Cost of Living Comparison Between An Najaf and Basra Cost of Living Comparison Between An Najaf and Basra

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $680 per month in An Najaf vs $728 in Basra, rent included.

A couple spends around $999 per month in An Najaf vs $1,366 in Basra, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,319 per month in An Najaf vs $2,003 in Basra, rent included.

An Najaf is about 7% cheaper than Basra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both An Najaf and Basra are more affordable than the global median – An Najaf 49% lower, Basra 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.00 IQD 5,232

$3.80 IQD 4,974

5.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.74 IQD 29.8K

$24.38 IQD 31.9K

-6.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.71 IQD 6,173

$7.09 IQD 9,289

-33.57%

Cappuccino

$2.76 IQD 3,617

$2.04 IQD 2,675

35.29%

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

$0.36 IQD 478

$0.47 IQD 609

-23.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 268

$0.35 IQD 454

-42.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.45 IQD 4,521

$3.85 IQD 5,038

-10.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 IQD 3,828

$2.58 IQD 3,382

13.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,732

$1.18 IQD 1,551

11.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 IQD 1,077

$0.70 IQD 917

17.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 IQD 2,153

$1.42 IQD 1,857

15.49%

Eggs

$1.74 IQD 2,276

$1.85 IQD 2,428

-5.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.37 IQD 3,110

$8.27 IQD 10.8K

-71.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.99 IQD 6,536

$6.97 IQD 9,131

-28.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.52 IQD 13.8K

$13.33 IQD 17.5K

-21.08%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,605

$1.06 IQD 1,382

16.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.20 IQD 1,573

$1.36 IQD 1,776

-11.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,388

$1.04 IQD 1,363

1.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 962

$0.59 IQD 769

23.73%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 855

$0.67 IQD 872

-2.99%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 883

$0.56 IQD 737

19.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 IQD 846

$0.80 IQD 1,044

-18.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 IQD 514

$0.42 IQD 548

-7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.51 IQD 1,983

$1.89 IQD 2,479

-20.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.38 IQD 17.5K

$12.87 IQD 16.8K

3.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,338

$3.15 IQD 4,125

-43.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 IQD 2,733

$3.94 IQD 5,155

-46.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 475

$0.39 IQD 511

-7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$33.79 IQD 44.3K

$22.72 IQD 29.7K

48.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 IQD 2,561

$2.31 IQD 3,025

-15.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 IQD 1,999

$2.31 IQD 3,028

-33.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.12 IQD 6,706

$6.80 IQD 8,900

-24.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 IQD 619

$0.58 IQD 766

-18.97%

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

$11.3K IQD 14.8M

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

-16.39%

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

$20.2K IQD 26.5M

$23.1K IQD 30.3M

-12.67%

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

$60.1 IQD 78.7K

$56.6 IQD 74.1K

6.31%

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

$23.36 IQD 30.6K

$25.64 IQD 33.6K

-8.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.30 IQD 44.9K

$37.70 IQD 49.4K

-9.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.48 IQD 38.6K

$36.14 IQD 47.3K

-18.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.89 IQD 19.5K

$15.55 IQD 20.4K

-4.24%

Cinema Ticket

$7.43 IQD 9,726

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

-3.63%

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

$169 IQD 221.0K

$95.4 IQD 124.9K

76.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$929 IQD 1.2M

$3,754 IQD 4.9M

-75.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.63 IQD 21.8K

$41.53 IQD 54.4K

-59.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.08 IQD 32.8K

$20.02 IQD 26.2K

25.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.7 IQD 84.7K

$71.7 IQD 93.8K

-9.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.02 IQD 56.3K

$41.57 IQD 54.4K

3.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$238 IQD 311.3K

$453 IQD 593.2K

-47.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$135 IQD 176.3K

$132 IQD 172.4K

2.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$378 IQD 495.3K

$902 IQD 1.2M

-58.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$156 IQD 204.3K

$655 IQD 857.9K

-76.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,242 IQD 1.6M

$1,567 IQD 2.1M

-20.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$495 IQD 648.3K

$795 IQD 1.0M

-37.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$734 IQD 961.5K

$761 IQD 996.3K

-3.49%

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 An Najaf: July 27, 2026

Last update for Basra: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $238 in An Najaf versus $453 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 4% 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 $23.00 in An Najaf versus $24.00 in Basra. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $170 vs $213 – making An Najaf 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

An Najaf vs Basra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Basra costs about 7% more than An Najaf, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,019 per month in An Najaf and $1,092 in Basra. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $680 in An Najaf and $728 in Basra. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 49% less in An Najaf. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in An Najaf, where all-in costs run around $680, than in Basra at $728. In An Najaf it covers expenses comfortably, while in Basra it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with An Najaf. 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.