Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and Al-'amarah Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and Al-'amarah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $739 per month in Basra vs $683 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,368 per month in Basra vs $1,105 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,996 per month in Basra vs $1,526 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

Basra costs about 8% more than Al-'amarah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Basra and Al-'amarah are more affordable than the global median – Basra 45% lower, Al-'amarah 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.79 IQD 4,959

$3.95 IQD 5,168

-4.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.30 IQD 33.1K

$25.27 IQD 33.1K

0.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.74 IQD 8,831

$6.96 IQD 9,120

-3.16%

Cappuccino

$2.03 IQD 2,656

$2.59 IQD 3,397

-21.62%

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

$0.47 IQD 612

$0.37 IQD 479

27.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 IQD 452

$0.20 IQD 260

75.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.72 IQD 4,866

$2.93 IQD 3,842

26.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 IQD 3,391

$2.80 IQD 3,671

-7.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 IQD 1,608

$1.86 IQD 2,436

-33.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 922

$0.73 IQD 951

-4.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.46 IQD 1,906

$1.08 IQD 1,416

35.19%

Eggs

$1.88 IQD 2,467

$1.54 IQD 2,014

22.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.26 IQD 10.8K

$4.40 IQD 5,766

87.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.93 IQD 9,071

$4.62 IQD 6,048

50.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.13 IQD 17.2K

$13.12 IQD 17.2K

0.08%

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 IQD 1,370

$0.92 IQD 1,204

14.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 IQD 1,756

$1.08 IQD 1,415

24.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 IQD 1,316

$0.85 IQD 1,111

17.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 IQD 774

$0.37 IQD 484

59.46%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 894

$0.71 IQD 929

-4.23%

Onion (1kg)

$0.60 IQD 789

$0.37 IQD 488

62.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,022

$0.62 IQD 811

25.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 IQD 542

$0.44 IQD 570

-6.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.95 IQD 2,559

$1.95 IQD 2,554

Wine (Bottle)

$13.18 IQD 17.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.02 IQD 3,957

$1.78 IQD 2,335

69.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 IQD 5,139

$2.08 IQD 2,728

88.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 479

$0.39 IQD 513

-5.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.11 IQD 30.3K

$31.25 IQD 40.9K

-26.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.28 IQD 2,992

$1.61 IQD 2,114

41.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.26 IQD 2,957

$1.55 IQD 2,032

45.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.93 IQD 9,071

$6.05 IQD 7,921

14.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 732

$0.31 IQD 405

80.65%

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

$13.1K IQD 17.2M

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

-31.03%

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

$22.6K IQD 29.6M

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

14.30%

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

$56.7 IQD 74.2K

$78.8 IQD 103.2K

-28.10%

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

$25.66 IQD 33.6K

$17.95 IQD 23.5K

42.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.60 IQD 50.5K

$34.13 IQD 44.7K

13.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.33 IQD 47.6K

$22.91 IQD 30.0K

58.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.54 IQD 20.4K

$16.78 IQD 22.0K

-7.39%

Cinema Ticket

$7.82 IQD 10.2K

$7.72 IQD 10.1K

1.30%

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

$98.0 IQD 128.3K

$154 IQD 201.4K

-36.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,807 IQD 5.0M

$3,260 IQD 4.3M

16.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.66 IQD 55.9K

$26.76 IQD 35.0K

59.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.58 IQD 27.0K

$24.81 IQD 32.5K

-17.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.1 IQD 91.9K

$62.0 IQD 81.2K

13.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.08 IQD 53.8K

$40.86 IQD 53.5K

0.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$445 IQD 582.7K

$329 IQD 431.3K

35.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 IQD 178.0K

$134 IQD 175.3K

1.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$908 IQD 1.2M

$454 IQD 594.7K

100.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$650 IQD 851.8K

$342 IQD 447.8K

90.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,605 IQD 2.1M

$567 IQD 741.9K

183.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$783 IQD 1.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$752 IQD 985.3K

$491 IQD 643.0K

53.24%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Al-'amarah: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $445 in Basra versus $329 in Al-'amarah. 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 53% 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 $25.00 in Al-'amarah. Groceries tell a different story – $212 in Basra vs $152 in Al-'amarah – so Al-'amarah 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 Al-'amarah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Basra is pricier by about 8%, 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 $1,109 per month in Basra and $1,025 in Al-'amarah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Al-'amarah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Basra and $25.00 in Al-'amarah. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al-'amarah, where all-in costs run around $683, than in Basra at $739. In Al-'amarah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Basra it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Al-'amarah – 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 Al-'amarah. 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.