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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Living in Erbil is roughly 40% more expensive than in Basra, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

$3.79 IQD 4,959

103.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.64 IQD 29.6K

$25.30 IQD 33.1K

-10.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.88 IQD 11.6K

$6.74 IQD 8,831

31.75%

Cappuccino

$3.20 IQD 4,189

$2.03 IQD 2,656

57.64%

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

$0.48 IQD 630

$0.47 IQD 612

2.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 262

$0.35 IQD 452

-42.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 IQD 2,523

$3.72 IQD 4,866

-48.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,803

$2.59 IQD 3,391

-17.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,719

$1.23 IQD 1,608

6.50%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 IQD 1,108

$0.70 IQD 922

21.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 IQD 2,439

$1.46 IQD 1,906

27.40%

Eggs

$1.98 IQD 2,590

$1.88 IQD 2,467

5.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.23 IQD 9,474

$8.26 IQD 10.8K

-12.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.72 IQD 6,184

$6.93 IQD 9,071

-31.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.24 IQD 18.7K

$13.13 IQD 17.2K

8.45%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,563

$1.05 IQD 1,370

13.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,505

$1.34 IQD 1,756

-14.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,502

$1.00 IQD 1,316

15.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,057

$0.59 IQD 774

37.29%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 888

$0.68 IQD 894

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 980

$0.60 IQD 789

25.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 IQD 952

$0.78 IQD 1,022

-6.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 IQD 742

$0.41 IQD 542

39.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.62 IQD 3,428

$1.95 IQD 2,559

34.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.19 IQD 16.0K

$13.18 IQD 17.3K

-7.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 IQD 1,824

$3.02 IQD 3,957

-53.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 IQD 2,579

$3.92 IQD 5,139

-49.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 IQD 776

$0.37 IQD 479

59.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.14 IQD 46.0K

$23.11 IQD 30.3K

52.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,942

$2.28 IQD 2,992

-1.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 IQD 3,052

$2.26 IQD 2,957

3.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.75 IQD 8,845

$6.93 IQD 9,071

-2.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 IQD 849

$0.56 IQD 732

16.07%

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

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

$13.1K IQD 17.2M

47.69%

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

$20.8K IQD 27.3M

$22.6K IQD 29.6M

-7.86%

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

$102 IQD 133.2K

$56.7 IQD 74.2K

79.41%

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

$17.42 IQD 22.8K

$25.66 IQD 33.6K

-32.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.58 IQD 38.7K

$38.60 IQD 50.5K

-23.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.8 IQD 96.6K

$36.33 IQD 47.6K

103.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.55 IQD 15.1K

$15.54 IQD 20.4K

-25.68%

Cinema Ticket

$11.41 IQD 14.9K

$7.82 IQD 10.2K

45.91%

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

$263 IQD 343.7K

$98.0 IQD 128.3K

167.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,250 IQD 4.3M

$3,807 IQD 5.0M

-14.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.46 IQD 43.8K

$42.66 IQD 55.9K

-21.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.61 IQD 65.0K

$20.58 IQD 27.0K

141.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 IQD 106.2K

$70.1 IQD 91.9K

15.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.5 IQD 100.2K

$41.08 IQD 53.8K

86.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$429 IQD 562.2K

$445 IQD 582.7K

-3.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$275 IQD 360.3K

$136 IQD 178.0K

102.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$732 IQD 958.5K

$908 IQD 1.2M

-19.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$495 IQD 647.8K

$650 IQD 851.8K

-23.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,130 IQD 1.5M

$1,605 IQD 2.1M

-29.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$660 IQD 864.4K

$783 IQD 1.0M

-15.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$581 IQD 760.9K

$752 IQD 985.3K

-22.77%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Basra: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $429 in Erbil and $445 in Basra. 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: $23.00 in Erbil vs $25.00 in Basra for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $195 vs $212 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

Erbil vs Basra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

On paper, salaries run 29% lower in Basra. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $429 in Erbil versus $445 in Basra. 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, Erbil and Basra 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.