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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $728 per month in Basra vs $743 in Baghdadi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,340 per month in Basra vs $1,118 in Baghdadi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,953 per month in Basra vs $1,492 in Baghdadi, rent included.

Basra is about 2% cheaper than Baghdadi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Basra and Baghdadi are more affordable than the global median – Basra 46% lower, Baghdadi 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.72 IQD 4,877

$5.03 IQD 6,588

-26.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.46 IQD 32.0K

$17.32 IQD 22.7K

41.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.02 IQD 9,196

$6.91 IQD 9,057

1.59%

Cappuccino

$2.10 IQD 2,753

$1.75 IQD 2,287

20.00%

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

$0.46 IQD 609

$0.42 IQD 553

9.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 IQD 449

$0.24 IQD 314

41.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.76 IQD 4,927

$2.98 IQD 3,905

26.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 IQD 3,553

$2.79 IQD 3,658

-2.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 IQD 1,615

$1.09 IQD 1,432

12.84%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 919

$0.62 IQD 819

12.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 IQD 1,854

$2.29 IQD 2,996

-37.99%

Eggs

$1.89 IQD 2,475

$1.76 IQD 2,310

7.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.93 IQD 10.4K

$5.76 IQD 7,545

37.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.21 IQD 9,442

$4.53 IQD 5,931

59.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.95 IQD 17.0K

$9.42 IQD 12.3K

37.47%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,317

$1.03 IQD 1,346

-1.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 IQD 1,857

$1.01 IQD 1,329

40.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,364

$1.02 IQD 1,330

1.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 814

$0.53 IQD 691

16.98%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 879

$0.54 IQD 707

24.07%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 807

$0.67 IQD 884

-7.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,021

$0.64 IQD 835

21.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 IQD 545

$0.48 IQD 631

-12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.95 IQD 2,551

$1.77 IQD 2,316

10.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.85 IQD 16.8K

$13.64 IQD 17.9K

-5.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 IQD 4,091

$1.79 IQD 2,349

74.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 IQD 5,136

$2.17 IQD 2,844

80.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 482

$0.37 IQD 480

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.25 IQD 30.5K

$31.34 IQD 41.1K

-25.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 IQD 3,083

$2.34 IQD 3,068

0.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.31 IQD 3,033

$1.53 IQD 2,011

50.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.97 IQD 9,134

$5.98 IQD 7,839

16.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 733

$0.53 IQD 699

5.66%

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

$13.3K IQD 17.4M

$19.2K IQD 25.2M

-30.86%

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

$22.9K IQD 30.0M

$19.9K IQD 26.0M

15.11%

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

$57.6 IQD 75.5K

$77.0 IQD 100.9K

-25.17%

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

$25.62 IQD 33.6K

$17.90 IQD 23.5K

43.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.76 IQD 49.5K

$34.87 IQD 45.7K

8.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.25 IQD 48.8K

$37.02 IQD 48.5K

0.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.13 IQD 19.8K

$16.75 IQD 21.9K

-9.67%

Cinema Ticket

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$7.75 IQD 10.2K

0.39%

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

$97.7 IQD 128.0K

$153 IQD 200.9K

-36.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,869 IQD 5.1M

$3,309 IQD 4.3M

16.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.39 IQD 55.5K

$27.55 IQD 36.1K

53.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.70 IQD 27.1K

$25.49 IQD 33.4K

-18.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.8 IQD 94.1K

$61.3 IQD 80.3K

17.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.04 IQD 53.8K

$41.54 IQD 54.4K

-1.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$448 IQD 587.4K

$246 IQD 321.7K

82.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 IQD 177.8K

$177 IQD 231.7K

-23.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$917 IQD 1.2M

$574 IQD 752.4K

59.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$676 IQD 885.2K

$345 IQD 452.1K

95.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,608 IQD 2.1M

$1,479 IQD 1.9M

8.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$777 IQD 1.0M

$502 IQD 658.2K

54.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$767 IQD 1.0M

$491 IQD 643.8K

56.15%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Baghdadi: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $448 in Basra versus $246 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 56% 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 $24.00 in Basra versus $17.00 in Baghdadi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $213 vs $171 – 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 2%, 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 $1,092 per month in Basra and $1,115 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 $728 in Basra and $743 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 $728 in Basra and $743 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.