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: $728 in Basra versus $638 in Ba'qubah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,340 in Basra versus $985 in Ba'qubah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,953 in Basra versus $1,333 in Ba'qubah.

Living in Basra is roughly 14% more expensive than Ba'qubah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Basra 46% lower, Ba'qubah 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.72 IQD 4,877

$5.03 IQD 6,593

-26.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.46 IQD 32.0K

$15.37 IQD 20.1K

59.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.02 IQD 9,196

$6.35 IQD 8,318

10.55%

Cappuccino

$2.10 IQD 2,753

$1.13 IQD 1,478

85.84%

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

$0.46 IQD 609

$0.48 IQD 628

-4.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 IQD 449

$0.18 IQD 242

88.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.76 IQD 4,927

$1.93 IQD 2,534

94.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 IQD 3,553

$2.06 IQD 2,697

31.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 IQD 1,615

$1.13 IQD 1,485

8.85%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 919

$0.55 IQD 726

27.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 IQD 1,854

$1.12 IQD 1,473

26.79%

Eggs

$1.89 IQD 2,475

$1.41 IQD 1,852

34.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.93 IQD 10.4K

$2.26 IQD 2,964

250.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.21 IQD 9,442

$2.52 IQD 3,298

186.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.95 IQD 17.0K

$10.77 IQD 14.1K

20.24%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,317

$0.92 IQD 1,202

9.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 IQD 1,857

$1.13 IQD 1,480

25.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,364

$0.99 IQD 1,291

5.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 814

$0.60 IQD 782

3.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 879

$0.56 IQD 729

19.64%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 807

$0.69 IQD 901

-10.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,021

$0.47 IQD 612

65.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 IQD 545

$0.21 IQD 281

100.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.95 IQD 2,551

$2.71 IQD 3,557

-28.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.85 IQD 16.8K

$12.24 IQD 16.0K

4.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 IQD 4,091

$1.43 IQD 1,873

118.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 IQD 5,136

$2.03 IQD 2,655

93.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 482

$0.40 IQD 522

-7.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.25 IQD 30.5K

$31.61 IQD 41.4K

-26.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 IQD 3,083

$2.37 IQD 3,100

-0.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.31 IQD 3,033

$2.10 IQD 2,751

10.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.97 IQD 9,134

$5.32 IQD 6,973

31.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 733

$0.33 IQD 427

69.70%

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

$13.3K IQD 17.4M

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

-29.95%

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

$22.9K IQD 30.0M

$20.9K IQD 27.4M

9.58%

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

$57.6 IQD 75.5K

$59.3 IQD 77.7K

-2.87%

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

$25.62 IQD 33.6K

$17.97 IQD 23.5K

42.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.76 IQD 49.5K

$27.11 IQD 35.5K

39.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.25 IQD 48.8K

$18.94 IQD 24.8K

96.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.13 IQD 19.8K

$16.61 IQD 21.8K

-8.91%

Cinema Ticket

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$3.82 IQD 4,999

103.66%

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

$97.7 IQD 128.0K

$27.30 IQD 35.8K

257.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,869 IQD 5.1M

$632 IQD 827.6K

512.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.39 IQD 55.5K

$18.99 IQD 24.9K

123.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.70 IQD 27.1K

$18.97 IQD 24.9K

9.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.8 IQD 94.1K

$83.8 IQD 109.8K

-14.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.04 IQD 53.8K

$27.25 IQD 35.7K

50.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$448 IQD 587.4K

$244 IQD 320.3K

83.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 IQD 177.8K

$182 IQD 238.6K

-25.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$917 IQD 1.2M

$570 IQD 746.3K

61.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$676 IQD 885.2K

$345 IQD 451.5K

96.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,608 IQD 2.1M

$768 IQD 1.0M

109.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$777 IQD 1.0M

$188 IQD 246.7K

312.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$767 IQD 1.0M

$730 IQD 956.4K

5.10%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Ba'qubah: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $448 in Basra and $244 in Ba'qubah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Basra pays 5% 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: $24.00 in Basra vs $15.00 in Ba'qubah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $213 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 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Basra pays 5% 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: $448 in Basra versus $244 in Ba'qubah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 52% 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 $24.00 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 14% less than in Basra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.