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 $957 per month in Basra vs $273 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,450 per month in Basra vs $294 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,944 per month in Basra vs $316 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

Basra costs about 251% more than Al-'amarah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Basra and Al-'amarah are more affordable than the global median – Basra 30% lower, Al-'amarah 80% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.51 IQD 5,906

$1.89 IQD 2,477

138.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.88 IQD 40.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.42 IQD 9,712

$4.49 IQD 5,883

65.26%

Cappuccino

$2.55 IQD 3,345

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

$0.44 IQD 571

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 IQD 445

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.90 IQD 5,113

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.12 IQD 5,398

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 IQD 1,462

$2.72 IQD 3,567

-58.82%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 917

$0.74 IQD 965

-5.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 IQD 1,919

$0.93 IQD 1,214

58.06%

Eggs

$1.82 IQD 2,380

$1.49 IQD 1,945

22.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.53 IQD 9,861

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.36 IQD 8,334

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.04 IQD 18.4K

Apples (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,273

$0.75 IQD 978

29.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 IQD 1,776

$1.16 IQD 1,519

17.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,274

$0.79 IQD 1,029

22.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 856

$0.26 IQD 340

150.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.77 IQD 1,013

$0.79 IQD 1,029

-2.53%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 856

$0.40 IQD 519

62.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 IQD 1,133

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 IQD 509

$0.56 IQD 733

-30.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 IQD 2,726

Wine (Bottle)

$6.74 IQD 8,823

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.11 IQD 4,073

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 IQD 5,135

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

$2.31 IQD 3,030

2.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.27 IQD 2,967

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.06 IQD 9,240

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 IQD 783

$0.33 IQD 431

81.82%

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

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

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

$23.2K IQD 30.4M

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

$51.4 IQD 67.3K

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

$25.89 IQD 33.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.73 IQD 52.0K

$26.98 IQD 35.3K

47.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.24 IQD 47.5K

$30.44 IQD 39.9K

19.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.93 IQD 18.2K

Cinema Ticket

$7.60 IQD 9,955

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

$127 IQD 166.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,881 IQD 5.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.97 IQD 65.4K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.04 IQD 26.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.1 IQD 101.0K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.43 IQD 54.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 IQD 624.8K

$152 IQD 198.5K

214.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 IQD 453.0K

$115 IQD 150.3K

201.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$853 IQD 1.1M

$195 IQD 254.9K

338.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$626 IQD 819.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,578 IQD 2.1M

$578 IQD 757.5K

172.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$786 IQD 1.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$777 IQD 1.0M

$501 IQD 655.7K

55.09%

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: September 14, 2026

Last update for Al-'amarah: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Basra versus $152 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 55% higher in Basra, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 251%, 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 $409 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $957 in Basra and $273 in Al-'amarah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 184% 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 Al-'amarah, where all-in costs run around $273, than in Basra at $957. 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.