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 $645 per month in An Nasiriyah vs $965 in Basra, rent included.

A couple spends around $885 per month in An Nasiriyah vs $1,480 in Basra, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,125 per month in An Nasiriyah vs $1,995 in Basra, rent included.

An Nasiriyah is about 33% cheaper than Basra, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both An Nasiriyah and Basra are more affordable than the global median – An Nasiriyah 53% lower, Basra 30% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
An Nasiriyah
Basra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.31 IQD 4,336
$4.66 IQD 6,109
-28.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.35 IQD 16.2K
$31.09 IQD 40.7K
-60.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.02 IQD 9,194
$7.83 IQD 10.3K
-10.34%
Cappuccino
$2.66 IQD 3,478
$2.67 IQD 3,499
-0.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 IQD 484
$0.47 IQD 610
-21.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17 IQD 228
$0.34 IQD 448
-50.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.90 IQD 5,107
$3.81 IQD 4,987
2.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 IQD 4,963
$4.29 IQD 5,619
-11.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
An Nasiriyah
Basra
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.98 IQD 1,282
$1.12 IQD 1,467
-12.50%
White Bread (500g)
$0.79 IQD 1,029
$0.65 IQD 851
21.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.04 IQD 1,364
$1.40 IQD 1,830
-25.71%
Eggs
$1.82 IQD 2,378
$1.87 IQD 2,448
-2.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.93 IQD 3,836
$7.61 IQD 9,963
-61.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.51 IQD 5,903
$6.18 IQD 8,094
-27.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.62 IQD 12.6K
$13.83 IQD 18.1K
-30.44%
Apples (1kg)
$1.12 IQD 1,469
$0.97 IQD 1,277
15.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 IQD 1,414
$1.36 IQD 1,776
-20.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.82 IQD 1,068
$1.02 IQD 1,339
-19.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.47 IQD 613
$0.65 IQD 856
-27.69%
Potato (1kg)
$0.36 IQD 477
$0.74 IQD 975
-51.35%
Onion (1kg)
$0.59 IQD 775
$0.66 IQD 858
-10.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.56 IQD 732
$0.88 IQD 1,156
-36.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 IQD 650
$0.38 IQD 499
31.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.48 IQD 1,945
$2.13 IQD 2,789
-30.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.76 IQD 18.0K
$6.99 IQD 9,160
96.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.16 IQD 2,830
$2.98 IQD 3,903
-27.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 IQD 2,901
$3.71 IQD 4,853
-40.16%
🚌 Getting Around
An Nasiriyah
Basra
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.28 IQD 361
$0.55 IQD 720
-49.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$19.15 IQD 25.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.35 IQD 3,073
$2.24 IQD 2,932
4.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.54 IQD 2,021
$2.33 IQD 3,056
-33.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.35 IQD 3,072
$7.16 IQD 9,383
-67.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.61 IQD 798
$0.55 IQD 726
10.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.3K IQD 25.3M
$13.3K IQD 17.4M
45.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.7K IQD 24.4M
$22.9K IQD 30.0M
-18.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
An Nasiriyah
Basra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$216 IQD 283.0K
$51.2 IQD 67.1K
322.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.76 IQD 28.5K
$25.63 IQD 33.6K
-15.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.42 IQD 55.5K
$38.53 IQD 50.5K
10.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
An Nasiriyah
Basra
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.86 IQD 24.7K
$36.13 IQD 47.3K
-47.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.80 IQD 18.1K
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.60 IQD 13.9K
$7.51 IQD 9,837
41.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
An Nasiriyah
Basra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$170 IQD 222.4K
$124 IQD 162.5K
36.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,508 IQD 4.6M
$3,768 IQD 4.9M
-6.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
An Nasiriyah
Basra
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.35 IQD 14.9K
$50.0 IQD 65.5K
-77.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.87 IQD 49.6K
$20.42 IQD 26.7K
85.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$26.51 IQD 34.7K
$78.5 IQD 102.8K
-66.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.23 IQD 50.1K
$41.85 IQD 54.8K
-8.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
An Nasiriyah
Basra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$463 IQD 605.8K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$348 IQD 455.2K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$843 IQD 1.1M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$632 IQD 827.8K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,566 IQD 2.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$778 IQD 1.0M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
An Nasiriyah
Basra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$770 IQD 1.0M
$769 IQD 1.0M
0.14%
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 An Nasiriyah: September 7, 2026

Last update for Basra: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 0% higher in An Nasiriyah, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in An Nasiriyah versus $31.00 in Basra. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $160 vs $194 – 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: $645 in An Nasiriyah, $965 in Basra – roughly 50% apart. Basra costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in An Nasiriyah compared to Basra?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $968 per month in An Nasiriyah and $1,447 in Basra. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city is more expensive overall: An Nasiriyah or Basra?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $645 in An Nasiriyah and $965 in Basra. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between An Nasiriyah and Basra?
Kindergarten costs $170 per month in An Nasiriyah and $124 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 An Nasiriyah, where all-in costs run around $645, than in Basra at $965. In An Nasiriyah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Basra it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: An Nasiriyah or Basra?
Families tend to lean toward An Nasiriyah – 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 An Nasiriyah. 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.

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