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 $819 per month in Al Hillah vs $742 in Basra, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,263 per month in Al Hillah vs $1,351 in Basra, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,708 per month in Al Hillah vs $1,960 in Basra, rent included.

Al Hillah costs about 10% more than Basra, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Al Hillah and Basra are more affordable than the global median – Al Hillah 39% lower, Basra 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.28 IQD 6,917

$3.81 IQD 4,990

38.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.53 IQD 40.0K

$24.77 IQD 32.4K

23.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.00 IQD 7,851

$7.02 IQD 9,193

-14.53%

Cappuccino

$3.11 IQD 4,073

$2.06 IQD 2,695

50.97%

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

$0.40 IQD 518

$0.44 IQD 572

-9.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 265

$0.35 IQD 452

-42.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.97 IQD 3,896

$3.86 IQD 5,061

-23.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 IQD 3,706

$2.70 IQD 3,532

4.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,713

$1.23 IQD 1,607

6.50%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 IQD 967

$0.70 IQD 919

5.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 IQD 2,151

$1.41 IQD 1,850

16.31%

Eggs

$1.74 IQD 2,280

$1.92 IQD 2,512

-9.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.38 IQD 5,733

$8.05 IQD 10.5K

-45.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.06 IQD 6,623

$7.22 IQD 9,457

-29.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.96 IQD 18.3K

$13.20 IQD 17.3K

5.76%

Apples (1kg)

$1.28 IQD 1,673

$1.01 IQD 1,321

26.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,516

$1.42 IQD 1,858

-18.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,385

$1.02 IQD 1,331

3.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 920

$0.63 IQD 820

11.11%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 862

$0.71 IQD 932

-7.04%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 890

$0.57 IQD 744

19.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 IQD 720

$0.83 IQD 1,085

-33.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 722

$0.41 IQD 541

34.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.95 IQD 2,552

$1.88 IQD 2,458

3.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.56 IQD 17.8K

$12.76 IQD 16.7K

6.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 IQD 2,300

$2.97 IQD 3,892

-40.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 IQD 2,863

$3.78 IQD 4,947

-42.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 522

$0.39 IQD 516

2.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.8 IQD 83.6K

$23.21 IQD 30.4K

175.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.26 IQD 2,957

$2.31 IQD 3,028

-2.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 IQD 2,016

$2.21 IQD 2,891

-30.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.33 IQD 4,358

$6.76 IQD 8,847

-50.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 689

$0.58 IQD 762

-8.62%

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

$17.0K IQD 22.2M

$13.3K IQD 17.4M

28.03%

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

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

$23.2K IQD 30.4M

-13.57%

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

$76.0 IQD 99.6K

$56.6 IQD 74.1K

34.38%

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

$15.24 IQD 20.0K

$25.19 IQD 33.0K

-39.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.99 IQD 49.8K

$38.41 IQD 50.3K

-1.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.35 IQD 30.6K

$37.07 IQD 48.5K

-37.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.37 IQD 25.4K

$15.48 IQD 20.3K

25.13%

Cinema Ticket

$7.55 IQD 9,883

$7.75 IQD 10.2K

-2.58%

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

$96.5 IQD 126.4K

$97.0 IQD 127.0K

-0.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$754 IQD 986.7K

$3,772 IQD 4.9M

-80.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.29 IQD 35.7K

$41.85 IQD 54.8K

-34.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.83 IQD 36.4K

$20.30 IQD 26.6K

37.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.2 IQD 80.1K

$72.9 IQD 95.4K

-15.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.90 IQD 57.5K

$40.68 IQD 53.3K

7.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$378 IQD 494.8K

$455 IQD 595.7K

-16.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$191 IQD 249.6K

$133 IQD 174.1K

43.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$662 IQD 867.5K

$918 IQD 1.2M

-27.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$322 IQD 422.1K

$671 IQD 878.0K

-51.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,702 IQD 2.2M

$1,581 IQD 2.1M

7.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$562 IQD 736.0K

$800 IQD 1.0M

-29.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$515 IQD 674.7K

$763 IQD 998.7K

-32.44%

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 Al Hillah: June 2, 2026

Last update for Basra: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $378 in Al Hillah versus $455 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 48% higher in Basra, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Al Hillah versus $25.00 in Basra. Groceries tell a different story – $188 in Al Hillah vs $213 in Basra – so Al Hillah wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 – Al Hillah is pricier by about 10%, 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 $1,228 per month in Al Hillah and $1,113 in Basra. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 175% less in Basra. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $96.5 per month in Al Hillah and $97.0 in Basra. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Basra, where all-in costs run around $742, than in Al Hillah at $819. In Basra it covers expenses comfortably, while in Al Hillah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Basra – 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 Basra. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Al Hillah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.