Cost of Living Comparison Between As Samawah and Basra Cost of Living Comparison Between As Samawah and Basra

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $895 in As Samawah versus $732 in Basra.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,362 in As Samawah versus $1,351 in Basra.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,828 in As Samawah versus $1,969 in Basra.

Living in As Samawah is roughly 22% more expensive than Basra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: As Samawah 33% lower, Basra 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.25 IQD 6,880

$3.85 IQD 5,037

36.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.58 IQD 47.9K

$24.88 IQD 32.6K

47.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.56 IQD 9,893

$7.03 IQD 9,205

7.54%

Cappuccino

$3.08 IQD 4,032

$2.06 IQD 2,696

49.51%

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

$0.39 IQD 517

$0.44 IQD 574

-11.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 228

$0.32 IQD 413

-46.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.50 IQD 4,585

$3.80 IQD 4,982

-7.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 IQD 3,832

$2.71 IQD 3,551

8.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 IQD 1,770

$1.19 IQD 1,558

13.45%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,027

$0.70 IQD 920

11.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 IQD 2,157

$1.47 IQD 1,927

12.24%

Eggs

$1.63 IQD 2,139

$1.83 IQD 2,401

-10.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.63 IQD 6,061

$7.95 IQD 10.4K

-41.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.99 IQD 6,536

$7.05 IQD 9,238

-29.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.23 IQD 18.6K

$13.29 IQD 17.4K

7.07%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 IQD 1,344

$1.01 IQD 1,325

1.98%

Banana (1kg)

$0.98 IQD 1,280

$1.40 IQD 1,837

-30.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 935

$1.04 IQD 1,363

-31.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 IQD 672

$0.59 IQD 774

-13.56%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 845

$0.69 IQD 900

-7.25%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 889

$0.57 IQD 746

19.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 IQD 449

$0.78 IQD 1,021

-56.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 IQD 806

$0.38 IQD 500

63.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.16 IQD 2,831

$1.88 IQD 2,468

14.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

$13.04 IQD 17.1K

-39.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 IQD 2,317

$2.99 IQD 3,916

-40.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 IQD 2,868

$3.77 IQD 4,934

-41.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 519

$0.37 IQD 481

8.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.96 IQD 40.5K

$22.77 IQD 29.8K

35.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.93 IQD 5,143

$2.33 IQD 3,051

68.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 IQD 1,952

$2.30 IQD 3,017

-35.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.83 IQD 10.3K

$6.83 IQD 8,942

14.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 IQD 746

$0.59 IQD 778

-3.39%

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

$20.2K IQD 26.5M

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

49.78%

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

$20.2K IQD 26.5M

$22.5K IQD 29.5M

-10.21%

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

$175 IQD 228.8K

$57.8 IQD 75.6K

202.42%

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

$25.47 IQD 33.4K

$25.61 IQD 33.5K

-0.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.93 IQD 53.6K

$38.89 IQD 50.9K

5.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.29 IQD 47.5K

$36.10 IQD 47.3K

0.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.89 IQD 22.1K

$15.35 IQD 20.1K

10.03%

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

-0.26%

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

$164 IQD 215.1K

$95.9 IQD 125.6K

71.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,589 IQD 4.7M

$3,881 IQD 5.1M

-7.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.94 IQD 37.9K

$42.37 IQD 55.5K

-31.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.14 IQD 40.8K

$20.39 IQD 26.7K

52.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.0 IQD 83.8K

$71.5 IQD 93.7K

-10.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$44.11 IQD 57.8K

$40.65 IQD 53.2K

8.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$242 IQD 316.6K

$443 IQD 580.2K

-45.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 IQD 229.5K

$136 IQD 177.8K

29.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$579 IQD 758.5K

$929 IQD 1.2M

-37.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$348 IQD 456.2K

$668 IQD 875.3K

-47.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,604 IQD 2.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$780 IQD 1.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$772 IQD 1.0M

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 As Samawah: June 7, 2026

Last update for Basra: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $242 in As Samawah and $443 in Basra. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $37.00 in As Samawah vs $25.00 in Basra. Groceries flip the comparison at $173 vs $211, with As Samawah cheaper for home cooking.

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

As Samawah vs Basra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Basra is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,343 in As Samawah and $1,099 in Basra to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $242 in As Samawah versus $443 in Basra. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Basra runs roughly 36% less than in As Samawah. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $164 in As Samawah versus $95.9 in Basra. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Basra gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Basra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in As Samawah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.