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

😐 Solo nomad: Erbil is 19% more expensive than Basra without rent, and 40.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Erbil is 14.4% more expensive than Basra without rent, and 3.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Erbil
Basra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.69 IQD 10.1K
$3.77 IQD 4,933
103.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.10 IQD 30.2K
$24.47 IQD 32.0K
-5.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.79 IQD 11.5K
$6.99 IQD 9,140
25.75%
Cappuccino
$3.13 IQD 4,091
$2.11 IQD 2,753
48.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 IQD 675
$0.43 IQD 564
20.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22 IQD 288
$0.34 IQD 447
-35.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.95 IQD 2,547
$3.81 IQD 4,982
-48.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 IQD 2,695
$2.71 IQD 3,538
-23.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Erbil
Basra
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.33 IQD 1,745
$1.21 IQD 1,585
9.92%
White Bread (500g)
$0.84 IQD 1,100
$0.71 IQD 928
18.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.80 IQD 2,348
$1.42 IQD 1,855
26.76%
Eggs
$1.97 IQD 2,580
$1.82 IQD 2,386
8.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.54 IQD 9,856
$8.02 IQD 10.5K
-5.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.75 IQD 6,212
$7.11 IQD 9,304
-33.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.00 IQD 18.3K
$13.06 IQD 17.1K
7.20%
Apples (1kg)
$1.14 IQD 1,488
$1.02 IQD 1,332
11.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.16 IQD 1,517
$1.35 IQD 1,768
-14.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.13 IQD 1,477
$1.05 IQD 1,374
7.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.74 IQD 972
$0.60 IQD 778
23.33%
Potato (1kg)
$0.72 IQD 946
$0.72 IQD 946
-
Onion (1kg)
$0.70 IQD 921
$0.58 IQD 754
20.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 IQD 963
$0.78 IQD 1,026
-5.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 IQD 730
$0.39 IQD 507
43.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.64 IQD 3,455
$1.85 IQD 2,425
42.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.45 IQD 16.3K
$12.70 IQD 16.6K
-1.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 IQD 1,802
$2.97 IQD 3,886
-53.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 IQD 2,615
$3.85 IQD 5,036
-48.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Erbil
Basra
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.59 IQD 777
$0.39 IQD 512
51.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.66 IQD 45.3K
$22.90 IQD 29.9K
51.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.28 IQD 2,981
$2.25 IQD 2,940
1.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.29 IQD 3,000
$2.25 IQD 2,949
1.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.08 IQD 9,255
$6.77 IQD 8,852
4.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.70 IQD 912
$0.58 IQD 763
20.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K IQD 25.5M
$13.1K IQD 17.2M
48.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.6K IQD 26.9M
$22.7K IQD 29.7M
-9.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Erbil
Basra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$101 IQD 132.1K
$58.5 IQD 76.5K
72.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.55 IQD 22.9K
$25.53 IQD 33.4K
-31.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.42 IQD 38.5K
$38.83 IQD 50.8K
-24.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Erbil
Basra
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.4 IQD 96.0K
$36.66 IQD 47.9K
100.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.74 IQD 15.4K
$15.26 IQD 20.0K
-23.07%
Cinema Ticket
$11.69 IQD 15.3K
$7.51 IQD 9,827
55.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Erbil
Basra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$266 IQD 347.3K
$96.4 IQD 126.0K
175.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,301 IQD 4.3M
$3,781 IQD 4.9M
-12.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Erbil
Basra
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.12 IQD 43.3K
$42.03 IQD 55.0K
-21.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.75 IQD 65.1K
$20.18 IQD 26.4K
146.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.1 IQD 108.7K
$70.6 IQD 92.3K
17.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.8 IQD 100.5K
$41.45 IQD 54.2K
85.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Erbil
Basra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$439 IQD 574.4K
$444 IQD 581.0K
-1.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$276 IQD 360.6K
$133 IQD 174.2K
107.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$738 IQD 965.7K
$932 IQD 1.2M
-20.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$483 IQD 631.7K
$662 IQD 866.1K
-27.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,112 IQD 1.5M
$1,559 IQD 2.0M
-28.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$664 IQD 867.9K
$787 IQD 1.0M
-15.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Erbil
Basra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$555 IQD 725.3K
$752 IQD 983.8K
-26.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
14.33
5.67
152.73%

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

Last update for Erbil: March 3, 2026

Last update for Basra: March 1, 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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