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: $739 in Basra versus $721 in Al-mawsil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,368 in Basra versus $1,075 in Al-mawsil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,996 in Basra versus $1,429 in Al-mawsil.

Living in Basra is roughly 3% more expensive than in Al-mawsil, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Basra 45% lower, Al-mawsil 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.79 IQD 4,959

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

-51.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.30 IQD 33.1K

$12.27 IQD 16.1K

106.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.74 IQD 8,831

$5.84 IQD 7,645

15.41%

Cappuccino

$2.03 IQD 2,656

$0.81 IQD 1,055

150.62%

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

$0.47 IQD 612

$0.40 IQD 517

17.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 IQD 452

$0.17 IQD 224

105.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.72 IQD 4,866

$0.94 IQD 1,225

295.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 IQD 3,391

$1.50 IQD 1,960

72.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 IQD 1,608

$0.85 IQD 1,112

44.71%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 922

$0.80 IQD 1,049

-12.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.46 IQD 1,906

$1.06 IQD 1,391

37.74%

Eggs

$1.88 IQD 2,467

$1.92 IQD 2,515

-2.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.26 IQD 10.8K

$7.29 IQD 9,548

13.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.93 IQD 9,071

$3.24 IQD 4,242

113.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.13 IQD 17.2K

$7.05 IQD 9,229

86.24%

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 IQD 1,370

$0.91 IQD 1,195

15.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 IQD 1,756

$0.91 IQD 1,192

47.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 IQD 1,316

$0.81 IQD 1,061

23.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 IQD 774

$0.39 IQD 517

51.28%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 894

$0.41 IQD 538

65.85%

Onion (1kg)

$0.60 IQD 789

$0.43 IQD 562

39.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,022

$0.51 IQD 669

52.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 IQD 542

$0.53 IQD 700

-22.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.95 IQD 2,559

$1.95 IQD 2,553

Wine (Bottle)

$13.18 IQD 17.3K

$12.24 IQD 16.0K

7.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.02 IQD 3,957

$1.39 IQD 1,825

117.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 IQD 5,139

$1.93 IQD 2,533

103.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 479

$0.40 IQD 520

-7.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.11 IQD 30.3K

$31.67 IQD 41.5K

-27.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.28 IQD 2,992

$2.17 IQD 2,839

5.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.26 IQD 2,957

$1.98 IQD 2,591

14.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.93 IQD 9,071

$3.28 IQD 4,298

111.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 732

$0.33 IQD 432

69.70%

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

$13.1K IQD 17.2M

$15.1K IQD 19.7M

-12.81%

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

$22.6K IQD 29.6M

$17.7K IQD 23.1M

28.04%

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

$56.7 IQD 74.2K

$99.4 IQD 130.2K

-42.98%

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

$25.66 IQD 33.6K

$17.52 IQD 22.9K

46.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.60 IQD 50.5K

$27.27 IQD 35.7K

41.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.33 IQD 47.6K

$24.23 IQD 31.7K

49.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.54 IQD 20.4K

$18.85 IQD 24.7K

-17.56%

Cinema Ticket

$7.82 IQD 10.2K

$11.28 IQD 14.8K

-30.67%

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

$98.0 IQD 128.3K

$202 IQD 264.4K

-51.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,807 IQD 5.0M

$694 IQD 909.2K

448.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.66 IQD 55.9K

$13.87 IQD 18.2K

207.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.58 IQD 27.0K

$17.89 IQD 23.4K

15.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.1 IQD 91.9K

$82.9 IQD 108.6K

-15.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.08 IQD 53.8K

$19.54 IQD 25.6K

110.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$445 IQD 582.7K

$242 IQD 316.7K

83.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 IQD 178.0K

$179 IQD 234.4K

-24.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$908 IQD 1.2M

$572 IQD 748.7K

58.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$650 IQD 851.8K

$339 IQD 443.7K

91.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,605 IQD 2.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$783 IQD 1.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$752 IQD 985.3K

$608 IQD 795.8K

23.81%

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-mawsil: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $445 in Basra and $242 in Al-mawsil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Basra pays 24% 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: $25.00 in Basra vs $12.00 in Al-mawsil for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $212 vs $149 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 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 24% 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: $445 in Basra versus $242 in Al-mawsil. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $98.0 in Basra versus $202 in Al-mawsil. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 43% higher in Basra. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $721 in Al-mawsil versus $739 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 3% less than in Basra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.