Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and Baghdadi Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and Baghdadi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $732 per month in Basra vs $737 in Baghdadi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Basra vs $1,137 in Baghdadi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,969 per month in Basra vs $1,537 in Baghdadi, rent included.

Basra is about 1% cheaper than Baghdadi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Basra and Baghdadi are more affordable than the global median – Basra 45% lower, Baghdadi 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.85 IQD 5,037

$4.88 IQD 6,388

-21.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.88 IQD 32.6K

$16.69 IQD 21.9K

49.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.03 IQD 9,205

$6.90 IQD 9,042

1.88%

Cappuccino

$2.06 IQD 2,696

$1.76 IQD 2,308

17.05%

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

$0.44 IQD 574

$0.42 IQD 549

4.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 IQD 413

$0.24 IQD 313

33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.80 IQD 4,982

$2.92 IQD 3,827

30.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 IQD 3,551

$2.85 IQD 3,735

-4.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 IQD 1,558

$1.14 IQD 1,490

4.39%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 920

$0.63 IQD 826

11.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 IQD 1,927

$2.24 IQD 2,935

-34.38%

Eggs

$1.83 IQD 2,401

$1.69 IQD 2,219

8.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.95 IQD 10.4K

$5.74 IQD 7,517

38.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.05 IQD 9,238

$4.38 IQD 5,735

60.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.29 IQD 17.4K

$9.05 IQD 11.9K

46.85%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,325

$0.97 IQD 1,273

4.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 IQD 1,837

$0.98 IQD 1,288

42.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,363

$1.01 IQD 1,328

2.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 IQD 774

$0.57 IQD 744

3.51%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 900

$0.56 IQD 737

23.21%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 IQD 746

$0.63 IQD 829

-9.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,021

$0.70 IQD 920

11.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 IQD 500

$0.48 IQD 629

-20.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.88 IQD 2,468

$1.80 IQD 2,357

4.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.04 IQD 17.1K

$15.12 IQD 19.8K

-13.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 IQD 3,916

$1.82 IQD 2,385

64.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.77 IQD 4,934

$2.16 IQD 2,826

74.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 481

$0.36 IQD 477

2.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.77 IQD 29.8K

$30.64 IQD 40.1K

-25.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,051

$2.31 IQD 3,030

0.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.30 IQD 3,017

$1.48 IQD 1,932

55.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.83 IQD 8,942

$5.98 IQD 7,835

14.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 IQD 778

$0.57 IQD 740

3.51%

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

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

$19.3K IQD 25.2M

-29.89%

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

$22.5K IQD 29.5M

$20.2K IQD 26.4M

11.82%

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

$57.8 IQD 75.6K

$77.4 IQD 101.4K

-25.37%

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

$25.61 IQD 33.5K

$17.78 IQD 23.3K

44.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.89 IQD 50.9K

$34.54 IQD 45.2K

12.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.10 IQD 47.3K

$36.46 IQD 47.7K

-0.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.35 IQD 20.1K

$17.04 IQD 22.3K

-9.92%

Cinema Ticket

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

$7.75 IQD 10.2K

-0.52%

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

$95.9 IQD 125.6K

$149 IQD 194.9K

-35.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,881 IQD 5.1M

$3,218 IQD 4.2M

20.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.37 IQD 55.5K

$27.30 IQD 35.7K

55.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.39 IQD 26.7K

$25.13 IQD 32.9K

-18.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.5 IQD 93.7K

$60.7 IQD 79.5K

17.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.65 IQD 53.2K

$41.54 IQD 54.4K

-2.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$443 IQD 580.2K

$242 IQD 317.1K

82.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 IQD 177.8K

$182 IQD 237.7K

-25.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$929 IQD 1.2M

$584 IQD 765.4K

59.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 IQD 875.3K

$345 IQD 452.2K

93.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,604 IQD 2.1M

$1,524 IQD 2.0M

5.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$780 IQD 1.0M

$506 IQD 662.5K

54.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$772 IQD 1.0M

$498 IQD 652.7K

54.98%

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 Baghdadi: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $443 in Basra versus $242 in Baghdadi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 55% higher in Basra, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Basra versus $17.00 in Baghdadi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $211 vs $173 – making Baghdadi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Baghdadi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Baghdadi is pricier by about 1%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,099 per month in Basra and $1,106 in Baghdadi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Basra, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $732 in Basra and $737 in Baghdadi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 35% less in Basra. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $732 in Basra and $737 in Baghdadi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Basra – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Basra. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Baghdadi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.