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 $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 Nasiriyah 41% lower, Basra 45% lower.

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

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