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: $965 in Basra versus $1,124 in Baghdad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,480 in Basra versus $1,692 in Baghdad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,995 in Basra versus $2,259 in Baghdad.

Living in Basra costs roughly 14% less than in Baghdad, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Basra 30% lower, Baghdad 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.66 IQD 6,109

$4.74 IQD 6,209

-1.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.09 IQD 40.7K

$33.69 IQD 44.1K

-7.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.83 IQD 10.3K

$7.75 IQD 10.1K

1.03%

Cappuccino

$2.67 IQD 3,499

$3.07 IQD 4,024

-13.03%

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

$0.47 IQD 610

$0.40 IQD 521

17.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 IQD 448

$0.24 IQD 313

41.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.81 IQD 4,987

$3.87 IQD 5,071

-1.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.29 IQD 5,619

$3.75 IQD 4,911

14.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 IQD 1,467

$1.09 IQD 1,423

2.75%

White Bread (500g)

$0.65 IQD 851

$0.80 IQD 1,042

-18.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 IQD 1,830

$1.51 IQD 1,982

-7.28%

Eggs

$1.87 IQD 2,448

$1.82 IQD 2,386

2.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.61 IQD 9,963

$3.90 IQD 5,106

95.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.18 IQD 8,094

$4.70 IQD 6,149

31.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.83 IQD 18.1K

$14.34 IQD 18.8K

-3.56%

Apples (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,277

$1.12 IQD 1,465

-13.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 IQD 1,776

$1.06 IQD 1,389

28.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,339

$1.07 IQD 1,400

-4.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 856

$0.74 IQD 967

-12.16%

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 975

$0.66 IQD 860

12.12%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 858

$0.70 IQD 915

-5.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 IQD 1,156

$0.62 IQD 813

41.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 IQD 499

$0.65 IQD 845

-41.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.13 IQD 2,789

$1.78 IQD 2,333

19.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.99 IQD 9,160

$13.68 IQD 17.9K

-48.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 IQD 3,903

$2.14 IQD 2,798

39.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 IQD 4,853

$2.27 IQD 2,971

63.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 720

$0.64 IQD 838

-14.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.15 IQD 25.1K

$22.99 IQD 30.1K

-16.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 IQD 2,932

$2.25 IQD 2,941

-0.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 IQD 3,056

$1.48 IQD 1,944

57.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.16 IQD 9,383

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

-7.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.55 IQD 726

$0.67 IQD 877

-17.91%

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

$13.3K IQD 17.4M

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

-31.59%

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

$22.9K IQD 30.0M

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

20.01%

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

$51.2 IQD 67.1K

$214 IQD 280.5K

-76.09%

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

$25.63 IQD 33.6K

$21.41 IQD 28.0K

19.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.53 IQD 50.5K

$42.10 IQD 55.1K

-8.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.13 IQD 47.3K

$47.30 IQD 61.9K

-23.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.80 IQD 18.1K

$22.04 IQD 28.9K

-37.39%

Cinema Ticket

$7.51 IQD 9,837

$10.76 IQD 14.1K

-30.20%

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

$124 IQD 162.5K

$165 IQD 215.5K

-24.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,768 IQD 4.9M

$3,445 IQD 4.5M

9.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.0 IQD 65.5K

$29.79 IQD 39.0K

67.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.42 IQD 26.7K

$38.31 IQD 50.2K

-46.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 IQD 102.8K

$74.4 IQD 97.5K

5.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.85 IQD 54.8K

$47.59 IQD 62.3K

-12.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$463 IQD 605.8K

$566 IQD 741.8K

-18.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$348 IQD 455.2K

$346 IQD 453.5K

0.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$843 IQD 1.1M

$959 IQD 1.3M

-12.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$632 IQD 827.8K

$679 IQD 889.1K

-6.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,566 IQD 2.1M

$4,665 IQD 6.1M

-66.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$778 IQD 1.0M

$1,599 IQD 2.1M

-51.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$769 IQD 1.0M

$615 IQD 805.6K

24.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

4.12

37.62%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Basra: September 8, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $463 in Basra and $566 in Baghdad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Basra pays 25% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $31.00 in Basra vs $34.00 in Baghdad. Groceries flip the comparison at $194 vs $186, 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 17% 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.

Average pay runs 25% 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: $463 in Basra versus $566 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 20% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $124 in Basra versus $165 in Baghdad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $965 in Basra versus $1,124 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 17% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.