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 $957 per month in Basra vs $574 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,450 per month in Basra vs $882 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,944 per month in Basra vs $1,189 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

Basra costs about 67% more than Ad Diwaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Basra and Ad Diwaniyah are more affordable than the global median – Basra 30% lower, Ad Diwaniyah 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.51 IQD 5,906

$3.32 IQD 4,342

35.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.88 IQD 40.4K

$11.67 IQD 15.3K

164.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.42 IQD 9,712

$5.38 IQD 7,041

37.92%

Cappuccino

$2.55 IQD 3,345

$1.95 IQD 2,559

30.77%

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

$0.44 IQD 571

$0.37 IQD 481

18.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 IQD 445

$0.26 IQD 343

30.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.90 IQD 5,113

$3.91 IQD 5,121

-0.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.12 IQD 5,398

$3.84 IQD 5,024

7.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 IQD 1,462

$1.04 IQD 1,368

7.69%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 917

$0.75 IQD 981

-6.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 IQD 1,919

$1.37 IQD 1,796

7.30%

Eggs

$1.82 IQD 2,380

$1.91 IQD 2,495

-4.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.53 IQD 9,861

$3.93 IQD 5,152

91.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.36 IQD 8,333

$3.73 IQD 4,882

70.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.04 IQD 18.4K

$11.42 IQD 14.9K

22.94%

Apples (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,273

$0.73 IQD 958

32.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 IQD 1,776

$0.78 IQD 1,020

74.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,274

$0.79 IQD 1,037

22.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 856

$0.78 IQD 1,027

-16.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.77 IQD 1,013

$0.70 IQD 922

10.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 856

$0.64 IQD 838

1.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 IQD 1,133

$0.39 IQD 514

123.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 IQD 509

$0.65 IQD 854

-40.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 IQD 2,726

$1.80 IQD 2,356

15.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.74 IQD 8,823

$3.79 IQD 4,966

77.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.11 IQD 4,073

$2.14 IQD 2,798

45.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 IQD 5,135

$2.17 IQD 2,841

80.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 IQD 784

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 IQD 24.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 IQD 3,089

$2.35 IQD 3,083

0.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.27 IQD 2,967

$1.00 IQD 1,306

127.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.06 IQD 9,240

$7.58 IQD 9,930

-6.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 IQD 783

$0.33 IQD 430

81.82%

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

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

-28.75%

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

$23.2K IQD 30.4M

$18.9K IQD 24.7M

23.24%

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

$51.4 IQD 67.3K

$37.82 IQD 49.5K

35.99%

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

$25.89 IQD 33.9K

$17.08 IQD 22.4K

51.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.73 IQD 52.0K

$38.02 IQD 49.8K

4.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.24 IQD 47.5K

$18.73 IQD 24.5K

93.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.93 IQD 18.2K

$7.76 IQD 10.2K

79.51%

Cinema Ticket

$7.60 IQD 9,955

$7.56 IQD 9,897

0.53%

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

$127 IQD 166.6K

$74.9 IQD 98.1K

69.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,881 IQD 5.1M

$3,527 IQD 4.6M

10.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.97 IQD 65.4K

$29.14 IQD 38.2K

71.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.04 IQD 26.2K

$37.50 IQD 49.1K

-46.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.1 IQD 101.0K

$72.8 IQD 95.3K

5.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.43 IQD 54.3K

$47.48 IQD 62.2K

-12.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 IQD 624.8K

$76.5 IQD 100.2K

523.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 IQD 453.0K

$114 IQD 149.8K

202.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$853 IQD 1.1M

$154 IQD 201.7K

453.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$626 IQD 819.5K

$226 IQD 295.9K

176.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,578 IQD 2.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$786 IQD 1.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$777 IQD 1.0M

$387 IQD 507.4K

100.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

4.12

37.62%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Basra: September 14, 2026

Last update for Ad Diwaniyah: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Basra versus $76.5 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 100% 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 $31.00 in Basra versus $12.00 in Ad Diwaniyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $197 vs $147 – 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 67%, 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 $1,436 per month in Basra and $862 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $957 in Basra and $574 in Ad Diwaniyah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $127 per month in Basra and $74.9 in Ad Diwaniyah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ad Diwaniyah, where all-in costs run around $574, than in Basra at $957. 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.