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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $732 in Al Kazimiyah versus $742 in Basra.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,160 in Al Kazimiyah versus $1,351 in Basra.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,589 in Al Kazimiyah versus $1,960 in Basra.

Living in Al Kazimiyah costs roughly 1% less than in Basra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al Kazimiyah 45% lower, Basra 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.99 IQD 5,226

$3.81 IQD 4,990

4.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.69 IQD 32.3K

$24.77 IQD 32.4K

-0.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.81 IQD 8,912

$7.02 IQD 9,193

-2.99%

Cappuccino

$2.64 IQD 3,455

$2.06 IQD 2,695

28.16%

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

$0.37 IQD 483

$0.44 IQD 572

-15.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 280

$0.35 IQD 452

-40.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.89 IQD 3,779

$3.86 IQD 5,061

-25.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 IQD 3,683

$2.70 IQD 3,532

4.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 IQD 1,741

$1.23 IQD 1,607

8.13%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,015

$0.70 IQD 919

11.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 IQD 2,064

$1.41 IQD 1,850

12.06%

Eggs

$1.72 IQD 2,258

$1.92 IQD 2,512

-10.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.48 IQD 5,860

$8.05 IQD 10.5K

-44.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.64 IQD 6,082

$7.22 IQD 9,457

-35.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.08 IQD 17.1K

$13.20 IQD 17.3K

-0.91%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,510

$1.01 IQD 1,321

13.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,505

$1.42 IQD 1,858

-19.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 IQD 1,380

$1.02 IQD 1,331

2.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 979

$0.63 IQD 820

19.05%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 892

$0.71 IQD 932

-4.23%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 875

$0.57 IQD 744

17.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 IQD 884

$0.83 IQD 1,085

-18.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 720

$0.41 IQD 541

34.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.88 IQD 2,460

$1.88 IQD 2,458

Wine (Bottle)

$12.76 IQD 16.7K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 IQD 2,438

$2.97 IQD 3,892

-37.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 IQD 2,714

$3.78 IQD 4,947

-45.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 518

$0.39 IQD 516

2.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.41 IQD 41.1K

$23.21 IQD 30.4K

35.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.34 IQD 3,069

$2.31 IQD 3,028

1.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 IQD 1,960

$2.21 IQD 2,891

-32.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.86 IQD 7,678

$6.76 IQD 8,847

-13.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 IQD 704

$0.58 IQD 762

-6.90%

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

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

$13.3K IQD 17.4M

41.35%

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

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

$23.2K IQD 30.4M

-14.91%

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

$76.2 IQD 99.8K

$56.6 IQD 74.1K

34.73%

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

$17.58 IQD 23.0K

$25.19 IQD 33.0K

-30.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.07 IQD 44.6K

$38.41 IQD 50.3K

-11.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.20 IQD 48.7K

$37.07 IQD 48.5K

0.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.68 IQD 21.8K

$15.48 IQD 20.3K

7.75%

Cinema Ticket

$7.56 IQD 9,905

$7.75 IQD 10.2K

-2.45%

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

$152 IQD 199.3K

$97.0 IQD 127.0K

56.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,248 IQD 4.3M

$3,772 IQD 4.9M

-13.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.60 IQD 34.8K

$41.85 IQD 54.8K

-36.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.38 IQD 33.2K

$20.30 IQD 26.6K

25.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.1 IQD 78.7K

$72.9 IQD 95.4K

-17.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.64 IQD 54.5K

$40.68 IQD 53.3K

2.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$247 IQD 322.9K

$455 IQD 595.7K

-45.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 IQD 232.4K

$133 IQD 174.1K

33.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$572 IQD 748.4K

$918 IQD 1.2M

-37.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$350 IQD 458.5K

$671 IQD 878.0K

-47.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,581 IQD 2.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$800 IQD 1.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$763 IQD 998.7K

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 Kazimiyah: May 31, 2026

Last update for Basra: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $247 in Al Kazimiyah and $455 in Basra. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $25.00 in Al Kazimiyah vs $25.00 in Basra for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $157 vs $213 per month, with Al Kazimiyah 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

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

Al Kazimiyah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,098 in Al Kazimiyah and $1,113 in Basra to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $247 in Al Kazimiyah versus $455 in Basra. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Al Kazimiyah – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $25.00 in Basra. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $732 per month in Al Kazimiyah versus $742 in Basra – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $732 in Al Kazimiyah versus $742 in Basra, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al Kazimiyah but tight or insufficient in Basra. The gap between the two cities makes Al Kazimiyah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Al Kazimiyah and Basra are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Al Kazimiyah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Basra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.