Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and Ba'qubah Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and Ba'qubah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $732 in Basra versus $658 in Ba'qubah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Basra versus $989 in Ba'qubah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,969 in Basra versus $1,320 in Ba'qubah.

Living in Basra is roughly 11% more expensive than Ba'qubah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Basra 45% lower, Ba'qubah 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.85 IQD 5,037

$4.84 IQD 6,342

-20.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.88 IQD 32.6K

$15.44 IQD 20.2K

61.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.03 IQD 9,205

$6.45 IQD 8,452

8.99%

Cappuccino

$2.06 IQD 2,696

$1.16 IQD 1,521

77.59%

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

$0.44 IQD 574

$0.52 IQD 682

-15.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 IQD 413

$0.22 IQD 286

45.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.80 IQD 4,982

$1.93 IQD 2,523

96.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 IQD 3,551

$2.13 IQD 2,786

27.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 IQD 1,558

$1.18 IQD 1,546

0.85%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 920

$0.59 IQD 772

18.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 IQD 1,927

$1.12 IQD 1,461

31.25%

Eggs

$1.83 IQD 2,401

$1.41 IQD 1,852

29.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.95 IQD 10.4K

$2.23 IQD 2,923

256.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.05 IQD 9,238

$2.52 IQD 3,297

179.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.29 IQD 17.4K

$10.81 IQD 14.2K

22.94%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,325

$0.99 IQD 1,296

2.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 IQD 1,837

$1.18 IQD 1,542

18.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,363

$0.98 IQD 1,283

6.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 IQD 774

$0.55 IQD 721

7.27%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 900

$0.55 IQD 714

25.45%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 IQD 746

$0.65 IQD 846

-12.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,021

$0.46 IQD 606

69.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 IQD 500

$0.17 IQD 216

123.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.88 IQD 2,468

$2.62 IQD 3,425

-28.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.04 IQD 17.1K

$12.21 IQD 16.0K

6.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 IQD 3,916

$1.37 IQD 1,798

118.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.77 IQD 4,934

$2.02 IQD 2,649

86.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 481

$0.40 IQD 518

-7.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.77 IQD 29.8K

$31.03 IQD 40.6K

-26.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,051

$2.35 IQD 3,072

-0.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.30 IQD 3,017

$2.12 IQD 2,774

8.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.83 IQD 8,942

$5.24 IQD 6,865

30.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 IQD 778

$0.35 IQD 464

68.57%

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

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

-29.05%

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

$22.5K IQD 29.5M

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

10.73%

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

$57.8 IQD 75.6K

$59.3 IQD 77.6K

-2.55%

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

$25.61 IQD 33.5K

$17.34 IQD 22.7K

47.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.89 IQD 50.9K

$26.66 IQD 34.9K

45.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.10 IQD 47.3K

$19.45 IQD 25.5K

85.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.35 IQD 20.1K

$16.98 IQD 22.2K

-9.60%

Cinema Ticket

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

$3.85 IQD 5,040

100.26%

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

$95.9 IQD 125.6K

$26.46 IQD 34.6K

262.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,881 IQD 5.1M

$638 IQD 835.2K

508.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.37 IQD 55.5K

$18.99 IQD 24.9K

123.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.39 IQD 26.7K

$19.30 IQD 25.3K

5.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.5 IQD 93.7K

$81.1 IQD 106.2K

-11.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.65 IQD 53.2K

$26.36 IQD 34.5K

54.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$443 IQD 580.2K

$245 IQD 321.3K

80.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 IQD 177.8K

$181 IQD 236.6K

-24.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$929 IQD 1.2M

$573 IQD 750.2K

62.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 IQD 875.3K

$350 IQD 458.1K

91.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,604 IQD 2.1M

$772 IQD 1.0M

107.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$780 IQD 1.0M

$193 IQD 252.4K

304.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$772 IQD 1.0M

$718 IQD 940.5K

7.55%

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 Ba'qubah: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $443 in Basra and $245 in Ba'qubah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Basra pays 8% 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 $15.00 in Ba'qubah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $211 vs $140 per month, with Ba'qubah 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 Ba'qubah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ba'qubah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Basra pays 8% more on average, 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: $443 in Basra versus $245 in Ba'qubah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 51% higher in Basra. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Ba'qubah – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $25.00 in Basra. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Ba'qubah gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 Ba'qubah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Basra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.