😐A single person spends $792 per month in An Nasiriyah vs $742 in Basra, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,150 per month in An Nasiriyah vs $1,351 in Basra, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,508 per month in An Nasiriyah vs $1,960 in Basra, rent included.
😐An Nasiriyah costs about 7% more than Basra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both An Nasiriyah and Basra are more affordable than the global median – An Nasiriyah41% lower, Basra45% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
An Nasiriyah
Basra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.21IQD 4,199
$3.81IQD 4,990
-15.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.44IQD 16.3K
$24.77IQD 32.4K
-49.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.77IQD 8,869
$7.02IQD 9,193
-3.56%
Cappuccino
$2.73IQD 3,576
$2.06IQD 2,695
32.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37IQD 478
$0.44IQD 572
-15.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17IQD 228
$0.35IQD 452
-51.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.45IQD 4,521
$3.86IQD 5,061
-10.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91IQD 3,812
$2.70IQD 3,532
7.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
An Nasiriyah
Basra
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.86IQD 1,123
$1.23IQD 1,607
-30.08%
White Bread(500g)
$0.77IQD 1,014
$0.70IQD 919
10.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39IQD 1,826
$1.41IQD 1,850
-1.42%
Eggs
$1.66IQD 2,176
$1.92IQD 2,512
-13.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.16IQD 4,138
$8.05IQD 10.5K
-60.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.84IQD 5,029
$7.22IQD 9,457
-46.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.78IQD 11.5K
$13.20IQD 17.3K
-33.48%
Apples(1kg)
$1.28IQD 1,671
$1.01IQD 1,321
26.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.20IQD 1,568
$1.42IQD 1,858
-15.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.81IQD 1,055
$1.02IQD 1,331
-20.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.40IQD 526
$0.63IQD 820
-36.51%
Potato(1kg)
$0.41IQD 536
$0.71IQD 932
-42.25%
Onion(1kg)
$0.51IQD 669
$0.57IQD 744
-10.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.52IQD 676
$0.83IQD 1,085
-37.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43IQD 565
$0.41IQD 541
4.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.53IQD 2,001
$1.88IQD 2,458
-18.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.56IQD 17.8K
$12.76IQD 16.7K
6.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77IQD 2,318
$2.97IQD 3,892
-40.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08IQD 2,724
$3.78IQD 4,947
-44.97%
🚌 Getting Around
An Nasiriyah
Basra
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.23IQD 302
$0.39IQD 516
-41.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.81IQD 40.4K
$23.21IQD 30.4K
32.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.28IQD 2,980
$2.31IQD 3,028
-1.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.54IQD 2,020
$2.21IQD 2,891
-30.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.05IQD 3,989
$6.76IQD 8,847
-54.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.54IQD 707
$0.58IQD 762
-6.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.0KIQD 26.1M
$13.3KIQD 17.4M
50.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.3KIQD 20.0M
$23.2KIQD 30.4M
-34.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
An Nasiriyah
Basra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$175IQD 228.9K
$56.6IQD 74.1K
208.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.39IQD 34.6K
$25.19IQD 33.0K
4.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.42IQD 52.9K
$38.41IQD 50.3K
5.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
An Nasiriyah
Basra
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.82IQD 24.6K
$37.07IQD 48.5K
-49.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.73IQD 21.9K
$15.48IQD 20.3K
8.07%
Cinema Ticket
$7.66IQD 10.0K
$7.75IQD 10.2K
-1.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
An Nasiriyah
Basra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$168IQD 220.1K
$97.0IQD 127.0K
73.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,534IQD 4.6M
$3,772IQD 4.9M
-6.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
An Nasiriyah
Basra
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.66IQD 15.3K
$41.85IQD 54.8K
-72.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.08IQD 39.4K
$20.30IQD 26.6K
48.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$26.92IQD 35.3K
$72.9IQD 95.4K
-63.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.21IQD 50.0K
$40.68IQD 53.3K
-6.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
An Nasiriyah
Basra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$247IQD 323.6K
$455IQD 595.7K
-45.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$179IQD 234.2K
$133IQD 174.1K
34.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$577IQD 756.0K
$918IQD 1.2M
-37.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$341IQD 447.0K
$671IQD 878.0K
-49.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,581IQD 2.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$800IQD 1.0M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
An Nasiriyah
Basra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$776IQD 1.0M
$763IQD 998.7K
1.76%
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Basra: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $247 in An Nasiriyah versus $455 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 2% 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: $152 vs $213 – 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 Basra compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $792 in An Nasiriyah, $742 in Basra – roughly 7% 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 $1,189 per month in An Nasiriyah and $1,113 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 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 $168 per month in An Nasiriyah and $97.0 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 $742, than in An Nasiriyah at $792. 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.
An Nasiriyah vs other spots: cost of living compared