Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and Al-mawsil Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and Al-mawsil

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $957 in Basra versus $617 in Al-mawsil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,450 in Basra versus $827 in Al-mawsil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,944 in Basra versus $1,038 in Al-mawsil.

Living in Basra is roughly 55% more expensive than in Al-mawsil, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Basra 30% lower, Al-mawsil 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.51 IQD 5,906

$7.55 IQD 9,891

-40.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.88 IQD 40.4K

$12.36 IQD 16.2K

149.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.42 IQD 9,712

$5.61 IQD 7,344

32.26%

Cappuccino

$2.55 IQD 3,345

$0.75 IQD 981

240.00%

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

$0.44 IQD 571

$0.37 IQD 484

18.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 IQD 445

$0.19 IQD 252

78.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.90 IQD 5,113

$0.97 IQD 1,265

302.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.12 IQD 5,398

$1.51 IQD 1,982

172.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 IQD 1,462

$0.78 IQD 1,015

43.59%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 917

$0.73 IQD 959

-4.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 IQD 1,919

$0.62 IQD 815

137.10%

Eggs

$1.82 IQD 2,380

$1.13 IQD 1,482

61.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.53 IQD 9,861

$7.97 IQD 10.4K

-5.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.36 IQD 8,333

$3.48 IQD 4,551

82.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.04 IQD 18.4K

$9.22 IQD 12.1K

52.28%

Apples (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,273

$0.73 IQD 956

32.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 IQD 1,776

$0.74 IQD 965

83.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,274

$0.60 IQD 781

61.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 856

$0.28 IQD 368

132.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.77 IQD 1,013

$0.32 IQD 425

140.63%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 856

$0.37 IQD 482

75.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 IQD 1,133

$0.78 IQD 1,028

11.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 IQD 509

$0.59 IQD 772

-33.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 IQD 2,726

$1.87 IQD 2,444

11.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.74 IQD 8,823

$12.38 IQD 16.2K

-45.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.11 IQD 4,073

$1.69 IQD 2,210

84.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 IQD 5,135

$2.08 IQD 2,720

88.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 IQD 784

$0.39 IQD 514

53.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 IQD 24.5K

$30.48 IQD 39.9K

-38.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 IQD 3,089

$1.85 IQD 2,426

27.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.27 IQD 2,967

$1.82 IQD 2,382

24.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.06 IQD 9,240

$4.54 IQD 5,945

55.51%

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

$15.3K IQD 20.0M

-11.56%

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

$23.2K IQD 30.4M

$17.8K IQD 23.3M

30.81%

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

$51.4 IQD 67.3K

$109 IQD 142.3K

-52.68%

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

$25.89 IQD 33.9K

$13.97 IQD 18.3K

85.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.73 IQD 52.0K

$26.34 IQD 34.5K

50.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.24 IQD 47.5K

$23.02 IQD 30.1K

57.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.93 IQD 18.2K

$7.44 IQD 9,736

87.23%

Cinema Ticket

$7.60 IQD 9,955

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

-2.69%

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

$127 IQD 166.6K

$306 IQD 401.0K

-58.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,881 IQD 5.1M

$688 IQD 900.4K

464.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.97 IQD 65.4K

$19.01 IQD 24.9K

162.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.04 IQD 26.2K

$15.44 IQD 20.2K

29.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.1 IQD 101.0K

$70.5 IQD 92.3K

9.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.43 IQD 54.3K

$18.06 IQD 23.6K

129.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 IQD 624.8K

$113 IQD 148.3K

321.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 IQD 453.0K

$76.3 IQD 100.0K

353.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$853 IQD 1.1M

$301 IQD 393.7K

183.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$626 IQD 819.5K

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

$608 IQD 795.7K

27.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

2.53

124.11%

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

Last update for Basra: September 14, 2026

Last update for Al-mawsil: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $477 in Basra and $113 in Al-mawsil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Basra pays 28% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $31.00 in Basra vs $12.00 in Al-mawsil for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $197 vs $152 per month, with Al-mawsil cheaper across the board.

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-mawsil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al-mawsil is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 55% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 28% higher in Basra, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $477 in Basra versus $113 in Al-mawsil. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $127 in Basra versus $306 in Al-mawsil. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 29% higher in Basra. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $617 in Al-mawsil versus $957 in Basra, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al-mawsil but tight or insufficient in Basra. The gap between the two cities makes Al-mawsil the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Al-mawsil gentler on the wallet – expenses run 55% less than in Basra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.