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 $621 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,340 per month in Basra vs $872 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,953 per month in Basra vs $1,123 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

Basra costs about 17% more than Ad Diwaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Basra and Ad Diwaniyah are more affordable than the global median – Basra 46% lower, Ad Diwaniyah 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.72 IQD 4,877

$3.04 IQD 3,984

22.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.46 IQD 32.0K

$11.37 IQD 14.9K

115.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.02 IQD 9,196

$5.31 IQD 6,963

32.20%

Cappuccino

$2.10 IQD 2,753

$1.49 IQD 1,948

40.94%

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

$0.46 IQD 609

$0.40 IQD 521

15.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 IQD 449

$0.19 IQD 249

78.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.76 IQD 4,927

$2.97 IQD 3,886

26.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 IQD 3,553

$2.81 IQD 3,678

-3.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 IQD 1,615

$1.36 IQD 1,785

-9.56%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 919

$0.75 IQD 983

-6.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 IQD 1,854

$1.35 IQD 1,768

5.19%

Eggs

$1.89 IQD 2,475

$1.74 IQD 2,284

8.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.93 IQD 10.4K

$4.40 IQD 5,762

80.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.21 IQD 9,442

$5.05 IQD 6,621

42.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.95 IQD 17.0K

$10.21 IQD 13.4K

26.84%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,317

$0.81 IQD 1,067

24.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 IQD 1,857

$0.92 IQD 1,201

54.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,364

$0.89 IQD 1,172

16.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 814

$0.60 IQD 787

3.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 879

$0.64 IQD 844

4.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 807

$0.62 IQD 816

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,021

$0.45 IQD 586

73.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 IQD 545

$0.66 IQD 859

-36.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.95 IQD 2,551

$1.96 IQD 2,565

-0.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.85 IQD 16.8K

$7.02 IQD 9,199

83.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 IQD 4,091

$1.82 IQD 2,389

71.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 IQD 5,136

$2.15 IQD 2,820

82.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 482

$0.36 IQD 474

2.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.25 IQD 30.5K

$30.64 IQD 40.1K

-24.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 IQD 3,083

$1.94 IQD 2,542

21.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.31 IQD 3,033

$1.25 IQD 1,632

84.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.97 IQD 9,134

$7.87 IQD 10.3K

-11.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 733

$0.38 IQD 498

47.37%

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

$13.3K IQD 17.4M

$9,902 IQD 13.0M

34.36%

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

$22.9K IQD 30.0M

$17.9K IQD 23.4M

27.98%

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

$57.6 IQD 75.5K

$37.55 IQD 49.2K

53.42%

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

$25.62 IQD 33.6K

$17.19 IQD 22.5K

49.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.76 IQD 49.5K

$38.47 IQD 50.4K

-1.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.25 IQD 48.8K

$17.10 IQD 22.4K

117.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.13 IQD 19.8K

$8.85 IQD 11.6K

70.96%

Cinema Ticket

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$5.62 IQD 7,364

38.43%

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

$97.7 IQD 128.0K

$92.9 IQD 121.7K

5.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,869 IQD 5.1M

$738 IQD 966.2K

424.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.39 IQD 55.5K

$20.20 IQD 26.5K

109.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.70 IQD 27.1K

$30.87 IQD 40.4K

-32.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.8 IQD 94.1K

$20.14 IQD 26.4K

256.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.04 IQD 53.8K

$25.08 IQD 32.9K

63.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$448 IQD 587.4K

$138 IQD 180.2K

225.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 IQD 177.8K

$181 IQD 237.2K

-25.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$917 IQD 1.2M

$241 IQD 315.1K

281.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$676 IQD 885.2K

$199 IQD 261.0K

239.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,608 IQD 2.1M

$757 IQD 991.2K

112.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$777 IQD 1.0M

$302 IQD 395.4K

157.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$767 IQD 1.0M

$481 IQD 630.1K

59.54%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Ad Diwaniyah: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $448 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 $24.00 in Basra versus $11.00 in Ad Diwaniyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $213 vs $159 – 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 17%, 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 $931 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 $97.7 per month in Basra and $92.9 in Ad Diwaniyah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 34% 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 $728 in Basra and $621 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.