😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $886 in As Samawah versus $728 in Basra.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,349 in As Samawah versus $1,340 in Basra.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,813 in As Samawah versus $1,953 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 Samawah34% lower, Basra46% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
As Samawah
Basra
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.37IQD 7,038
$3.72IQD 4,877
44.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.74IQD 46.8K
$24.46IQD 32.0K
46.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.63IQD 10.0K
$7.02IQD 9,196
8.69%
Cappuccino
$3.00IQD 3,925
$2.10IQD 2,753
42.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39IQD 513
$0.46IQD 609
-15.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17IQD 216
$0.34IQD 449
-50.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.51IQD 4,594
$3.76IQD 4,927
-6.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91IQD 3,816
$2.71IQD 3,553
7.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
As Samawah
Basra
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.31IQD 1,719
$1.23IQD 1,615
6.50%
White Bread(500g)
$0.82IQD 1,080
$0.70IQD 919
17.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63IQD 2,136
$1.42IQD 1,854
14.79%
Eggs
$1.61IQD 2,110
$1.89IQD 2,475
-14.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39IQD 5,746
$7.93IQD 10.4K
-44.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.06IQD 6,625
$7.21IQD 9,442
-29.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.83IQD 18.1K
$12.95IQD 17.0K
6.80%
Apples(1kg)
$1.02IQD 1,333
$1.01IQD 1,317
0.99%
Banana(1kg)
$0.99IQD 1,294
$1.42IQD 1,857
-30.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.69IQD 903
$1.04IQD 1,364
-33.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.49IQD 639
$0.62IQD 814
-20.97%
Potato(1kg)
$0.66IQD 862
$0.67IQD 879
-1.49%
Onion(1kg)
$0.63IQD 822
$0.62IQD 807
1.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.32IQD 418
$0.78IQD 1,021
-58.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67IQD 878
$0.42IQD 545
59.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.11IQD 2,765
$1.95IQD 2,551
8.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.59IQD 9,945
$12.85IQD 16.8K
-40.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84IQD 2,413
$3.12IQD 4,091
-41.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18IQD 2,858
$3.92IQD 5,136
-44.39%
🚌 Getting Around
As Samawah
Basra
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.40IQD 521
$0.37IQD 482
8.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.26IQD 40.9K
$23.25IQD 30.5K
34.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.73IQD 4,885
$2.35IQD 3,083
58.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.54IQD 2,019
$2.31IQD 3,033
-33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.69IQD 10.1K
$6.97IQD 9,134
10.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.54IQD 704
$0.56IQD 733
-3.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.0KIQD 26.2M
$13.3KIQD 17.4M
50.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1KIQD 26.3M
$22.9KIQD 30.0M
-12.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
As Samawah
Basra
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$176IQD 230.0K
$57.6IQD 75.5K
204.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.49IQD 33.4K
$25.62IQD 33.6K
-0.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.86IQD 53.5K
$37.76IQD 49.5K
8.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
As Samawah
Basra
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.44IQD 49.0K
$37.25IQD 48.8K
0.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.54IQD 21.7K
$15.13IQD 19.8K
9.32%
Cinema Ticket
$7.82IQD 10.2K
$7.78IQD 10.2K
0.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
As Samawah
Basra
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$166IQD 217.7K
$97.7IQD 128.0K
70.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,567IQD 4.7M
$3,869IQD 5.1M
-7.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
As Samawah
Basra
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.20IQD 36.9K
$42.39IQD 55.5K
-33.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.03IQD 40.6K
$20.70IQD 27.1K
49.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$65.3IQD 85.5K
$71.8IQD 94.1K
-9.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$43.89IQD 57.5K
$41.04IQD 53.8K
6.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
As Samawah
Basra
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$243IQD 318.0K
$448IQD 587.4K
-45.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$176IQD 230.2K
$136IQD 177.8K
29.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$576IQD 755.1K
$917IQD 1.2M
-37.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$347IQD 455.0K
$676IQD 885.2K
-48.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,608IQD 2.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$777IQD 1.0M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
As Samawah
Basra
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$767IQD 1.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.67
5.67
-
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para As Samawah: April 25, 2026
Última actualización para Basra: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $243 in As Samawah and $448 in Basra. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $36.00 in As Samawah vs $24.00 in Basra. Groceries flip the comparison at $172 vs $213, with As Samawah cheaper for home cooking.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
As Samawah vs Basra: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Basra cheaper than As Samawah?
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.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,329 in As Samawah and $1,092 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.
What is the rent difference between As Samawah and Basra?
Rent for a central apartment: $243 in As Samawah versus $448 in Basra. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Basra runs roughly 34% less than in As Samawah. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $166 in As Samawah versus $97.7 in Basra. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,200 enough for either As Samawah or Basra?
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.
Is it better to live in As Samawah or Basra?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
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.
As Samawah vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado