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 $728 per month in Basra vs $606 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,366 per month in Basra vs $860 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,003 per month in Basra vs $1,114 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

Basra costs about 20% 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

$3.80 IQD 4,974

$3.07 IQD 4,024

23.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.38 IQD 31.9K

$11.59 IQD 15.2K

110.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 IQD 9,289

$5.08 IQD 6,651

39.57%

Cappuccino

$2.04 IQD 2,675

$1.47 IQD 1,930

38.78%

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

$0.47 IQD 609

$0.40 IQD 522

17.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 IQD 454

$0.20 IQD 260

75.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.85 IQD 5,038

$2.96 IQD 3,875

30.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 IQD 3,382

$2.95 IQD 3,868

-12.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 IQD 1,551

$1.32 IQD 1,735

-10.61%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 917

$0.76 IQD 1,001

-7.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 IQD 1,857

$1.34 IQD 1,759

5.97%

Eggs

$1.85 IQD 2,428

$1.81 IQD 2,367

2.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.27 IQD 10.8K

$4.52 IQD 5,913

82.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.97 IQD 9,131

$4.90 IQD 6,414

42.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.33 IQD 17.5K

$10.43 IQD 13.7K

27.80%

Apples (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,382

$0.76 IQD 999

39.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 IQD 1,776

$0.89 IQD 1,169

52.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,363

$0.97 IQD 1,270

7.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 IQD 769

$0.60 IQD 780

-1.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 872

$0.65 IQD 846

3.08%

Onion (1kg)

$0.56 IQD 737

$0.64 IQD 836

-12.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 IQD 1,044

$0.49 IQD 640

63.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 IQD 548

$0.66 IQD 871

-36.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.89 IQD 2,479

$1.87 IQD 2,443

1.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.87 IQD 16.8K

$3.72 IQD 4,870

245.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.15 IQD 4,125

$1.76 IQD 2,308

78.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 IQD 5,155

$2.07 IQD 2,715

90.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 511

$0.39 IQD 515

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.72 IQD 29.7K

$30.61 IQD 40.1K

-25.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.31 IQD 3,025

$1.98 IQD 2,589

16.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.31 IQD 3,028

$1.19 IQD 1,559

94.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.80 IQD 8,900

$7.63 IQD 9,993

-10.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.58 IQD 766

$0.39 IQD 506

48.72%

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

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

$9,833 IQD 12.9M

37.40%

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

$23.1K IQD 30.3M

$18.2K IQD 23.8M

27.35%

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

$56.6 IQD 74.1K

$38.45 IQD 50.4K

47.07%

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

$25.64 IQD 33.6K

$17.23 IQD 22.6K

48.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.70 IQD 49.4K

$38.07 IQD 49.8K

-0.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.14 IQD 47.3K

$16.81 IQD 22.0K

114.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.55 IQD 20.4K

$8.99 IQD 11.8K

72.97%

Cinema Ticket

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

$5.47 IQD 7,167

40.95%

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

$95.4 IQD 124.9K

$92.0 IQD 120.5K

3.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,754 IQD 4.9M

$743 IQD 973.4K

405.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.53 IQD 54.4K

$19.82 IQD 26.0K

109.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.02 IQD 26.2K

$30.71 IQD 40.2K

-34.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.7 IQD 93.8K

$20.23 IQD 26.5K

254.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.57 IQD 54.4K

$25.24 IQD 33.1K

64.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$453 IQD 593.2K

$140 IQD 183.4K

223.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$132 IQD 172.4K

$177 IQD 231.9K

-25.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$902 IQD 1.2M

$241 IQD 315.3K

274.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$655 IQD 857.9K

$203 IQD 266.1K

222.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,567 IQD 2.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$795 IQD 1.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$761 IQD 996.3K

$389 IQD 509.3K

95.62%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Ad Diwaniyah: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $453 in Basra versus $140 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 96% 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 $24.00 in Basra versus $12.00 in Ad Diwaniyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $213 vs $152 – 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 20%, 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 $1,092 per month in Basra and $909 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 $95.4 per month in Basra and $92.0 in Ad Diwaniyah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 40% more in Basra, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ad Diwaniyah, where all-in costs run around $606, than in Basra at $728. In Ad Diwaniyah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Basra it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.