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

😐 Solo nomad: Erbil is 16.4% more expensive than Basra without rent, and 8.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Erbil is 4.1% more expensive than Basra without rent, and 2.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Erbil
Basra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.5 IQD 9,819
$3.76 IQD 4,917
99.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.23 IQD 30.4K
$24.77 IQD 32.4K
-6.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.76 IQD 11.5K
$6.9 IQD 9,033
26.96%
Cappuccino
$3.14 IQD 4,111
$2.03 IQD 2,653
54.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 IQD 627
$0.47 IQD 612
2.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.2 IQD 261
$0.32 IQD 419
-37.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.95 IQD 2,556
$3.77 IQD 4,929
-48.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 IQD 2,782
$5 IQD 6,540
-57.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Erbil
Basra
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 IQD 1,811
$1.18 IQD 1,551
16.95%
White Bread (500g)
$0.8 IQD 1,046
$0.71 IQD 928
12.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.79 IQD 2,346
$1.48 IQD 1,940
20.95%
Eggs
$1.99 IQD 2,605
$1.85 IQD 2,424
7.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.57 IQD 9,907
$8.02 IQD 10.5K
-5.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.75 IQD 6,218
$7.04 IQD 9,211
-32.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.08 IQD 18.4K
$13.26 IQD 17.4K
6.18%
Apples (1kg)
$1.19 IQD 1,561
$1.01 IQD 1,316
17.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.13 IQD 1,486
$1.41 IQD 1,847
-19.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.19 IQD 1,559
$1.02 IQD 1,331
16.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.77 IQD 1,008
$0.59 IQD 778
30.51%
Potato (1kg)
$0.67 IQD 880
$0.67 IQD 878
-
Onion (1kg)
$0.76 IQD 997
$0.57 IQD 746
33.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.77 IQD 1,004
$0.83 IQD 1,084
-7.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 IQD 682
$0.42 IQD 546
23.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.75 IQD 3,600
$1.93 IQD 2,523
42.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.84 IQD 18.1K
$13.19 IQD 17.3K
4.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.4 IQD 1,827
$3.08 IQD 4,031
-54.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 IQD 2,654
$3.92 IQD 5,135
-48.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Erbil
Basra
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.59 IQD 773
$0.39 IQD 513
51.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.92 IQD 45.7K
$23.25 IQD 30.4K
50.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.34 IQD 3,068
$2.25 IQD 2,945
4.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.34 IQD 3,060
$2.25 IQD 2,940
4.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.02 IQD 9,189
$7.01 IQD 9,171
0.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.64 IQD 843
$0.55 IQD 725
16.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K IQD 25.1M
$13.5K IQD 17.7M
41.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7K IQD 27.1M
$22.6K IQD 29.5M
-8.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Erbil
Basra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$99.7 IQD 130.5K
$57.3 IQD 75K
74.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.86 IQD 23.4K
$25.35 IQD 33.2K
-29.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.14 IQD 39.4K
$38.66 IQD 50.6K
-22.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Erbil
Basra
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$72 IQD 94.2K
$36.81 IQD 48.2K
95.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.72 IQD 15.3K
$15.48 IQD 20.3K
-24.29%
Cinema Ticket
$11.67 IQD 15.3K
$7.81 IQD 10.2K
49.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Erbil
Basra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$270 IQD 353.4K
$98.3 IQD 128.6K
174.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,274 IQD 4.3M
$3,847 IQD 5M
-14.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Erbil
Basra
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.88 IQD 43K
$42.81 IQD 56K
-23.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.43 IQD 63.4K
$20.35 IQD 26.6K
137.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.8 IQD 105.8K
$70.4 IQD 92.2K
14.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.6 IQD 100.2K
$41.12 IQD 53.8K
86.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Erbil
Basra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$439 IQD 574.6K
$456 IQD 597K
-3.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$279 IQD 365.2K
$342 IQD 447.8K
-18.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$718 IQD 939.3K
$914 IQD 1.2M
-21.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$493 IQD 646K
$663 IQD 867.7K
-25.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,061 IQD 1.4M
$1,599 IQD 2.1M
-33.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$651 IQD 851.8K
$791 IQD 1M
-17.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Erbil
Basra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$503 IQD 658.7K
$758 IQD 991.8K
-33.59%
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: October 28, 2025

Last update for Basra: October 28, 2025

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