Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and Kirkuk Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and Kirkuk

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $732 in Basra versus $609 in Kirkuk.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Basra versus $960 in Kirkuk.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,969 in Basra versus $1,311 in Kirkuk.

Living in Basra is roughly 20% more expensive than Kirkuk, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Basra 45% lower, Kirkuk 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.85 IQD 5,037

$3.80 IQD 4,974

1.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.88 IQD 32.6K

$25.74 IQD 33.7K

-3.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.03 IQD 9,205

$5.76 IQD 7,540

22.05%

Cappuccino

$2.06 IQD 2,696

$2.34 IQD 3,064

-11.97%

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

$0.44 IQD 574

$0.39 IQD 512

12.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 IQD 413

$0.18 IQD 235

77.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.80 IQD 4,982

$3.41 IQD 4,468

11.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 IQD 3,551

$2.89 IQD 3,782

-6.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 IQD 1,558

$1.14 IQD 1,498

4.39%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 920

$0.61 IQD 796

14.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 IQD 1,927

$1.67 IQD 2,182

-11.98%

Eggs

$1.83 IQD 2,401

$1.48 IQD 1,941

23.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.95 IQD 10.4K

$4.58 IQD 5,997

73.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.05 IQD 9,238

$2.85 IQD 3,727

147.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.29 IQD 17.4K

$10.79 IQD 14.1K

23.17%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,325

$0.90 IQD 1,180

12.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 IQD 1,837

$1.02 IQD 1,334

37.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,363

$0.99 IQD 1,296

5.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 IQD 774

$0.64 IQD 843

-7.81%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 900

$0.49 IQD 643

40.82%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 IQD 746

$0.50 IQD 651

14.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,021

$0.63 IQD 830

23.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 IQD 500

$0.31 IQD 401

22.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.88 IQD 2,468

$1.86 IQD 2,440

1.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.04 IQD 17.1K

$13.54 IQD 17.7K

-3.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 IQD 3,916

$1.76 IQD 2,311

69.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.77 IQD 4,934

$2.11 IQD 2,760

78.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 481

$0.56 IQD 727

-33.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.77 IQD 29.8K

$31.66 IQD 41.5K

-28.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,051

$2.93 IQD 3,832

-20.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.30 IQD 3,017

$1.11 IQD 1,451

107.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.83 IQD 8,942

$7.64 IQD 10.0K

-10.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 IQD 778

$0.53 IQD 697

11.32%

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

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

-33.76%

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

$22.5K IQD 29.5M

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

11.17%

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

$57.8 IQD 75.6K

$52.7 IQD 69.0K

9.64%

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

$25.61 IQD 33.5K

$23.40 IQD 30.6K

9.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.89 IQD 50.9K

$38.76 IQD 50.8K

0.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.10 IQD 47.3K

$14.67 IQD 19.2K

146.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.35 IQD 20.1K

$17.09 IQD 22.4K

-10.18%

Cinema Ticket

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

$7.50 IQD 9,819

2.80%

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

$95.9 IQD 125.6K

$58.8 IQD 77.0K

63.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,881 IQD 5.1M

$780 IQD 1.0M

397.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.37 IQD 55.5K

$28.28 IQD 37.0K

49.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.39 IQD 26.7K

$30.17 IQD 39.5K

-32.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.5 IQD 93.7K

$23.14 IQD 30.3K

209.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.65 IQD 53.2K

$14.72 IQD 19.3K

176.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$443 IQD 580.2K

$73.8 IQD 96.7K

500.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 IQD 177.8K

$109 IQD 142.1K

25.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$929 IQD 1.2M

$113 IQD 147.8K

723.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 IQD 875.3K

$252 IQD 329.5K

165.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,604 IQD 2.1M

$866 IQD 1.1M

85.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$780 IQD 1.0M

$398 IQD 520.7K

96.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$772 IQD 1.0M

$631 IQD 826.1K

22.45%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Kirkuk: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $443 in Basra and $73.8 in Kirkuk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Basra pays 22% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $25.00 in Basra vs $26.00 in Kirkuk. Groceries flip the comparison at $211 vs $157, with Kirkuk cheaper for home cooking.

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 Kirkuk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Basra and Kirkuk differ by about 20% in total monthly costs ($732 vs $609 including rent). Kirkuk is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Basra pays 22% more on average, 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: $443 in Basra versus $73.8 in Kirkuk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 35% higher in Basra. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Kirkuk – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $25.00 in Basra. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Kirkuk gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

Expats usually find Kirkuk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Basra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.