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: $965 in Basra versus $715 in Al Fallujah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,480 in Basra versus $1,059 in Al Fallujah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,995 in Basra versus $1,404 in Al Fallujah.

Living in Basra is roughly 35% more expensive than in Al Fallujah, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Basra 30% lower, Al Fallujah 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.66 IQD 6,109

$4.89 IQD 6,398

-4.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.09 IQD 40.7K

$33.81 IQD 44.3K

-8.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.83 IQD 10.3K

$7.65 IQD 10.0K

2.35%

Cappuccino

$2.67 IQD 3,499

$3.05 IQD 3,994

-12.46%

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

$0.47 IQD 610

$0.40 IQD 518

17.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 IQD 448

$0.24 IQD 314

41.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.81 IQD 4,987

$3.88 IQD 5,080

-1.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.29 IQD 5,619

$3.77 IQD 4,940

13.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 IQD 1,467

$1.03 IQD 1,348

8.74%

White Bread (500g)

$0.65 IQD 851

$0.84 IQD 1,095

-22.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 IQD 1,830

$1.57 IQD 2,050

-10.83%

Eggs

$1.87 IQD 2,448

$1.82 IQD 2,388

2.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.61 IQD 9,963

$3.89 IQD 5,100

95.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.18 IQD 8,094

$4.80 IQD 6,281

28.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.83 IQD 18.1K

$14.31 IQD 18.7K

-3.35%

Apples (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,277

$1.13 IQD 1,473

-14.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 IQD 1,776

$1.06 IQD 1,387

28.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,339

$1.06 IQD 1,387

-3.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 856

$0.74 IQD 972

-12.16%

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 975

$0.71 IQD 930

4.23%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 858

$0.68 IQD 892

-2.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 IQD 1,156

$0.62 IQD 809

41.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 IQD 499

$0.66 IQD 859

-42.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.13 IQD 2,789

$1.78 IQD 2,332

19.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.99 IQD 9,160

$13.47 IQD 17.6K

-48.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 IQD 3,903

$2.22 IQD 2,909

34.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 IQD 4,853

$2.29 IQD 2,994

62.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 720

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.15 IQD 25.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 IQD 2,932

$2.23 IQD 2,922

0.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 IQD 3,056

$1.56 IQD 2,045

49.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.16 IQD 9,383

$7.43 IQD 9,736

-3.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.55 IQD 726

$0.61 IQD 797

-9.84%

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

$13.3K IQD 17.4M

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

-29.56%

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

$22.9K IQD 30.0M

$19.6K IQD 25.6M

17.28%

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

$51.2 IQD 67.1K

$211 IQD 276.8K

-75.77%

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

$25.63 IQD 33.6K

$21.33 IQD 27.9K

20.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.53 IQD 50.5K

$41.87 IQD 54.8K

-7.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.13 IQD 47.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.80 IQD 18.1K

Cinema Ticket

$7.51 IQD 9,837

$10.63 IQD 13.9K

-29.35%

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

$124 IQD 162.5K

$170 IQD 222.5K

-26.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,768 IQD 4.9M

$3,470 IQD 4.5M

8.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.0 IQD 65.5K

$29.30 IQD 38.4K

70.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.42 IQD 26.7K

$37.81 IQD 49.5K

-45.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 IQD 102.8K

$73.9 IQD 96.8K

6.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.85 IQD 54.8K

$48.27 IQD 63.2K

-13.30%

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

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$769 IQD 1.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

4.12

37.62%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Basra: September 8, 2026

Last update for Al Fallujah: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $31.00 in Basra vs $34.00 in Al Fallujah. Groceries flip the comparison at $194 vs $187, 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

Al Fallujah wins on cost – living expenses run 35% lower than in Basra. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Al Fallujah the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,447 in Basra and $1,072 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.

Childcare runs $124 in Basra versus $170 in Al Fallujah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Al Fallujah – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $31.00 in Basra. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $715 in Al Fallujah versus $965 in Basra, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Al Fallujah but tight or insufficient in Basra. The gap between the two cities makes Al Fallujah 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 Al Fallujah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Basra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.