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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $957 per month in Basra vs $472 in Baghdadi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,450 per month in Basra vs $766 in Baghdadi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,944 per month in Basra vs $1,059 in Baghdadi, rent included.

Basra costs about 103% more than Baghdadi, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Basra and Baghdadi are more affordable than the global median – Basra 30% lower, Baghdadi 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.51 IQD 5,906

$7.66 IQD 10.0K

-41.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.88 IQD 40.4K

$14.10 IQD 18.5K

119.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.42 IQD 9,712

Cappuccino

$2.55 IQD 3,345

$1.85 IQD 2,420

37.84%

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

$0.44 IQD 571

$0.38 IQD 501

15.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 IQD 445

$0.21 IQD 273

61.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.90 IQD 5,113

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.12 IQD 5,398

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 IQD 1,462

$1.02 IQD 1,331

9.80%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 917

$0.49 IQD 643

42.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 IQD 1,919

$2.68 IQD 3,511

-45.15%

Eggs

$1.82 IQD 2,380

$1.84 IQD 2,412

-1.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.53 IQD 9,861

$6.77 IQD 8,859

11.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.36 IQD 8,333

$3.29 IQD 4,311

93.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.04 IQD 18.4K

$8.09 IQD 10.6K

73.55%

Apples (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,273

$1.03 IQD 1,348

-5.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 IQD 1,776

$1.02 IQD 1,331

33.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,274

$1.02 IQD 1,333

-4.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 856

$0.24 IQD 314

170.83%

Potato (1kg)

$0.77 IQD 1,013

$0.24 IQD 314

220.83%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 856

$0.63 IQD 822

3.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 IQD 1,133

$0.52 IQD 686

67.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 IQD 509

$0.58 IQD 755

-32.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 IQD 2,726

$1.01 IQD 1,324

105.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.74 IQD 8,823

$15.10 IQD 19.8K

-55.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.11 IQD 4,073

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 IQD 5,135

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 IQD 784

$0.29 IQD 375

106.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 IQD 24.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 IQD 3,089

$4.96 IQD 6,501

-52.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.27 IQD 2,967

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.06 IQD 9,240

$6.94 IQD 9,094

1.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 IQD 783

$0.42 IQD 546

42.86%

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

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

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

$23.2K IQD 30.4M

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

$51.4 IQD 67.3K

$49.70 IQD 65.1K

3.48%

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

$25.89 IQD 33.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.73 IQD 52.0K

$14.76 IQD 19.3K

169.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.24 IQD 47.5K

$59.3 IQD 77.7K

-38.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.93 IQD 18.2K

Cinema Ticket

$7.60 IQD 9,955

$8.10 IQD 10.6K

-6.17%

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

$127 IQD 166.6K

$78.6 IQD 102.9K

61.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,881 IQD 5.1M

$5,014 IQD 6.6M

-22.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.97 IQD 65.4K

$15.04 IQD 19.7K

232.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.04 IQD 26.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.1 IQD 101.0K

$24.60 IQD 32.2K

213.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.43 IQD 54.3K

$39.57 IQD 51.8K

4.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 IQD 624.8K

$153 IQD 200.3K

211.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 IQD 453.0K

$49.10 IQD 64.3K

604.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$853 IQD 1.1M

$457 IQD 598.6K

86.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$626 IQD 819.5K

$152 IQD 199.1K

311.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,578 IQD 2.1M

$1,507 IQD 2.0M

4.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$786 IQD 1.0M

$499 IQD 652.8K

57.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$777 IQD 1.0M

$491 IQD 643.1K

58.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

-43.30%

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

Last update for Basra: September 14, 2026

Last update for Baghdadi: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Basra versus $153 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 58% higher in Basra, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Basra versus $14.00 in Baghdadi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $197 vs $152 – 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 – Basra is pricier by about 103%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,436 per month in Basra and $709 in Baghdadi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Basra and $14.00 in Baghdadi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 29% more in Basra, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Baghdadi, where all-in costs run around $472, than in Basra at $957. In Baghdadi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Basra it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Baghdadi – 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 Baghdadi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Basra makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.