Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Hillah and Basra Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Hillah and Basra

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $802 per month in Al Hillah vs $965 in Basra, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,239 per month in Al Hillah vs $1,480 in Basra, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,677 per month in Al Hillah vs $1,995 in Basra, rent included.

Al Hillah is about 17% cheaper than Basra, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Al Hillah and Basra are more affordable than the global median – Al Hillah 42% lower, Basra 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.76 IQD 6,238

$4.66 IQD 6,109

2.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.94 IQD 40.5K

$31.09 IQD 40.7K

-0.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.22 IQD 8,147

$7.83 IQD 10.3K

-20.56%

Cappuccino

$3.04 IQD 3,984

$2.67 IQD 3,499

13.86%

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

$0.36 IQD 477

$0.47 IQD 610

-23.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 261

$0.34 IQD 448

-41.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.89 IQD 3,780

$3.81 IQD 4,987

-24.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.93 IQD 5,145

$4.29 IQD 5,619

-8.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 IQD 1,407

$1.12 IQD 1,467

-4.46%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 IQD 970

$0.65 IQD 851

13.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 IQD 2,062

$1.40 IQD 1,830

12.14%

Eggs

$1.86 IQD 2,434

$1.87 IQD 2,448

-0.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.97 IQD 5,201

$7.61 IQD 9,963

-47.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.82 IQD 6,316

$6.18 IQD 8,094

-22.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.51 IQD 19.0K

$13.83 IQD 18.1K

4.92%

Apples (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,486

$0.97 IQD 1,277

16.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 IQD 1,466

$1.36 IQD 1,776

-17.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 IQD 1,380

$1.02 IQD 1,339

2.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.79 IQD 1,031

$0.65 IQD 856

21.54%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 934

$0.74 IQD 975

-4.05%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 839

$0.66 IQD 858

-3.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 IQD 732

$0.88 IQD 1,156

-36.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 720

$0.38 IQD 499

44.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.76 IQD 2,306

$2.13 IQD 2,789

-17.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.44 IQD 17.6K

$6.99 IQD 9,160

92.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.13 IQD 2,793

$2.98 IQD 3,903

-28.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 IQD 2,968

$3.71 IQD 4,853

-38.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 521

$0.55 IQD 720

-27.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.7 IQD 86.0K

$19.15 IQD 25.1K

243.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.31 IQD 3,025

$2.24 IQD 2,932

3.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 IQD 2,021

$2.33 IQD 3,056

-33.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.39 IQD 4,439

$7.16 IQD 9,383

-52.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 IQD 710

$0.55 IQD 726

-1.82%

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

$17.4K IQD 22.8M

$13.3K IQD 17.4M

31.53%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

$22.9K IQD 30.0M

-17.09%

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

$76.8 IQD 100.6K

$51.2 IQD 67.1K

49.97%

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

$15.23 IQD 19.9K

$25.63 IQD 33.6K

-40.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.47 IQD 49.1K

$38.53 IQD 50.5K

-2.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.76 IQD 29.8K

$36.13 IQD 47.3K

-37.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.21 IQD 25.2K

$13.80 IQD 18.1K

39.20%

Cinema Ticket

$7.79 IQD 10.2K

$7.51 IQD 9,837

3.73%

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

$95.1 IQD 124.5K

$124 IQD 162.5K

-23.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$776 IQD 1.0M

$3,768 IQD 4.9M

-79.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.89 IQD 28.7K

$50.0 IQD 65.5K

-56.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.96 IQD 32.7K

$20.42 IQD 26.7K

22.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.9 IQD 88.8K

$78.5 IQD 102.8K

-13.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.44 IQD 60.8K

$41.85 IQD 54.8K

10.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$283 IQD 371.0K

$463 IQD 605.8K

-38.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 IQD 234.3K

$348 IQD 455.2K

-48.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$493 IQD 645.0K

$843 IQD 1.1M

-41.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$290 IQD 379.3K

$632 IQD 827.8K

-54.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,725 IQD 2.3M

$1,566 IQD 2.1M

10.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$562 IQD 735.6K

$778 IQD 1.0M

-27.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$509 IQD 666.8K

$769 IQD 1.0M

-33.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

5.67

-27.34%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Al Hillah: September 6, 2026

Last update for Basra: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $283 in Al Hillah versus $463 in Basra. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 51% higher in Basra, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Al Hillah versus $31.00 in Basra. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $186 vs $194 – making Al Hillah the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Al Hillah vs Basra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Basra is pricier by about 20%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,203 per month in Al Hillah and $1,447 in Basra. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Al Hillah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 243% less in Al Hillah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $95.1 per month in Al Hillah and $124 in Basra. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al Hillah, where all-in costs run around $802, than in Basra at $965. In Al Hillah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Basra it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Al Hillah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Al Hillah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Basra makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.