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: $723 in Al Kazimiyah versus $739 in Basra.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,154 in Al Kazimiyah versus $1,368 in Basra.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,585 in Al Kazimiyah versus $1,996 in Basra.

Living in Al Kazimiyah costs roughly 2% less than in Basra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al Kazimiyah 46% lower, Basra 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.94 IQD 5,161

$3.79 IQD 4,959

3.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.95 IQD 32.7K

$25.30 IQD 33.1K

-1.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.91 IQD 9,055

$6.74 IQD 8,831

2.52%

Cappuccino

$2.55 IQD 3,337

$2.03 IQD 2,656

25.62%

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

$0.37 IQD 483

$0.47 IQD 612

-21.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 IQD 214

$0.35 IQD 452

-54.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 IQD 3,917

$3.72 IQD 4,866

-19.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 IQD 3,741

$2.59 IQD 3,391

10.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 IQD 1,788

$1.23 IQD 1,608

11.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 IQD 1,100

$0.70 IQD 922

20.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 IQD 2,146

$1.46 IQD 1,906

12.33%

Eggs

$1.80 IQD 2,357

$1.88 IQD 2,467

-4.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.42 IQD 5,790

$8.26 IQD 10.8K

-46.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.78 IQD 6,259

$6.93 IQD 9,071

-31.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.42 IQD 17.6K

$13.13 IQD 17.2K

2.21%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 IQD 1,578

$1.05 IQD 1,370

14.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 IQD 1,585

$1.34 IQD 1,756

-9.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 IQD 1,313

$1.00 IQD 1,316

Tomato (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 961

$0.59 IQD 774

23.73%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 841

$0.68 IQD 894

-5.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 814

$0.60 IQD 789

3.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 829

$0.78 IQD 1,022

-19.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 737

$0.41 IQD 542

36.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.88 IQD 2,457

$1.95 IQD 2,559

-3.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.18 IQD 17.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 IQD 2,416

$3.02 IQD 3,957

-39.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,822

$3.92 IQD 5,139

-45.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 518

$0.37 IQD 479

8.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.10 IQD 40.7K

$23.11 IQD 30.3K

34.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,048

$2.28 IQD 2,992

2.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 IQD 2,007

$2.26 IQD 2,957

-32.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.96 IQD 7,801

$6.93 IQD 9,071

-14.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 IQD 752

$0.56 IQD 732

1.79%

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

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

$13.1K IQD 17.2M

43.22%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

$22.6K IQD 29.6M

-11.90%

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

$76.3 IQD 99.9K

$56.7 IQD 74.2K

34.63%

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

$17.47 IQD 22.9K

$25.66 IQD 33.6K

-31.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.12 IQD 44.7K

$38.60 IQD 50.5K

-11.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.07 IQD 47.2K

$36.33 IQD 47.6K

-0.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.91 IQD 22.1K

$15.54 IQD 20.4K

8.82%

Cinema Ticket

$7.73 IQD 10.1K

$7.82 IQD 10.2K

-1.15%

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

$151 IQD 197.3K

$98.0 IQD 128.3K

53.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,327 IQD 4.4M

$3,807 IQD 5.0M

-12.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.55 IQD 36.1K

$42.66 IQD 55.9K

-35.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.18 IQD 33.0K

$20.58 IQD 27.0K

22.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.0 IQD 81.2K

$70.1 IQD 91.9K

-11.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.64 IQD 53.2K

$41.08 IQD 53.8K

-1.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$241 IQD 315.8K

$445 IQD 582.7K

-45.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 IQD 234.1K

$136 IQD 178.0K

31.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$580 IQD 759.4K

$908 IQD 1.2M

-36.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$348 IQD 456.2K

$650 IQD 851.8K

-46.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,605 IQD 2.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$783 IQD 1.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$752 IQD 985.3K

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Basra: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $241 in Al Kazimiyah and $445 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 $160 vs $212 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,084 in Al Kazimiyah and $1,109 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: $241 in Al Kazimiyah versus $445 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 $723 per month in Al Kazimiyah versus $739 in Basra – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $723 in Al Kazimiyah versus $739 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 2% less than in Basra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.