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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $742 in Basra versus $766 in Al-Rumaitha.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Basra versus $1,181 in Al-Rumaitha.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,960 in Basra versus $1,596 in Al-Rumaitha.

Living in Basra costs roughly 3% less than in Al-Rumaitha, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Basra 45% lower, Al-Rumaitha 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.81 IQD 4,990

$4.07 IQD 5,330

-6.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.77 IQD 32.4K

$24.66 IQD 32.3K

0.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.02 IQD 9,193

$6.94 IQD 9,087

1.15%

Cappuccino

$2.06 IQD 2,695

$2.57 IQD 3,369

-19.84%

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

$0.44 IQD 572

$0.39 IQD 516

12.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 IQD 452

$0.16 IQD 216

118.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.86 IQD 5,061

$2.86 IQD 3,743

34.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 IQD 3,532

$2.95 IQD 3,869

-8.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 IQD 1,607

$1.33 IQD 1,736

-7.52%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 919

$0.85 IQD 1,112

-17.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 IQD 1,850

$1.57 IQD 2,060

-10.19%

Eggs

$1.92 IQD 2,512

$1.78 IQD 2,329

7.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.05 IQD 10.5K

$4.38 IQD 5,740

83.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.22 IQD 9,457

$4.73 IQD 6,192

52.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.20 IQD 17.3K

$12.99 IQD 17.0K

1.62%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,321

$1.20 IQD 1,577

-15.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 IQD 1,858

$1.15 IQD 1,500

23.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,331

$1.06 IQD 1,383

-3.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 820

$0.70 IQD 918

-10.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 932

$0.70 IQD 920

1.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 IQD 744

$0.63 IQD 830

-9.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 IQD 1,085

$0.64 IQD 835

29.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 IQD 541

$0.55 IQD 722

-25.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.88 IQD 2,458

$1.94 IQD 2,546

-3.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.76 IQD 16.7K

$13.18 IQD 17.3K

-3.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.97 IQD 3,892

$1.84 IQD 2,414

61.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 IQD 4,947

$2.14 IQD 2,806

76.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 516

$0.37 IQD 483

5.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.21 IQD 30.4K

$31.62 IQD 41.4K

-26.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.31 IQD 3,028

$2.34 IQD 3,070

-1.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.21 IQD 2,891

$1.48 IQD 1,935

49.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.76 IQD 8,847

$6.14 IQD 8,044

10.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.58 IQD 762

$0.54 IQD 703

7.41%

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

$13.3K IQD 17.4M

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

-29.28%

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

$23.2K IQD 30.4M

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

16.26%

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

$56.6 IQD 74.1K

$76.9 IQD 100.7K

-26.41%

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

$25.19 IQD 33.0K

$17.44 IQD 22.8K

44.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.41 IQD 50.3K

$34.89 IQD 45.7K

10.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.07 IQD 48.5K

$36.96 IQD 48.4K

0.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.48 IQD 20.3K

$16.50 IQD 21.6K

-6.18%

Cinema Ticket

$7.75 IQD 10.2K

$7.64 IQD 10.0K

1.44%

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

$97.0 IQD 127.0K

$150 IQD 196.0K

-35.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,772 IQD 4.9M

$3,219 IQD 4.2M

17.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.85 IQD 54.8K

$27.34 IQD 35.8K

53.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.30 IQD 26.6K

$25.62 IQD 33.6K

-20.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 IQD 95.4K

$62.5 IQD 81.9K

16.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.68 IQD 53.3K

$40.65 IQD 53.2K

0.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 IQD 595.7K

$244 IQD 319.4K

86.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$133 IQD 174.1K

$176 IQD 229.9K

-24.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$918 IQD 1.2M

$570 IQD 746.9K

60.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$671 IQD 878.0K

$343 IQD 449.5K

95.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,581 IQD 2.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$800 IQD 1.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$763 IQD 998.7K

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Al-Rumaitha: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $455 in Basra and $244 in Al-Rumaitha. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $25.00 in Basra vs $25.00 in Al-Rumaitha. Groceries flip the comparison at $213 vs $184, with Al-Rumaitha cheaper for home cooking.

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-Rumaitha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Basra is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,113 in Basra and $1,150 in Al-Rumaitha to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $455 in Basra versus $244 in Al-Rumaitha. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $742 per month in Basra versus $766 in Al-Rumaitha – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Basra runs roughly 36% less than in Al-Rumaitha. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $742 in Basra versus $766 in Al-Rumaitha, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Basra but tight or insufficient in Al-Rumaitha. The gap between the two cities makes Basra 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 Basra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Al-Rumaitha. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.