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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $820 per month in An Nasiriyah vs $739 in Basra, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,150 per month in An Nasiriyah vs $1,368 in Basra, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,479 per month in An Nasiriyah vs $1,996 in Basra, rent included.

An Nasiriyah costs about 11% more than Basra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
An Nasiriyah
Basra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.32 IQD 4,354
$3.79 IQD 4,959
-12.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.34 IQD 16.2K
$25.30 IQD 33.1K
-51.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.94 IQD 9,083
$6.74 IQD 8,831
2.97%
Cappuccino
$2.74 IQD 3,589
$2.03 IQD 2,656
34.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 IQD 476
$0.47 IQD 612
-23.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18 IQD 241
$0.35 IQD 452
-48.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.46 IQD 4,531
$3.72 IQD 4,866
-6.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 IQD 3,688
$2.59 IQD 3,391
8.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
An Nasiriyah
Basra
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.92 IQD 1,210
$1.23 IQD 1,608
-25.20%
White Bread (500g)
$0.85 IQD 1,110
$0.70 IQD 922
21.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.43 IQD 1,876
$1.46 IQD 1,906
-2.05%
Eggs
$1.69 IQD 2,217
$1.88 IQD 2,467
-10.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.35 IQD 4,382
$8.26 IQD 10.8K
-59.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.84 IQD 5,035
$6.93 IQD 9,071
-44.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.91 IQD 11.7K
$13.13 IQD 17.2K
-32.14%
Apples (1kg)
$1.23 IQD 1,614
$1.05 IQD 1,370
17.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.15 IQD 1,511
$1.34 IQD 1,756
-14.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.81 IQD 1,056
$1.00 IQD 1,316
-19.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.40 IQD 525
$0.59 IQD 774
-32.20%
Potato (1kg)
$0.38 IQD 493
$0.68 IQD 894
-44.12%
Onion (1kg)
$0.51 IQD 670
$0.60 IQD 789
-15.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.55 IQD 716
$0.78 IQD 1,022
-29.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40 IQD 523
$0.41 IQD 542
-2.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.55 IQD 2,031
$1.95 IQD 2,559
-20.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.56 IQD 17.8K
$13.18 IQD 17.3K
2.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 IQD 2,434
$3.02 IQD 3,957
-38.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 IQD 2,852
$3.92 IQD 5,139
-44.39%
🚌 Getting Around
An Nasiriyah
Basra
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.21 IQD 274
$0.37 IQD 479
-43.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.65 IQD 40.1K
$23.11 IQD 30.3K
32.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.36 IQD 3,084
$2.28 IQD 2,992
3.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.54 IQD 2,021
$2.26 IQD 2,957
-31.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.05 IQD 3,990
$6.93 IQD 9,071
-55.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.57 IQD 740
$0.56 IQD 732
1.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8K IQD 26.0M
$13.1K IQD 17.2M
50.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.9K IQD 19.6M
$22.6K IQD 29.6M
-33.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
An Nasiriyah
Basra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 IQD 231.9K
$56.7 IQD 74.2K
212.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.57 IQD 33.5K
$25.66 IQD 33.6K
-0.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.66 IQD 53.2K
$38.60 IQD 50.5K
5.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
An Nasiriyah
Basra
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.83 IQD 24.7K
$36.33 IQD 47.6K
-48.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.50 IQD 21.6K
$15.54 IQD 20.4K
6.18%
Cinema Ticket
$7.55 IQD 9,888
$7.82 IQD 10.2K
-3.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
An Nasiriyah
Basra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$167 IQD 219.0K
$98.0 IQD 128.3K
70.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,521 IQD 4.6M
$3,807 IQD 5.0M
-7.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
An Nasiriyah
Basra
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.58 IQD 15.2K
$42.66 IQD 55.9K
-72.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.13 IQD 40.8K
$20.58 IQD 27.0K
51.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$27.29 IQD 35.7K
$70.1 IQD 91.9K
-61.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.94 IQD 51.0K
$41.08 IQD 53.8K
-5.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
An Nasiriyah
Basra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$241 IQD 315.4K
$445 IQD 582.7K
-45.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$177 IQD 231.9K
$136 IQD 178.0K
30.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$583 IQD 763.6K
$908 IQD 1.2M
-35.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$338 IQD 442.9K
$650 IQD 851.8K
-48.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,605 IQD 2.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$783 IQD 1.0M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
An Nasiriyah
Basra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$764 IQD 1.0M
$752 IQD 985.3K
1.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.67
5.67
-

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for An Nasiriyah: July 12, 2026

Last update for Basra: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $241 in An Nasiriyah versus $445 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 1% higher in An Nasiriyah, 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 $12.00 in An Nasiriyah versus $25.00 in Basra. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $154 vs $212 – making An Nasiriyah 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 Nasiriyah vs Basra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in An Nasiriyah and in Basra compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $820 in An Nasiriyah, $739 in Basra – roughly 11% apart. An Nasiriyah costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in An Nasiriyah compared to Basra?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,230 per month in An Nasiriyah and $1,109 in Basra. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between An Nasiriyah and Basra?
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.
How do commuting costs compare in An Nasiriyah and in Basra?
Public transport costs about 33% less in Basra. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between An Nasiriyah and Basra?
Kindergarten costs $167 per month in An Nasiriyah and $98.0 in Basra. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Basra, where all-in costs run around $739, than in An Nasiriyah at $820. In Basra it covers expenses comfortably, while in An Nasiriyah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: An Nasiriyah or Basra?
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.
How do I decide between An Nasiriyah and Basra?
If budget matters most, go with Basra. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, An Nasiriyah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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