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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $630 in Al Kufah versus $965 in Basra.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,038 in Al Kufah versus $1,480 in Basra.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,446 in Al Kufah versus $1,995 in Basra.

Living in Al Kufah costs roughly 35% less than in Basra, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al Kufah 54% lower, Basra 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.83 IQD 6,320

$4.66 IQD 6,109

3.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.07 IQD 44.6K

$31.09 IQD 40.7K

9.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 IQD 9,795

$7.83 IQD 10.3K

-4.47%

Cappuccino

$3.20 IQD 4,191

$2.67 IQD 3,499

19.85%

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

$0.36 IQD 474

$0.47 IQD 610

-23.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 IQD 312

$0.34 IQD 448

-29.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.86 IQD 5,055

$3.81 IQD 4,987

1.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.89 IQD 5,100

$4.29 IQD 5,619

-9.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 IQD 1,347

$1.12 IQD 1,467

-8.04%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,035

$0.65 IQD 851

21.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 IQD 1,993

$1.40 IQD 1,830

8.57%

Eggs

$1.82 IQD 2,390

$1.87 IQD 2,448

-2.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.33 IQD 3,046

$7.61 IQD 9,963

-69.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.57 IQD 5,980

$6.18 IQD 8,094

-26.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.29 IQD 12.2K

$13.83 IQD 18.1K

-32.83%

Apples (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 976

$0.97 IQD 1,277

-22.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 IQD 1,370

$1.36 IQD 1,776

-22.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.61 IQD 801

$1.02 IQD 1,339

-40.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 IQD 739

$0.65 IQD 856

-13.85%

Potato (1kg)

$0.51 IQD 668

$0.74 IQD 975

-31.08%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 IQD 431

$0.66 IQD 858

-50.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.20 IQD 267

$0.88 IQD 1,156

-77.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 716

$0.38 IQD 499

44.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.59 IQD 2,077

$2.13 IQD 2,789

-25.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.80 IQD 18.1K

$6.99 IQD 9,160

97.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 IQD 2,908

$2.98 IQD 3,903

-25.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 IQD 2,893

$3.71 IQD 4,853

-40.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 482

$0.55 IQD 720

-32.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.15 IQD 25.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.22 IQD 2,909

$2.24 IQD 2,932

-0.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 IQD 2,027

$2.33 IQD 3,056

-33.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

$7.16 IQD 9,383

7.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.58 IQD 762

$0.55 IQD 726

5.45%

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

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

$13.3K IQD 17.4M

46.42%

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

$19.6K IQD 25.6M

$22.9K IQD 30.0M

-14.66%

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

$218 IQD 285.9K

$51.2 IQD 67.1K

326.26%

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

$21.02 IQD 27.5K

$25.63 IQD 33.6K

-17.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.69 IQD 29.7K

$38.53 IQD 50.5K

-41.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.54 IQD 20.3K

$36.13 IQD 47.3K

-56.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.80 IQD 18.1K

Cinema Ticket

$9.96 IQD 13.0K

$7.51 IQD 9,837

32.62%

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

$72.7 IQD 95.2K

$124 IQD 162.5K

-41.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,401 IQD 3.1M

$3,768 IQD 4.9M

-36.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.86 IQD 12.9K

$50.0 IQD 65.5K

-80.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.84 IQD 39.1K

$20.42 IQD 26.7K

46.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$20.17 IQD 26.4K

$78.5 IQD 102.8K

-74.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$34.50 IQD 45.2K

$41.85 IQD 54.8K

-17.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$189 IQD 247.3K

$463 IQD 605.8K

-59.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$348 IQD 455.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$250 IQD 327.9K

$843 IQD 1.1M

-70.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$204 IQD 266.8K

$632 IQD 827.8K

-67.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,333 IQD 1.7M

$1,566 IQD 2.1M

-14.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$382 IQD 499.8K

$778 IQD 1.0M

-50.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,017 IQD 1.3M

$769 IQD 1.0M

32.30%

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 Kufah: September 7, 2026

Last update for Basra: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $189 in Al Kufah and $463 in Basra. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Kufah pays 32% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $34.00 in Al Kufah vs $31.00 in Basra. Groceries flip the comparison at $157 vs $194, with Al Kufah cheaper for home cooking.

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 Kufah vs Basra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al Kufah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 53% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 32% higher in Al Kufah, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $189 in Al Kufah versus $463 in Basra. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 24% higher in Basra. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $630 per month in Al Kufah versus $965 in Basra – a 53% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $630 in Al Kufah versus $965 in Basra, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al Kufah but tight or insufficient in Basra. The gap between the two cities makes Al Kufah 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.

Expats usually find Al Kufah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in Basra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.