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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $739 in Basra versus $1,034 in Erbil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,368 in Basra versus $1,522 in Erbil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,996 in Basra versus $2,010 in Erbil.

Living in Basra costs roughly 29% less than in Erbil, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Basra 45% lower, Erbil 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.79 IQD 4,959

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

-50.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.30 IQD 33.1K

$22.64 IQD 29.6K

11.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.74 IQD 8,831

$8.88 IQD 11.6K

-24.10%

Cappuccino

$2.03 IQD 2,656

$3.20 IQD 4,189

-36.56%

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

$0.47 IQD 612

$0.48 IQD 630

-2.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 IQD 452

$0.20 IQD 262

75.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.72 IQD 4,866

$1.93 IQD 2,523

92.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 IQD 3,391

$2.14 IQD 2,803

21.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 IQD 1,608

$1.31 IQD 1,719

-6.11%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 922

$0.85 IQD 1,108

-17.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.46 IQD 1,906

$1.86 IQD 2,439

-21.51%

Eggs

$1.88 IQD 2,467

$1.98 IQD 2,590

-5.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.26 IQD 10.8K

$7.23 IQD 9,474

14.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.93 IQD 9,071

$4.72 IQD 6,184

46.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.13 IQD 17.2K

$14.24 IQD 18.7K

-7.79%

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 IQD 1,370

$1.19 IQD 1,563

-11.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 IQD 1,756

$1.15 IQD 1,505

16.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 IQD 1,316

$1.15 IQD 1,502

-13.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 IQD 774

$0.81 IQD 1,057

-27.16%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 894

$0.68 IQD 888

Onion (1kg)

$0.60 IQD 789

$0.75 IQD 980

-20.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,022

$0.73 IQD 952

6.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 IQD 542

$0.57 IQD 742

-28.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.95 IQD 2,559

$2.62 IQD 3,428

-25.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.18 IQD 17.3K

$12.19 IQD 16.0K

8.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.02 IQD 3,957

$1.39 IQD 1,824

117.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 IQD 5,139

$1.97 IQD 2,579

98.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 479

$0.59 IQD 776

-37.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.11 IQD 30.3K

$35.14 IQD 46.0K

-34.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.28 IQD 2,992

$2.25 IQD 2,942

1.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.26 IQD 2,957

$2.33 IQD 3,052

-3.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.93 IQD 9,071

$6.75 IQD 8,845

2.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 732

$0.65 IQD 849

-13.85%

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

$13.1K IQD 17.2M

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

-32.29%

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

$22.6K IQD 29.6M

$20.8K IQD 27.3M

8.53%

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

$56.7 IQD 74.2K

$102 IQD 133.2K

-44.26%

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

$25.66 IQD 33.6K

$17.42 IQD 22.8K

47.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.60 IQD 50.5K

$29.58 IQD 38.7K

30.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.33 IQD 47.6K

$73.8 IQD 96.6K

-50.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.54 IQD 20.4K

$11.55 IQD 15.1K

34.55%

Cinema Ticket

$7.82 IQD 10.2K

$11.41 IQD 14.9K

-31.46%

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

$98.0 IQD 128.3K

$263 IQD 343.7K

-62.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,807 IQD 5.0M

$3,250 IQD 4.3M

17.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.66 IQD 55.9K

$33.46 IQD 43.8K

27.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.58 IQD 27.0K

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

-58.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.1 IQD 91.9K

$81.1 IQD 106.2K

-13.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.08 IQD 53.8K

$76.5 IQD 100.2K

-46.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$445 IQD 582.7K

$429 IQD 562.2K

3.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 IQD 178.0K

$275 IQD 360.3K

-50.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$908 IQD 1.2M

$732 IQD 958.5K

24.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$650 IQD 851.8K

$495 IQD 647.8K

31.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,605 IQD 2.1M

$1,130 IQD 1.5M

42.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$783 IQD 1.0M

$660 IQD 864.4K

18.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$752 IQD 985.3K

$581 IQD 760.9K

29.49%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Erbil: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $445 in Basra and $429 in Erbil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Basra pays 29% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $25.00 in Basra vs $23.00 in Erbil for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $212 vs $195 per month, with Erbil cheaper across the board.

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 Erbil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Basra and Erbil differ by about 40% in total monthly costs ($739 vs $1,034 including rent). Basra is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 29% higher in Basra, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $445 in Basra versus $429 in Erbil. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Erbil pay roughly 9% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Basra – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $23.00 in Erbil. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $739 in Basra versus $1,034 in Erbil, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Basra but tight or insufficient in Erbil. The gap between the two cities makes Basra the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Basra and Erbil are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Basra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.