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 $1,055 in Baghdad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,366 in Basra versus $1,565 in Baghdad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,003 in Basra versus $2,074 in Baghdad.

Living in Basra costs roughly 31% less than in Baghdad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Basra 45% lower, Baghdad 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.80 IQD 4,974

$5.50 IQD 7,206

-30.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.38 IQD 31.9K

$36.22 IQD 47.4K

-32.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 IQD 9,289

$7.70 IQD 10.1K

-7.92%

Cappuccino

$2.04 IQD 2,675

$2.98 IQD 3,903

-31.54%

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

$0.47 IQD 609

$0.36 IQD 477

30.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 IQD 454

$0.17 IQD 219

105.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.85 IQD 5,038

$3.51 IQD 4,590

9.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 IQD 3,382

$2.93 IQD 3,839

-11.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 IQD 1,551

$1.35 IQD 1,768

-12.59%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 917

$0.78 IQD 1,023

-10.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 IQD 1,857

$1.59 IQD 2,076

-10.69%

Eggs

$1.85 IQD 2,428

$1.79 IQD 2,338

3.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.27 IQD 10.8K

$4.58 IQD 5,999

80.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.97 IQD 9,131

$4.81 IQD 6,296

44.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.33 IQD 17.5K

$14.13 IQD 18.5K

-5.66%

Apples (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,382

$1.23 IQD 1,612

-13.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 IQD 1,776

$1.21 IQD 1,590

12.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,363

$1.00 IQD 1,311

4.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 IQD 769

$0.74 IQD 970

-20.27%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 872

$0.65 IQD 854

3.08%

Onion (1kg)

$0.56 IQD 737

$0.67 IQD 881

-16.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 IQD 1,044

$0.62 IQD 817

29.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 IQD 548

$0.66 IQD 861

-36.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.89 IQD 2,479

$2.05 IQD 2,690

-7.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.87 IQD 16.8K

$13.49 IQD 17.7K

-4.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.15 IQD 4,125

$1.79 IQD 2,346

75.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 IQD 5,155

$2.15 IQD 2,821

83.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 511

$0.75 IQD 976

-48.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.72 IQD 29.7K

$27.88 IQD 36.5K

-18.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.31 IQD 3,025

$3.93 IQD 5,147

-41.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.31 IQD 3,028

$1.47 IQD 1,922

57.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.80 IQD 8,900

$7.50 IQD 9,826

-9.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.58 IQD 766

$0.56 IQD 740

3.57%

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

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

-31.34%

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

$23.1K IQD 30.3M

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

16.21%

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

$56.6 IQD 74.1K

$176 IQD 230.7K

-67.90%

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

$25.64 IQD 33.6K

$25.81 IQD 33.8K

-0.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.70 IQD 49.4K

$41.29 IQD 54.1K

-8.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.14 IQD 47.3K

$42.14 IQD 55.2K

-14.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.55 IQD 20.4K

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

-16.22%

Cinema Ticket

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

-0.77%

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

$95.4 IQD 124.9K

$168 IQD 220.3K

-43.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,754 IQD 4.9M

$3,627 IQD 4.7M

3.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.53 IQD 54.4K

$27.92 IQD 36.6K

48.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.02 IQD 26.2K

$30.46 IQD 39.9K

-34.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.7 IQD 93.8K

$64.9 IQD 85.0K

10.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.57 IQD 54.4K

$43.79 IQD 57.3K

-5.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$453 IQD 593.2K

$554 IQD 725.1K

-18.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$132 IQD 172.4K

$321 IQD 419.7K

-58.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$902 IQD 1.2M

$839 IQD 1.1M

7.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$655 IQD 857.9K

$583 IQD 764.1K

12.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,567 IQD 2.1M

$4,745 IQD 6.2M

-66.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$795 IQD 1.0M

$1,597 IQD 2.1M

-50.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$761 IQD 996.3K

$612 IQD 800.9K

24.40%

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 Baghdad: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $453 in Basra and $554 in Baghdad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Basra pays 24% 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 $36.00 in Baghdad. Groceries flip the comparison at $213 vs $190, 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 45% 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 24% 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 $554 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 23% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $95.4 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 $1,055 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 45% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.