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 $753 in Baghdadi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,366 per month in Basra vs $1,140 in Baghdadi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,003 per month in Basra vs $1,526 in Baghdadi, rent included.

Basra is about 3% cheaper than Baghdadi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Basra and Baghdadi are more affordable than the global median – Basra 45% lower, Baghdadi 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.80 IQD 4,974

$5.07 IQD 6,644

-25.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.38 IQD 31.9K

$16.69 IQD 21.9K

46.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 IQD 9,289

$7.03 IQD 9,209

0.85%

Cappuccino

$2.04 IQD 2,675

$1.71 IQD 2,235

19.30%

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

$0.47 IQD 609

$0.43 IQD 562

9.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 IQD 454

$0.26 IQD 342

34.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.85 IQD 5,038

$2.93 IQD 3,840

31.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 IQD 3,382

$2.91 IQD 3,808

-11.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 IQD 1,551

$1.14 IQD 1,490

3.51%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 917

$0.67 IQD 879

4.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 IQD 1,857

$2.24 IQD 2,929

-36.61%

Eggs

$1.85 IQD 2,428

$1.69 IQD 2,215

9.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.27 IQD 10.8K

$6.05 IQD 7,920

36.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.97 IQD 9,131

$4.43 IQD 5,798

57.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.33 IQD 17.5K

$9.22 IQD 12.1K

44.58%

Apples (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,382

$1.02 IQD 1,337

3.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 IQD 1,776

$0.97 IQD 1,275

40.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,363

$1.01 IQD 1,323

2.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 IQD 769

$0.53 IQD 695

11.32%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 872

$0.57 IQD 747

17.54%

Onion (1kg)

$0.56 IQD 737

$0.64 IQD 832

-12.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 IQD 1,044

$0.65 IQD 857

23.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 IQD 548

$0.52 IQD 675

-19.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.89 IQD 2,479

$1.72 IQD 2,255

9.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.87 IQD 16.8K

$15.22 IQD 19.9K

-15.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.15 IQD 4,125

$1.85 IQD 2,425

70.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 IQD 5,155

$2.07 IQD 2,708

90.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 511

$0.37 IQD 480

5.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.72 IQD 29.7K

$31.42 IQD 41.1K

-27.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.31 IQD 3,025

$2.25 IQD 2,944

2.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.31 IQD 3,028

$1.47 IQD 1,925

57.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.80 IQD 8,900

$6.02 IQD 7,879

12.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.58 IQD 766

$0.57 IQD 748

1.75%

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

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

$19.0K IQD 24.8M

-28.71%

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

$23.1K IQD 30.3M

$19.6K IQD 25.7M

17.80%

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

$56.6 IQD 74.1K

$76.3 IQD 99.9K

-25.91%

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

$25.64 IQD 33.6K

$17.46 IQD 22.9K

46.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.70 IQD 49.4K

$35.09 IQD 45.9K

7.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.14 IQD 47.3K

$36.50 IQD 47.8K

-0.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.55 IQD 20.4K

$16.50 IQD 21.6K

-5.76%

Cinema Ticket

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

$7.44 IQD 9,746

3.63%

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

$95.4 IQD 124.9K

$153 IQD 200.0K

-37.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,754 IQD 4.9M

$3,291 IQD 4.3M

14.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.53 IQD 54.4K

$27.23 IQD 35.7K

52.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.02 IQD 26.2K

$25.11 IQD 32.9K

-20.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.7 IQD 93.8K

$60.4 IQD 79.1K

18.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.57 IQD 54.4K

$40.99 IQD 53.7K

1.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$453 IQD 593.2K

$240 IQD 313.6K

89.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$132 IQD 172.4K

$176 IQD 230.6K

-25.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$902 IQD 1.2M

$590 IQD 772.5K

52.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$655 IQD 857.9K

$348 IQD 455.1K

88.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,567 IQD 2.1M

$1,528 IQD 2.0M

2.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$795 IQD 1.0M

$492 IQD 643.7K

61.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$761 IQD 996.3K

$509 IQD 665.9K

49.61%

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 Baghdadi: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $453 in Basra versus $240 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 50% 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 $175 – 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 3%, 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 $1,129 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 $753 in Baghdadi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 38% less in Basra. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Basra, where all-in costs run around $728, than in Baghdadi at $753. In Basra it covers expenses comfortably, while in Baghdadi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.