Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and Baghdad Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and Baghdad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $728 in Basra versus $1,074 in Baghdad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,340 in Basra versus $1,581 in Baghdad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,953 in Basra versus $2,088 in Baghdad.

Living in Basra costs roughly 32% less than in Baghdad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Basra 46% lower, Baghdad 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.72 IQD 4,876

$5.26 IQD 6,892

-29.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.46 IQD 32.0K

$36.91 IQD 48.3K

-33.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.02 IQD 9,194

$7.46 IQD 9,777

-5.90%

Cappuccino

$2.10 IQD 2,753

$3.01 IQD 3,939

-30.23%

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

$0.46 IQD 608

$0.36 IQD 477

27.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 IQD 449

$0.18 IQD 230

88.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.76 IQD 4,926

$3.51 IQD 4,596

7.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 IQD 3,553

$2.83 IQD 3,706

-4.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 IQD 1,614

$1.36 IQD 1,784

-9.56%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 918

$0.80 IQD 1,042

-12.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 IQD 1,854

$1.61 IQD 2,102

-11.80%

Eggs

$1.89 IQD 2,474

$1.72 IQD 2,247

9.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.93 IQD 10.4K

$4.40 IQD 5,759

80.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.21 IQD 9,440

$4.87 IQD 6,373

48.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.95 IQD 17.0K

$13.88 IQD 18.2K

-6.70%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,316

$1.28 IQD 1,678

-21.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 IQD 1,856

$1.16 IQD 1,523

22.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,364

$1.01 IQD 1,323

2.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 814

$0.70 IQD 920

-11.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 879

$0.68 IQD 895

-1.47%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 806

$0.63 IQD 831

-1.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,021

$0.63 IQD 823

23.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 IQD 545

$0.66 IQD 867

-36.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.95 IQD 2,550

$2.07 IQD 2,713

-5.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.85 IQD 16.8K

$13.58 IQD 17.8K

-5.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 IQD 4,090

$1.84 IQD 2,413

69.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 IQD 5,135

$2.07 IQD 2,712

89.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 482

$0.74 IQD 964

-50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.25 IQD 30.5K

$28.32 IQD 37.1K

-17.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 IQD 3,083

$3.90 IQD 5,113

-39.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.31 IQD 3,032

$1.47 IQD 1,923

57.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.97 IQD 9,133

$7.61 IQD 9,964

-8.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 733

$0.53 IQD 700

5.66%

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

$13.3K IQD 17.4M

$19.9K IQD 26.0M

-33.00%

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

$22.9K IQD 30.0M

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

14.58%

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

$57.6 IQD 75.5K

$179 IQD 234.3K

-67.80%

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

$25.62 IQD 33.6K

$25.76 IQD 33.7K

-0.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.76 IQD 49.5K

$40.94 IQD 53.6K

-7.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.25 IQD 48.8K

$41.54 IQD 54.4K

-10.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.13 IQD 19.8K

$18.57 IQD 24.3K

-18.52%

Cinema Ticket

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$7.66 IQD 10.0K

1.57%

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

$97.7 IQD 128.0K

$168 IQD 220.3K

-41.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,869 IQD 5.1M

$3,533 IQD 4.6M

9.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.39 IQD 55.5K

$28.32 IQD 37.1K

49.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.70 IQD 27.1K

$30.84 IQD 40.4K

-32.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.8 IQD 94.1K

$65.0 IQD 85.1K

10.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.04 IQD 53.8K

$43.91 IQD 57.5K

-6.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$448 IQD 587.3K

$557 IQD 729.9K

-19.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 IQD 177.7K

$324 IQD 424.8K

-58.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$917 IQD 1.2M

$822 IQD 1.1M

11.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$676 IQD 885.0K

$594 IQD 777.9K

13.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,608 IQD 2.1M

$3,867 IQD 5.1M

-58.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$777 IQD 1.0M

$1,428 IQD 1.9M

-45.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$767 IQD 1.0M

$622 IQD 814.4K

23.41%

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 Baghdad: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $448 in Basra and $557 in Baghdad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Basra pays 23% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $24.00 in Basra vs $37.00 in Baghdad. Groceries flip the comparison at $213 vs $189, with Baghdad cheaper for home cooking.

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 Baghdad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Basra wins on cost – living expenses run 48% lower than in Baghdad. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Basra the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Basra pays 23% 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 $557 in Baghdad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Basra runs roughly 22% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $97.7 in Basra versus $168 in Baghdad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $728 in Basra versus $1,074 in Baghdad, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Basra but tight or insufficient in Baghdad. The gap between the two cities makes Basra 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 Basra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.