Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and Al Fallujah Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and Al Fallujah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $742 in Basra versus $903 in Al Fallujah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Basra versus $1,395 in Al Fallujah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,960 in Basra versus $1,888 in Al Fallujah.

Living in Basra costs roughly 18% less than in Al Fallujah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Basra 45% lower, Al Fallujah 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.81 IQD 4,990

$5.20 IQD 6,811

-26.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.77 IQD 32.4K

$36.76 IQD 48.1K

-32.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.02 IQD 9,193

$7.84 IQD 10.3K

-10.46%

Cappuccino

$2.06 IQD 2,695

$3.06 IQD 4,002

-32.68%

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

$0.44 IQD 572

$0.37 IQD 479

18.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 IQD 452

$0.21 IQD 280

66.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.86 IQD 5,061

$3.54 IQD 4,639

9.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 IQD 3,532

$2.78 IQD 3,647

-2.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 IQD 1,607

$1.35 IQD 1,770

-8.89%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 919

$0.79 IQD 1,028

-11.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 IQD 1,850

$1.58 IQD 2,066

-10.76%

Eggs

$1.92 IQD 2,512

$1.72 IQD 2,247

11.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.05 IQD 10.5K

$4.44 IQD 5,818

81.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.22 IQD 9,457

$5.00 IQD 6,553

44.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.20 IQD 17.3K

$14.16 IQD 18.5K

-6.78%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,321

$1.27 IQD 1,667

-20.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 IQD 1,858

$1.17 IQD 1,529

21.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,331

$1.01 IQD 1,317

0.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 820

$0.71 IQD 929

-11.27%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 932

$0.69 IQD 901

2.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 IQD 744

$0.63 IQD 826

-9.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 IQD 1,085

$0.63 IQD 828

31.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 IQD 541

$0.62 IQD 816

-33.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.88 IQD 2,458

$2.08 IQD 2,730

-9.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.76 IQD 16.7K

$13.42 IQD 17.6K

-4.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.97 IQD 3,892

$1.78 IQD 2,329

66.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 IQD 4,947

$2.11 IQD 2,769

79.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 516

$0.39 IQD 517

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.21 IQD 30.4K

$30.68 IQD 40.2K

-24.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.31 IQD 3,028

$3.88 IQD 5,084

-40.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.21 IQD 2,891

$1.49 IQD 1,947

48.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.76 IQD 8,847

$7.64 IQD 10.0K

-11.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.58 IQD 762

$0.56 IQD 737

3.57%

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

$13.3K IQD 17.4M

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

-34.78%

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

$23.2K IQD 30.4M

$19.6K IQD 25.7M

18.47%

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

$56.6 IQD 74.1K

$177 IQD 232.0K

-68.06%

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

$25.19 IQD 33.0K

$25.63 IQD 33.6K

-1.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.41 IQD 50.3K

$40.43 IQD 52.9K

-5.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.07 IQD 48.5K

$36.60 IQD 47.9K

1.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.48 IQD 20.3K

$16.55 IQD 21.7K

-6.47%

Cinema Ticket

$7.75 IQD 10.2K

$7.52 IQD 9,850

3.06%

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

$97.0 IQD 127.0K

$168 IQD 220.6K

-42.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,772 IQD 4.9M

$3,601 IQD 4.7M

4.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.85 IQD 54.8K

$28.94 IQD 37.9K

44.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.30 IQD 26.6K

$30.14 IQD 39.5K

-32.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 IQD 95.4K

$65.1 IQD 85.3K

11.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.68 IQD 53.3K

$43.19 IQD 56.6K

-5.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 IQD 595.7K

$246 IQD 322.2K

84.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$133 IQD 174.1K

$177 IQD 231.5K

-24.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$918 IQD 1.2M

$588 IQD 769.6K

56.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$671 IQD 878.0K

$348 IQD 455.9K

92.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,581 IQD 2.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$800 IQD 1.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$763 IQD 998.7K

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 Basra: May 31, 2026

Last update for Al Fallujah: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $455 in Basra and $246 in Al Fallujah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $25.00 in Basra vs $37.00 in Al Fallujah. Groceries flip the comparison at $213 vs $190, with Al Fallujah 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

Basra vs Al Fallujah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Basra wins on cost – living expenses run 22% lower than in Al Fallujah. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Basra the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,113 in Basra and $1,355 in Al Fallujah 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: $455 in Basra versus $246 in Al Fallujah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $97.0 in Basra versus $168 in Al Fallujah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Shoppers in Al Fallujah pay roughly 12% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

At $742 in Basra versus $903 in Al Fallujah, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Basra but tight or insufficient in Al Fallujah. The gap between the two cities makes Basra the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 Al Fallujah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.