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: $732 in Basra versus $1,074 in Baghdad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Basra versus $1,573 in Baghdad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,969 in Basra versus $2,073 in Baghdad.

Living in Basra costs roughly 32% less than in Baghdad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Basra 45% lower, Baghdad 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.85 IQD 5,037

$5.27 IQD 6,895

-26.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.88 IQD 32.6K

$36.86 IQD 48.3K

-32.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.03 IQD 9,205

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

-9.64%

Cappuccino

$2.06 IQD 2,696

$2.98 IQD 3,909

-30.87%

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

$0.44 IQD 574

$0.39 IQD 512

12.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 IQD 413

$0.17 IQD 216

88.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.80 IQD 4,982

$3.38 IQD 4,429

12.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 IQD 3,551

$2.89 IQD 3,785

-6.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 IQD 1,558

$1.30 IQD 1,702

-8.46%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 920

$0.83 IQD 1,087

-15.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 IQD 1,927

$1.67 IQD 2,181

-11.98%

Eggs

$1.83 IQD 2,401

$1.79 IQD 2,343

2.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.95 IQD 10.4K

$4.52 IQD 5,918

75.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.05 IQD 9,238

$4.84 IQD 6,342

45.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.29 IQD 17.4K

$14.04 IQD 18.4K

-5.34%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,325

$1.28 IQD 1,680

-21.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 IQD 1,837

$1.15 IQD 1,504

21.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,363

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 IQD 774

$0.70 IQD 914

-15.71%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 900

$0.69 IQD 897

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 IQD 746

$0.62 IQD 813

-8.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,021

$0.67 IQD 883

16.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 IQD 500

$0.63 IQD 824

-39.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.88 IQD 2,468

$2.13 IQD 2,786

-11.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.04 IQD 17.1K

$13.64 IQD 17.9K

-4.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 IQD 3,916

$1.79 IQD 2,348

67.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.77 IQD 4,934

$2.15 IQD 2,812

75.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 481

$0.76 IQD 993

-51.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.77 IQD 29.8K

$28.16 IQD 36.9K

-19.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,051

$3.78 IQD 4,954

-38.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.30 IQD 3,017

$1.53 IQD 1,999

50.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.83 IQD 8,942

$7.54 IQD 9,868

-9.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 IQD 778

$0.57 IQD 750

3.51%

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

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

-32.37%

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

$22.5K IQD 29.5M

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

11.05%

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

$57.8 IQD 75.6K

$181 IQD 236.7K

-68.04%

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

$25.61 IQD 33.5K

$25.64 IQD 33.6K

-0.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.89 IQD 50.9K

$40.76 IQD 53.4K

-4.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.10 IQD 47.3K

$41.00 IQD 53.7K

-11.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.35 IQD 20.1K

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

-17.30%

Cinema Ticket

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

-1.28%

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

$95.9 IQD 125.6K

$166 IQD 217.8K

-42.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,881 IQD 5.1M

$3,523 IQD 4.6M

10.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.37 IQD 55.5K

$28.27 IQD 37.0K

49.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.39 IQD 26.7K

$30.19 IQD 39.5K

-32.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.5 IQD 93.7K

$63.3 IQD 82.9K

12.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.65 IQD 53.2K

$43.71 IQD 57.2K

-7.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$443 IQD 580.2K

$553 IQD 724.7K

-19.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 IQD 177.8K

$320 IQD 418.5K

-57.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$929 IQD 1.2M

$818 IQD 1.1M

13.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 IQD 875.3K

$583 IQD 763.6K

14.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,604 IQD 2.1M

$4,017 IQD 5.3M

-60.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$780 IQD 1.0M

$1,614 IQD 2.1M

-51.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$772 IQD 1.0M

$648 IQD 848.7K

19.19%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $443 in Basra and $553 in Baghdad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Basra pays 19% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $25.00 in Basra vs $37.00 in Baghdad. Groceries flip the comparison at $211 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 47% 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 19% 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: $443 in Basra versus $553 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 24% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $95.9 in Basra versus $166 in Baghdad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $732 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 47% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.