Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and Ar Ramadi Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and Ar Ramadi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $732 per month in Basra vs $711 in Ar Ramadi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Basra vs $1,104 in Ar Ramadi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,969 per month in Basra vs $1,497 in Ar Ramadi, rent included.

Basra costs about 3% more than Ar Ramadi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Basra and Ar Ramadi are more affordable than the global median – Basra 45% lower, Ar Ramadi 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.85 IQD 5,038

$4.09 IQD 5,359

-5.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.88 IQD 32.6K

$25.30 IQD 33.1K

-1.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.03 IQD 9,205

$6.82 IQD 8,925

3.08%

Cappuccino

$2.06 IQD 2,696

$2.59 IQD 3,392

-20.46%

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

$0.44 IQD 574

$0.39 IQD 511

12.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 IQD 413

$0.20 IQD 265

60.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.80 IQD 4,982

$2.92 IQD 3,829

30.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 IQD 3,551

$2.80 IQD 3,670

-3.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 IQD 1,558

$0.92 IQD 1,198

29.35%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 920

$0.78 IQD 1,027

-10.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 IQD 1,927

$1.72 IQD 2,254

-14.53%

Eggs

$1.83 IQD 2,401

$1.89 IQD 2,471

-3.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.95 IQD 10.4K

$3.83 IQD 5,012

107.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.05 IQD 9,238

$2.33 IQD 3,048

202.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.29 IQD 17.4K

$10.16 IQD 13.3K

30.81%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,325

$1.06 IQD 1,388

-4.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 IQD 1,837

$1.09 IQD 1,422

28.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,363

$1.09 IQD 1,422

-4.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 IQD 774

$0.60 IQD 788

-1.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 900

$0.52 IQD 680

32.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 IQD 746

$0.46 IQD 603

23.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,021

$0.72 IQD 948

8.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 IQD 500

$0.47 IQD 615

-19.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.88 IQD 2,468

$1.94 IQD 2,535

-3.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.04 IQD 17.1K

$3.80 IQD 4,978

243.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 IQD 3,916

$1.74 IQD 2,275

71.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.77 IQD 4,934

$2.08 IQD 2,722

81.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 481

$0.37 IQD 478

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.77 IQD 29.8K

$31.23 IQD 40.9K

-27.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,051

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.30 IQD 3,017

$1.55 IQD 2,023

48.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.83 IQD 8,942

$6.13 IQD 8,022

11.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 IQD 778

$0.54 IQD 701

9.26%

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

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

-29.32%

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

$22.5K IQD 29.5M

$19.6K IQD 25.7M

15.04%

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

$57.8 IQD 75.6K

$76.5 IQD 100.2K

-24.49%

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

$25.61 IQD 33.5K

$17.78 IQD 23.3K

44.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.89 IQD 50.9K

$33.97 IQD 44.5K

14.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.10 IQD 47.3K

$37.25 IQD 48.8K

-3.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.35 IQD 20.1K

$16.95 IQD 22.2K

-9.44%

Cinema Ticket

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

$7.87 IQD 10.3K

-2.03%

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

$95.9 IQD 125.6K

$151 IQD 197.6K

-36.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,881 IQD 5.1M

$3,215 IQD 4.2M

20.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.37 IQD 55.5K

$26.84 IQD 35.2K

57.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.39 IQD 26.7K

$25.00 IQD 32.7K

-18.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.5 IQD 93.7K

$60.9 IQD 79.7K

17.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.65 IQD 53.2K

$41.08 IQD 53.8K

-1.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$443 IQD 580.2K

$243 IQD 317.7K

82.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 IQD 177.8K

$180 IQD 235.1K

-24.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$929 IQD 1.2M

$583 IQD 763.8K

59.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 IQD 875.3K

$348 IQD 455.4K

92.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,604 IQD 2.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$780 IQD 1.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$772 IQD 1.0M

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Ar Ramadi: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $443 in Basra versus $243 in Ar Ramadi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Basra versus $25.00 in Ar Ramadi. Groceries tell a different story – $211 in Basra vs $136 in Ar Ramadi – so Ar Ramadi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Ar Ramadi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Basra costs about 3% more than Ar Ramadi, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,099 per month in Basra and $1,066 in Ar Ramadi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ar Ramadi, 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 $732 in Basra and $711 in Ar Ramadi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 37% less in Ar Ramadi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $732 in Basra and $711 in Ar Ramadi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Ar Ramadi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Ar Ramadi. 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.