Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and Ad Diwaniyah Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and Ad Diwaniyah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $732 per month in Basra vs $620 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Basra vs $873 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,969 per month in Basra vs $1,127 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

Basra costs about 18% more than Ad Diwaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Basra and Ad Diwaniyah are more affordable than the global median – Basra 45% lower, Ad Diwaniyah 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.85 IQD 5,037

$3.01 IQD 3,943

27.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.88 IQD 32.6K

$11.58 IQD 15.2K

114.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.03 IQD 9,205

$5.04 IQD 6,602

39.48%

Cappuccino

$2.06 IQD 2,696

$1.47 IQD 1,926

40.14%

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

$0.44 IQD 574

$0.37 IQD 484

18.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 IQD 413

$0.19 IQD 245

68.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.80 IQD 4,982

$2.87 IQD 3,756

32.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 IQD 3,551

$2.95 IQD 3,867

-8.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 IQD 1,558

$1.37 IQD 1,796

-13.14%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 920

$0.74 IQD 975

-5.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 IQD 1,927

$1.35 IQD 1,774

8.89%

Eggs

$1.83 IQD 2,401

$1.73 IQD 2,265

5.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.95 IQD 10.4K

$4.59 IQD 6,009

73.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.05 IQD 9,238

$5.00 IQD 6,546

41.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.29 IQD 17.4K

$10.40 IQD 13.6K

27.79%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,325

$0.80 IQD 1,048

26.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 IQD 1,837

$0.97 IQD 1,266

44.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,363

$0.90 IQD 1,184

15.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 IQD 774

$0.56 IQD 727

5.36%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 900

$0.65 IQD 857

6.15%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 IQD 746

$0.66 IQD 868

-13.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,021

$0.49 IQD 643

59.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 IQD 500

$0.62 IQD 811

-38.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.88 IQD 2,468

$1.93 IQD 2,534

-2.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.04 IQD 17.1K

$7.09 IQD 9,290

83.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 IQD 3,916

$1.79 IQD 2,338

67.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.77 IQD 4,934

$2.18 IQD 2,859

72.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 481

$0.40 IQD 519

-7.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.77 IQD 29.8K

$30.85 IQD 40.4K

-26.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,051

$1.96 IQD 2,567

18.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.30 IQD 3,017

$1.24 IQD 1,630

85.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.83 IQD 8,942

$7.80 IQD 10.2K

-12.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 IQD 778

$0.38 IQD 504

55.26%

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

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

$9,802 IQD 12.8M

37.73%

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

$22.5K IQD 29.5M

$18.2K IQD 23.8M

23.86%

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

$57.8 IQD 75.6K

$38.14 IQD 49.9K

51.47%

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

$25.61 IQD 33.5K

$17.12 IQD 22.4K

49.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.89 IQD 50.9K

$38.65 IQD 50.6K

0.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.10 IQD 47.3K

$17.24 IQD 22.6K

109.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.35 IQD 20.1K

$9.01 IQD 11.8K

70.37%

Cinema Ticket

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

$5.51 IQD 7,219

39.93%

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

$95.9 IQD 125.6K

$91.8 IQD 120.1K

4.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,881 IQD 5.1M

$756 IQD 989.9K

413.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.37 IQD 55.5K

$19.63 IQD 25.7K

115.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.39 IQD 26.7K

$30.39 IQD 39.8K

-32.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.5 IQD 93.7K

$19.73 IQD 25.8K

262.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.65 IQD 53.2K

$24.74 IQD 32.4K

64.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$443 IQD 580.2K

$138 IQD 180.1K

222.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 IQD 177.8K

$181 IQD 237.3K

-25.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$929 IQD 1.2M

$237 IQD 310.8K

291.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 IQD 875.3K

$196 IQD 256.5K

241.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,604 IQD 2.1M

$743 IQD 972.5K

115.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$780 IQD 1.0M

$298 IQD 389.6K

162.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$772 IQD 1.0M

$482 IQD 631.3K

60.24%

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 Ad Diwaniyah: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $443 in Basra versus $138 in Ad Diwaniyah. 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 60% higher in Basra, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Basra versus $12.00 in Ad Diwaniyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $211 vs $160 – making Ad Diwaniyah 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

Basra vs Ad Diwaniyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Basra is pricier by about 18%, 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 $1,099 per month in Basra and $930 in Ad Diwaniyah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $95.9 per month in Basra and $91.8 in Ad Diwaniyah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 32% more in Basra, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $732 in Basra and $620 in Ad Diwaniyah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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