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

😐 Solo nomad: Erbil is 16.3% more expensive than Basra without rent, and 41.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Erbil is 13.8% more expensive than Basra without rent, and 2.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Erbil
Basra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.87 IQD 10.3K
$3.81 IQD 4,990
106.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.86 IQD 29.9K
$24.59 IQD 32.2K
-7.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.58 IQD 11.2K
$6.94 IQD 9,088
23.63%
Cappuccino
$3.26 IQD 4,266
$2.02 IQD 2,649
61.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 IQD 674
$0.43 IQD 561
18.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20 IQD 262
$0.34 IQD 451
-41.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.95 IQD 2,547
$3.82 IQD 5,001
-48.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 IQD 2,824
$2.60 IQD 3,400
-16.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Erbil
Basra
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.33 IQD 1,745
$1.22 IQD 1,603
9.02%
White Bread (500g)
$0.80 IQD 1,044
$0.67 IQD 882
19.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.80 IQD 2,359
$1.45 IQD 1,899
24.14%
Eggs
$1.92 IQD 2,508
$1.84 IQD 2,411
4.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.49 IQD 9,801
$8.26 IQD 10.8K
-9.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.85 IQD 6,345
$6.94 IQD 9,093
-30.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.32 IQD 18.8K
$13.36 IQD 17.5K
7.19%
Apples (1kg)
$1.19 IQD 1,554
$1.01 IQD 1,321
17.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.19 IQD 1,564
$1.42 IQD 1,855
-16.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.19 IQD 1,563
$1.04 IQD 1,366
14.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.81 IQD 1,059
$0.59 IQD 769
37.29%
Potato (1kg)
$0.67 IQD 880
$0.68 IQD 891
-1.47%
Onion (1kg)
$0.75 IQD 982
$0.61 IQD 798
22.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 IQD 968
$0.84 IQD 1,094
-11.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 IQD 742
$0.39 IQD 508
46.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.71 IQD 3,545
$1.90 IQD 2,485
42.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.53 IQD 16.4K
$13.16 IQD 17.2K
-4.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 IQD 1,899
$3.15 IQD 4,125
-53.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 IQD 2,654
$3.72 IQD 4,867
-45.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Erbil
Basra
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.59 IQD 778
$0.37 IQD 480
59.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.17 IQD 46.0K
$23.25 IQD 30.4K
51.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.36 IQD 3,096
$2.31 IQD 3,027
2.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.31 IQD 3,019
$2.24 IQD 2,932
3.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.79 IQD 8,893
$6.80 IQD 8,906
-0.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.65 IQD 845
$0.56 IQD 729
16.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9K IQD 24.8M
$13.3K IQD 17.4M
42.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4K IQD 26.7M
$23.0K IQD 30.1M
-11.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Erbil
Basra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$98.8 IQD 129.4K
$56.9 IQD 74.5K
73.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.50 IQD 22.9K
$25.88 IQD 33.9K
-32.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.35 IQD 39.7K
$38.18 IQD 50.0K
-20.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Erbil
Basra
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.9 IQD 96.7K
$37.46 IQD 49.0K
97.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.75 IQD 15.4K
$15.33 IQD 20.1K
-23.35%
Cinema Ticket
$11.31 IQD 14.8K
$7.43 IQD 9,735
52.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Erbil
Basra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$262 IQD 343.1K
$98.5 IQD 129.0K
166.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,323 IQD 4.4M
$3,871 IQD 5.1M
-14.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Erbil
Basra
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.22 IQD 43.5K
$42.58 IQD 55.7K
-21.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.02 IQD 62.9K
$20.02 IQD 26.2K
139.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.5 IQD 106.8K
$70.1 IQD 91.8K
16.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.1 IQD 100.9K
$41.60 IQD 54.5K
85.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Erbil
Basra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$430 IQD 562.7K
$456 IQD 596.8K
-5.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$276 IQD 361.4K
$132 IQD 173.4K
108.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$724 IQD 947.4K
$907 IQD 1.2M
-20.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$496 IQD 649.5K
$662 IQD 866.7K
-25.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,111 IQD 1.5M
$1,559 IQD 2.0M
-28.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$653 IQD 854.3K
$808 IQD 1.1M
-19.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Erbil
Basra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$566 IQD 741.0K
$768 IQD 1.0M
-26.27%
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: April 11, 2026

Last update for Basra: April 13, 2026

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

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