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: $739 in Basra versus $777 in Al-Rumaitha.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,368 in Basra versus $1,176 in Al-Rumaitha.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,996 in Basra versus $1,574 in Al-Rumaitha.

Living in Basra costs roughly 5% less than in Al-Rumaitha, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Basra 45% lower, Al-Rumaitha 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.79 IQD 4,959

$4.00 IQD 5,239

-5.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.30 IQD 33.1K

$25.15 IQD 32.9K

0.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.74 IQD 8,831

$6.71 IQD 8,785

0.45%

Cappuccino

$2.03 IQD 2,656

$2.60 IQD 3,408

-21.92%

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

$0.47 IQD 612

$0.39 IQD 515

20.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 IQD 452

$0.20 IQD 265

75.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.72 IQD 4,866

$2.86 IQD 3,745

30.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 IQD 3,391

$2.91 IQD 3,809

-11.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 IQD 1,608

$1.33 IQD 1,738

-7.52%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 922

$0.79 IQD 1,031

-11.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.46 IQD 1,906

$1.66 IQD 2,168

-12.05%

Eggs

$1.88 IQD 2,467

$1.74 IQD 2,274

8.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.26 IQD 10.8K

$4.37 IQD 5,727

89.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.93 IQD 9,071

$4.61 IQD 6,039

50.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.13 IQD 17.2K

$13.31 IQD 17.4K

-1.35%

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 IQD 1,370

$1.20 IQD 1,570

-12.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 IQD 1,756

$1.15 IQD 1,507

16.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 IQD 1,316

$1.02 IQD 1,330

-1.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 IQD 774

$0.74 IQD 964

-20.27%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 894

$0.65 IQD 845

4.62%

Onion (1kg)

$0.60 IQD 789

$0.67 IQD 872

-10.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,022

$0.62 IQD 813

25.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 IQD 542

$0.55 IQD 722

-25.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.95 IQD 2,559

$1.89 IQD 2,479

3.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.18 IQD 17.3K

$12.90 IQD 16.9K

2.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.02 IQD 3,957

$1.85 IQD 2,421

63.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 IQD 5,139

$2.08 IQD 2,727

88.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 479

$0.36 IQD 478

2.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.11 IQD 30.3K

$31.29 IQD 41.0K

-26.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.28 IQD 2,992

$2.33 IQD 3,054

-2.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.26 IQD 2,957

$1.49 IQD 1,957

51.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.93 IQD 9,071

$5.92 IQD 7,756

17.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 732

$0.57 IQD 751

-1.75%

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

$13.1K IQD 17.2M

$19.2K IQD 25.2M

-31.69%

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

$22.6K IQD 29.6M

$19.6K IQD 25.7M

15.41%

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

$56.7 IQD 74.2K

$78.1 IQD 102.3K

-27.44%

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

$25.66 IQD 33.6K

$17.49 IQD 22.9K

46.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.60 IQD 50.5K

$34.43 IQD 45.1K

12.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.33 IQD 47.6K

$36.84 IQD 48.2K

-1.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.54 IQD 20.4K

$17.12 IQD 22.4K

-9.23%

Cinema Ticket

$7.82 IQD 10.2K

$7.63 IQD 9,995

2.49%

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

$98.0 IQD 128.3K

$153 IQD 200.1K

-35.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,807 IQD 5.0M

$3,328 IQD 4.4M

14.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.66 IQD 55.9K

$26.81 IQD 35.1K

59.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.58 IQD 27.0K

$25.05 IQD 32.8K

-17.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.1 IQD 91.9K

$62.3 IQD 81.5K

12.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.08 IQD 53.8K

$40.45 IQD 53.0K

1.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$445 IQD 582.7K

$239 IQD 313.3K

85.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 IQD 178.0K

$179 IQD 234.9K

-24.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$908 IQD 1.2M

$584 IQD 764.6K

55.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$650 IQD 851.8K

$338 IQD 442.7K

92.42%

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

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-Rumaitha: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $445 in Basra and $239 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 $212 vs $183, 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, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,109 in Basra and $1,165 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: $445 in Basra versus $239 in Al-Rumaitha. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $739 per month in Basra versus $777 in Al-Rumaitha – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Basra runs roughly 35% less than in Al-Rumaitha. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $739 in Basra versus $777 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 5% less than in Al-Rumaitha. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.