Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and Erbil Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and Erbil

🙂 Solo nomad: Basra is 16% cheaper than Erbil without rent, and 29% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Basra is 12.6% cheaper than Erbil without rent, and 3.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Basra
Erbil
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.77 IQD 4,933
$7.69 IQD 10.1K
-50.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.47 IQD 32.0K
$23.10 IQD 30.2K
5.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.99 IQD 9,140
$8.79 IQD 11.5K
-20.48%
Cappuccino
$2.11 IQD 2,753
$3.13 IQD 4,091
-32.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 IQD 564
$0.52 IQD 675
-17.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 IQD 447
$0.22 IQD 288
54.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.81 IQD 4,982
$1.95 IQD 2,547
95.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 IQD 3,538
$2.06 IQD 2,695
31.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Basra
Erbil
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 IQD 1,585
$1.33 IQD 1,745
-9.02%
White Bread (500g)
$0.71 IQD 928
$0.84 IQD 1,100
-15.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 IQD 1,855
$1.80 IQD 2,348
-21.11%
Eggs
$1.82 IQD 2,386
$1.97 IQD 2,580
-7.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.02 IQD 10.5K
$7.54 IQD 9,856
6.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.11 IQD 9,304
$4.75 IQD 6,212
49.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.06 IQD 17.1K
$14.00 IQD 18.3K
-6.71%
Apples (1kg)
$1.02 IQD 1,332
$1.14 IQD 1,488
-10.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.35 IQD 1,768
$1.16 IQD 1,517
16.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.05 IQD 1,374
$1.13 IQD 1,477
-7.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.60 IQD 778
$0.74 IQD 972
-18.92%
Potato (1kg)
$0.72 IQD 946
$0.72 IQD 946
-
Onion (1kg)
$0.58 IQD 754
$0.70 IQD 921
-17.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.78 IQD 1,026
$0.74 IQD 963
5.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39 IQD 507
$0.56 IQD 730
-30.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.85 IQD 2,425
$2.64 IQD 3,455
-29.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.70 IQD 16.6K
$12.45 IQD 16.3K
2.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.97 IQD 3,886
$1.38 IQD 1,802
115.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 IQD 5,036
$2.00 IQD 2,615
92.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Basra
Erbil
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 IQD 512
$0.59 IQD 777
-33.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.90 IQD 29.9K
$34.66 IQD 45.3K
-33.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.25 IQD 2,940
$2.28 IQD 2,981
-1.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.25 IQD 2,949
$2.29 IQD 3,000
-1.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.77 IQD 8,852
$7.08 IQD 9,255
-4.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.58 IQD 763
$0.70 IQD 912
-17.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.1K IQD 17.2M
$19.5K IQD 25.5M
-32.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.7K IQD 29.7M
$20.6K IQD 26.9M
10.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Basra
Erbil
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$58.5 IQD 76.5K
$101 IQD 132.1K
-42.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.53 IQD 33.4K
$17.55 IQD 22.9K
45.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.83 IQD 50.8K
$29.42 IQD 38.5K
31.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Basra
Erbil
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.66 IQD 47.9K
$73.4 IQD 96.0K
-50.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.26 IQD 20.0K
$11.74 IQD 15.4K
29.98%
Cinema Ticket
$7.51 IQD 9,827
$11.69 IQD 15.3K
-35.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Basra
Erbil
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$96.4 IQD 126.0K
$266 IQD 347.3K
-63.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,781 IQD 4.9M
$3,301 IQD 4.3M
14.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Basra
Erbil
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.03 IQD 55.0K
$33.12 IQD 43.3K
26.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.18 IQD 26.4K
$49.75 IQD 65.1K
-59.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.6 IQD 92.3K
$83.1 IQD 108.7K
-15.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.45 IQD 54.2K
$76.8 IQD 100.5K
-46.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Basra
Erbil
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$444 IQD 581.0K
$439 IQD 574.4K
1.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$133 IQD 174.2K
$276 IQD 360.6K
-51.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$932 IQD 1.2M
$738 IQD 965.7K
26.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$662 IQD 866.1K
$483 IQD 631.7K
37.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,559 IQD 2.0M
$1,112 IQD 1.5M
40.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$787 IQD 1.0M
$664 IQD 867.9K
18.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Basra
Erbil
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$752 IQD 983.8K
$555 IQD 725.3K
35.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.67
14.33
-60.43%

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

Last update for Basra: March 1, 2026

Last update for Erbil: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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