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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $747 in Tikrit versus $728 in Basra.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,153 in Tikrit versus $1,340 in Basra.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,558 in Tikrit versus $1,953 in Basra.

Living in Tikrit is roughly 3% more expensive than Basra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tikrit 44% lower, Basra 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.11 IQD 5,379

$3.72 IQD 4,876

10.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.00 IQD 32.7K

$24.46 IQD 32.0K

2.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.82 IQD 8,935

$7.02 IQD 9,194

-2.85%

Cappuccino

$2.65 IQD 3,473

$2.10 IQD 2,753

26.19%

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

$0.36 IQD 478

$0.46 IQD 608

-21.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 237

$0.34 IQD 449

-47.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.98 IQD 3,910

$3.76 IQD 4,926

-20.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 IQD 3,674

$2.71 IQD 3,553

3.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,731

$1.23 IQD 1,614

7.32%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 IQD 1,110

$0.70 IQD 918

21.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 IQD 2,092

$1.42 IQD 1,854

12.68%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,345

$1.89 IQD 2,474

-5.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.58 IQD 6,000

$7.93 IQD 10.4K

-42.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.62 IQD 6,058

$7.21 IQD 9,440

-35.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.21 IQD 17.3K

$12.95 IQD 17.0K

2.01%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,505

$1.01 IQD 1,316

13.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.20 IQD 1,574

$1.42 IQD 1,856

-15.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,387

$1.04 IQD 1,364

1.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 923

$0.62 IQD 814

12.90%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 914

$0.67 IQD 879

4.48%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 828

$0.62 IQD 806

1.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 IQD 871

$0.78 IQD 1,021

-15.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 IQD 674

$0.42 IQD 545

21.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.96 IQD 2,566

$1.95 IQD 2,550

0.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.85 IQD 16.8K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 IQD 2,434

$3.12 IQD 4,090

-40.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 IQD 2,715

$3.92 IQD 5,135

-47.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 515

$0.37 IQD 482

5.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.07 IQD 40.7K

$23.25 IQD 30.5K

33.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 IQD 3,078

$2.35 IQD 3,083

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 IQD 2,000

$2.31 IQD 3,032

-33.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.97 IQD 7,817

$6.97 IQD 9,133

-14.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 IQD 706

$0.56 IQD 733

-3.57%

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

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

$13.3K IQD 17.4M

45.19%

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

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

$22.9K IQD 30.0M

-12.15%

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

$78.2 IQD 102.4K

$57.6 IQD 75.5K

35.69%

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

$17.96 IQD 23.5K

$25.62 IQD 33.6K

-29.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.16 IQD 44.7K

$37.76 IQD 49.5K

-9.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.04 IQD 48.5K

$37.25 IQD 48.8K

-0.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.99 IQD 22.3K

$15.13 IQD 19.8K

12.29%

Cinema Ticket

$7.52 IQD 9,856

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

-3.34%

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

$154 IQD 201.9K

$97.7 IQD 128.0K

57.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,253 IQD 4.3M

$3,869 IQD 5.1M

-15.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.75 IQD 35.0K

$42.39 IQD 55.5K

-36.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.66 IQD 33.6K

$20.70 IQD 27.1K

23.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.4 IQD 81.7K

$71.8 IQD 94.1K

-13.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.91 IQD 54.9K

$41.04 IQD 53.8K

2.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$247 IQD 323.5K

$448 IQD 587.3K

-44.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.3K

$136 IQD 177.7K

29.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$570 IQD 746.1K

$917 IQD 1.2M

-37.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$339 IQD 444.6K

$676 IQD 885.0K

-49.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,608 IQD 2.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$777 IQD 1.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$341 IQD 446.2K

$767 IQD 1.0M

-55.60%

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 Tikrit: April 27, 2026

Last update for Basra: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $247 in Tikrit and $448 in Basra. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Basra pays 125% 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 Tikrit vs $24.00 in Basra. Groceries flip the comparison at $158 vs $213, 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

Tikrit vs Basra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tikrit and Basra differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($747 vs $728 including rent). Basra is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Basra earns 125% less. 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: $247 in Tikrit versus $448 in Basra. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Tikrit pay roughly 34% 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 $24.00 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.