Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and Tikrit Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and Tikrit

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $732 in Basra versus $751 in Tikrit.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Basra versus $1,150 in Tikrit.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,969 in Basra versus $1,549 in Tikrit.

Living in Basra costs roughly 2% less than in Tikrit, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Basra 45% lower, Tikrit 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.85 IQD 5,037

$4.08 IQD 5,339

-5.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.88 IQD 32.6K

$24.79 IQD 32.5K

0.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.03 IQD 9,205

$6.93 IQD 9,081

1.44%

Cappuccino

$2.06 IQD 2,696

$2.58 IQD 3,384

-20.16%

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

$0.44 IQD 574

$0.39 IQD 513

12.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 IQD 413

$0.21 IQD 277

52.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.80 IQD 4,982

$2.95 IQD 3,865

28.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 IQD 3,551

$2.86 IQD 3,744

-5.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 IQD 1,558

$1.37 IQD 1,796

-13.14%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 920

$0.84 IQD 1,094

-16.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 IQD 1,927

$1.65 IQD 2,157

-10.91%

Eggs

$1.83 IQD 2,401

$1.79 IQD 2,344

2.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.95 IQD 10.4K

$4.62 IQD 6,044

72.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.05 IQD 9,238

$4.63 IQD 6,067

52.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.29 IQD 17.4K

$13.08 IQD 17.1K

1.61%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,325

$1.15 IQD 1,505

-12.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 IQD 1,837

$1.16 IQD 1,522

20.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,363

$1.05 IQD 1,374

-0.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 IQD 774

$0.75 IQD 981

-21.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 900

$0.65 IQD 848

6.15%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 IQD 746

$0.68 IQD 888

-16.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,021

$0.66 IQD 865

18.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 IQD 500

$0.56 IQD 732

-32.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.88 IQD 2,468

$1.94 IQD 2,538

-3.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.04 IQD 17.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 IQD 3,916

$1.82 IQD 2,385

64.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.77 IQD 4,934

$2.14 IQD 2,805

76.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 481

$0.40 IQD 518

-7.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.77 IQD 29.8K

$30.84 IQD 40.4K

-26.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,051

$2.23 IQD 2,922

4.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.30 IQD 3,017

$1.49 IQD 1,948

54.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.83 IQD 8,942

$6.14 IQD 8,041

11.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 IQD 778

$0.56 IQD 735

5.36%

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

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

-30.19%

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

$22.5K IQD 29.5M

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

12.12%

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

$57.8 IQD 75.6K

$76.6 IQD 100.3K

-24.55%

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

$25.61 IQD 33.5K

$17.48 IQD 22.9K

46.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.89 IQD 50.9K

$35.05 IQD 45.9K

10.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.10 IQD 47.3K

$37.03 IQD 48.5K

-2.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.35 IQD 20.1K

$16.76 IQD 22.0K

-8.41%

Cinema Ticket

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

$7.75 IQD 10.1K

-0.52%

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

$95.9 IQD 125.6K

$153 IQD 199.9K

-37.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,881 IQD 5.1M

$3,246 IQD 4.2M

19.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.37 IQD 55.5K

$26.95 IQD 35.3K

57.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.39 IQD 26.7K

$25.06 IQD 32.8K

-18.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.5 IQD 93.7K

$60.1 IQD 78.7K

18.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.65 IQD 53.2K

$41.46 IQD 54.3K

-1.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$443 IQD 580.2K

$246 IQD 321.8K

80.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 IQD 177.8K

$175 IQD 229.5K

-22.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$929 IQD 1.2M

$581 IQD 760.8K

59.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 IQD 875.3K

$341 IQD 447.1K

95.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,604 IQD 2.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$780 IQD 1.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$772 IQD 1.0M

$332 IQD 435.1K

132.47%

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 Tikrit: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $443 in Basra and $246 in Tikrit. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Basra pays 132% 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 $25.00 in Tikrit. Groceries flip the comparison at $211 vs $159, with Tikrit 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 Tikrit: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Basra and Tikrit differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($732 vs $751 including rent). Basra is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Basra pays 132% 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 $246 in Tikrit. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Tikrit pay roughly 33% 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 $25.00 in Tikrit. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Basra 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 Basra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Tikrit. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.