13.25 IQD 17.4K

0.30%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,325

$1.19 IQD 1,558

-15.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 IQD 1,837

$1.21 IQD 1,585

15.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,363

$1.06 IQD 1,388

-1.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 IQD 774

$0.74 IQD 974

-20.27%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 900

$0.70 IQD 912

-1.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 IQD 746

$0.68 IQD 885

-16.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,021

$0.63 IQD 823

23.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 IQD 500

$0.53 IQD 690

-28.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.88 IQD 2,468

$1.97 IQD 2,575

-4.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.04 IQD 17.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 IQD 3,916

$1.76 IQD 2,307

69.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.77 IQD 4,934

$2.16 IQD 2,832

74.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 481

$0.39 IQD 512

-5.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.77 IQD 29.8K

$31.75 IQD 41.6K

-28.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,051

$2.26 IQD 2,954

3.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.30 IQD 3,017

$1.50 IQD 1,959

53.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.83 IQD 8,942

$6.16 IQD 8,065

10.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 IQD 778

$0.54 IQD 702

9.26%

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

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

$18.9K IQD 24.7M

-28.42%

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

$22.5K IQD 29.5M

$19.8K IQD 26.0M

13.68%

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

$57.8 IQD 75.6K

$78.7 IQD 103.1K

-26.59%

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

$25.61 IQD 33.5K

$17.29 IQD 22.6K

48.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.89 IQD 50.9K

$34.72 IQD 45.5K

12.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.10 IQD 47.3K

$36.58 IQD 47.9K

-1.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.35 IQD 20.1K

$16.65 IQD 21.8K

-7.81%

Cinema Ticket

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

-1.28%

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

$95.9 IQD 125.6K

$149 IQD 195.7K

-35.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,881 IQD 5.1M

$3,313 IQD 4.3M

17.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.37 IQD 55.5K

$27.58 IQD 36.1K

53.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.39 IQD 26.7K

$24.89 IQD 32.6K

-18.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.5 IQD 93.7K

$60.1 IQD 78.7K

18.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.65 IQD 53.2K

$40.61 IQD 53.2K

0.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$443 IQD 580.2K

$245 IQD 320.2K

81.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 IQD 177.8K

$176 IQD 230.7K

-22.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$929 IQD 1.2M

$571 IQD 747.7K

62.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 IQD 875.3K

$350 IQD 458.5K

90.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,604 IQD 2.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$780 IQD 1.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$772 IQD 1.0M

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 Basra: June 7, 2026

Last update for 'aqrah: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $443 in Basra versus $245 in 'aqrah. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Basra versus $25.00 in 'aqrah. Groceries tell a different story – $211 in Basra vs $159 in 'aqrah – so 'aqrah wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Basra vs 'aqrah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

'aqrah costs about 2% more than Basra, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,099 per month in Basra and $1,120 in 'aqrah. 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 $732 in Basra and $747 in 'aqrah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 39% 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 $732 in Basra and $747 in 'aqrah, 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.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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