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 $728 per month in Basra vs $720 in Ar Ramadi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,366 per month in Basra vs $1,096 in Ar Ramadi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,003 per month in Basra vs $1,471 in Ar Ramadi, rent included.

Basra costs about 1% 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 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.80 IQD 4,974

$4.16 IQD 5,453

-8.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.38 IQD 31.9K

$25.12 IQD 32.9K

-2.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 IQD 9,289

$6.80 IQD 8,910

4.26%

Cappuccino

$2.04 IQD 2,675

$2.65 IQD 3,466

-23.02%

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

$0.47 IQD 609

$0.37 IQD 484

27.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 IQD 454

$0.21 IQD 278

66.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.85 IQD 5,038

$2.88 IQD 3,776

33.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 IQD 3,382

$2.86 IQD 3,745

-9.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 IQD 1,551

$0.84 IQD 1,101

40.48%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 917

$0.83 IQD 1,081

-15.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 IQD 1,857

$1.72 IQD 2,255

-17.44%

Eggs

$1.85 IQD 2,428

$1.88 IQD 2,466

-1.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.27 IQD 10.8K

$3.80 IQD 4,971

117.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.97 IQD 9,131

$2.37 IQD 3,098

194.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.33 IQD 17.5K

$10.26 IQD 13.4K

29.92%

Apples (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,382

$1.04 IQD 1,359

1.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 IQD 1,776

$1.09 IQD 1,424

24.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,363

$1.04 IQD 1,367

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 IQD 769

$0.61 IQD 793

-3.28%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 872

$0.56 IQD 735

19.64%

Onion (1kg)

$0.56 IQD 737

$0.42 IQD 549

33.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 IQD 1,044

$0.66 IQD 866

21.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 IQD 548

$0.46 IQD 604

-8.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.89 IQD 2,479

$1.90 IQD 2,485

-0.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.87 IQD 16.8K

$3.93 IQD 5,151

227.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.15 IQD 4,125

$1.71 IQD 2,237

84.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 IQD 5,155

$2.10 IQD 2,751

87.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 511

$0.36 IQD 476

8.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.72 IQD 29.7K

$30.82 IQD 40.4K

-26.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.31 IQD 3,025

$2.25 IQD 2,941

2.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.31 IQD 3,028

$1.48 IQD 1,934

56.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.80 IQD 8,900

$5.86 IQD 7,680

16.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.58 IQD 766

$0.57 IQD 748

1.75%

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

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

-28.67%

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

$23.1K IQD 30.3M

$19.5K IQD 25.6M

18.35%

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

$56.6 IQD 74.1K

$77.6 IQD 101.6K

-27.12%

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

$25.64 IQD 33.6K

$17.83 IQD 23.3K

43.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.70 IQD 49.4K

$34.81 IQD 45.6K

8.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.14 IQD 47.3K

$37.21 IQD 48.7K

-2.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.55 IQD 20.4K

$16.64 IQD 21.8K

-6.55%

Cinema Ticket

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

$7.67 IQD 10.0K

0.52%

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

$95.4 IQD 124.9K

$152 IQD 198.7K

-37.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,754 IQD 4.9M

$3,255 IQD 4.3M

15.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.53 IQD 54.4K

$26.82 IQD 35.1K

54.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.02 IQD 26.2K

$24.78 IQD 32.4K

-19.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.7 IQD 93.8K

$61.8 IQD 81.0K

15.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.57 IQD 54.4K

$41.96 IQD 54.9K

-0.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$453 IQD 593.2K

$238 IQD 311.2K

90.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$132 IQD 172.4K

$179 IQD 234.7K

-26.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$902 IQD 1.2M

$578 IQD 757.5K

55.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$655 IQD 857.9K

$340 IQD 444.7K

92.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,567 IQD 2.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$795 IQD 1.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$761 IQD 996.3K

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 26, 2026

Last update for Ar Ramadi: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $453 in Basra versus $238 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 $24.00 in Basra versus $25.00 in Ar Ramadi. Groceries tell a different story – $213 in Basra vs $135 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 1% 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 $1,092 per month in Basra and $1,080 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 $728 in Basra and $720 in Ar Ramadi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 36% less in Ar Ramadi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ar Ramadi, where all-in costs run around $720, than in Basra at $728. In Ar Ramadi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Basra it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.