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 $643 in Ba'qubah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,366 in Basra versus $991 in Ba'qubah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,003 in Basra versus $1,339 in Ba'qubah.

Living in Basra is roughly 13% more expensive than in Ba'qubah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Basra 45% lower, Ba'qubah 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.80 IQD 4,974

$5.05 IQD 6,612

-24.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.38 IQD 31.9K

$15.29 IQD 20.0K

59.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 IQD 9,289

$6.68 IQD 8,747

6.14%

Cappuccino

$2.04 IQD 2,675

$1.17 IQD 1,536

74.36%

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

$0.47 IQD 609

$0.52 IQD 687

-9.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 IQD 454

$0.17 IQD 224

105.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.85 IQD 5,038

$1.88 IQD 2,464

104.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 IQD 3,382

$2.11 IQD 2,766

22.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 IQD 1,551

$1.13 IQD 1,482

4.42%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 917

$0.59 IQD 770

18.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 IQD 1,857

$1.17 IQD 1,527

21.37%

Eggs

$1.85 IQD 2,428

$1.46 IQD 1,914

26.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.27 IQD 10.8K

$2.29 IQD 2,994

261.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.97 IQD 9,131

$2.52 IQD 3,298

176.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.33 IQD 17.5K

$10.62 IQD 13.9K

25.52%

Apples (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,382

$0.99 IQD 1,297

7.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 IQD 1,776

$1.12 IQD 1,464

21.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,363

$1.00 IQD 1,306

4.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 IQD 769

$0.55 IQD 719

7.27%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 872

$0.55 IQD 725

21.82%

Onion (1kg)

$0.56 IQD 737

$0.64 IQD 840

-12.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 IQD 1,044

$0.49 IQD 642

63.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 IQD 548

$0.21 IQD 271

100.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.89 IQD 2,479

$2.72 IQD 3,559

-30.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.87 IQD 16.8K

$12.27 IQD 16.1K

4.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.15 IQD 4,125

$1.42 IQD 1,863

121.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 IQD 5,155

$2.02 IQD 2,650

95.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 511

$0.39 IQD 517

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.72 IQD 29.7K

$30.62 IQD 40.1K

-25.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.31 IQD 3,025

$2.31 IQD 3,027

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.31 IQD 3,028

$2.02 IQD 2,645

14.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.80 IQD 8,900

$5.30 IQD 6,938

28.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.58 IQD 766

$0.35 IQD 459

65.71%

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

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

$19.5K IQD 25.5M

-30.70%

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

$23.1K IQD 30.3M

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

12.06%

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

$56.6 IQD 74.1K

$57.9 IQD 75.8K

-2.28%

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

$25.64 IQD 33.6K

$17.57 IQD 23.0K

45.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.70 IQD 49.4K

$27.17 IQD 35.6K

38.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.14 IQD 47.3K

$19.07 IQD 25.0K

89.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.55 IQD 20.4K

$16.70 IQD 21.9K

-6.89%

Cinema Ticket

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

$3.87 IQD 5,073

99.22%

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

$95.4 IQD 124.9K

$26.35 IQD 34.5K

262.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,754 IQD 4.9M

$638 IQD 835.4K

488.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.53 IQD 54.4K

$18.85 IQD 24.7K

120.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.02 IQD 26.2K

$18.86 IQD 24.7K

6.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.7 IQD 93.8K

$81.0 IQD 106.1K

-11.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.57 IQD 54.4K

$26.53 IQD 34.7K

56.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$453 IQD 593.2K

$246 IQD 322.7K

83.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$132 IQD 172.4K

$180 IQD 235.3K

-26.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$902 IQD 1.2M

$584 IQD 765.3K

54.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$655 IQD 857.9K

$341 IQD 446.9K

91.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,567 IQD 2.1M

$755 IQD 988.8K

107.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$795 IQD 1.0M

$187 IQD 245.2K

324.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$761 IQD 996.3K

$726 IQD 951.2K

4.74%

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 Ba'qubah: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $453 in Basra and $246 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 $141 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 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 5% higher in Basra, 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: $453 in Basra versus $246 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 $24.00 in Basra. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $643 in Ba'qubah versus $728 in Basra, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ba'qubah but tight or insufficient in Basra. The gap between the two cities makes Ba'qubah 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 Ba'qubah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Basra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.