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: $751 in Tikrit versus $732 in Basra.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,150 in Tikrit versus $1,351 in Basra.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,549 in Tikrit versus $1,969 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 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.08 IQD 5,339

$3.85 IQD 5,037

5.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.79 IQD 32.5K

$24.88 IQD 32.6K

-0.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.93 IQD 9,081

$7.03 IQD 9,205

-1.42%

Cappuccino

$2.58 IQD 3,384

$2.06 IQD 2,696

25.24%

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

$0.39 IQD 513

$0.44 IQD 574

-11.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 277

$0.32 IQD 413

-34.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 IQD 3,865

$3.80 IQD 4,982

-22.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 IQD 3,744

$2.71 IQD 3,551

5.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 IQD 1,796

$1.19 IQD 1,558

15.13%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 IQD 1,094

$0.70 IQD 920

20.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 IQD 2,157

$1.47 IQD 1,927

12.24%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,344

$1.83 IQD 2,401

-2.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.62 IQD 6,044

$7.95 IQD 10.4K

-41.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.63 IQD 6,067

$7.05 IQD 9,238

-34.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.08 IQD 17.1K

$13.29 IQD 17.4K

-1.58%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,505

$1.01 IQD 1,325

13.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,522

$1.40 IQD 1,837

-17.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 IQD 1,374

$1.04 IQD 1,363

0.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 981

$0.59 IQD 774

27.12%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 848

$0.69 IQD 900

-5.80%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 888

$0.57 IQD 746

19.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 IQD 865

$0.78 IQD 1,021

-15.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 732

$0.38 IQD 500

47.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 IQD 2,538

$1.88 IQD 2,468

3.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.04 IQD 17.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 IQD 2,385

$2.99 IQD 3,916

-39.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,805

$3.77 IQD 4,934

-43.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 518

$0.37 IQD 481

8.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.84 IQD 40.4K

$22.77 IQD 29.8K

35.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.23 IQD 2,922

$2.33 IQD 3,051

-4.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 IQD 1,948

$2.30 IQD 3,017

-35.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.14 IQD 8,041

$6.83 IQD 8,942

-10.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 735

$0.59 IQD 778

-5.08%

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

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

43.24%

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

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

$22.5K IQD 29.5M

-10.81%

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

$76.6 IQD 100.3K

$57.8 IQD 75.6K

32.54%

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

$17.48 IQD 22.9K

$25.61 IQD 33.5K

-31.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.05 IQD 45.9K

$38.89 IQD 50.9K

-9.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.03 IQD 48.5K

$36.10 IQD 47.3K

2.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.76 IQD 22.0K

$15.35 IQD 20.1K

9.19%

Cinema Ticket

$7.75 IQD 10.1K

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

0.52%

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

$153 IQD 199.9K

$95.9 IQD 125.6K

59.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,246 IQD 4.2M

$3,881 IQD 5.1M

-16.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.95 IQD 35.3K

$42.37 IQD 55.5K

-36.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.06 IQD 32.8K

$20.39 IQD 26.7K

22.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.1 IQD 78.7K

$71.5 IQD 93.7K

-15.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.46 IQD 54.3K

$40.65 IQD 53.2K

1.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$246 IQD 321.8K

$443 IQD 580.2K

-44.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.5K

$136 IQD 177.8K

29.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$581 IQD 760.8K

$929 IQD 1.2M

-37.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$341 IQD 447.1K

$668 IQD 875.3K

-48.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,604 IQD 2.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$780 IQD 1.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$332 IQD 435.1K

$772 IQD 1.0M

-56.98%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Basra: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $246 in Tikrit and $443 in Basra. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Basra pays 132% 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 $25.00 in Basra for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $159 vs $211 per month, with Tikrit 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

Tikrit vs Basra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tikrit and Basra differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($751 vs $732 including rent). Basra is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Basra earns 132% 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: $246 in Tikrit versus $443 in Basra. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Tikrit pay roughly 33% 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 $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.