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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $742 per month in Basra vs $819 in Al Hillah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Basra vs $1,263 in Al Hillah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,960 per month in Basra vs $1,708 in Al Hillah, rent included.

Basra is about 9% cheaper than Al Hillah, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Basra and Al Hillah are more affordable than the global median – Basra 45% lower, Al Hillah 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.81 IQD 4,990

$5.28 IQD 6,917

-27.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.77 IQD 32.4K

$30.53 IQD 40.0K

-18.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.02 IQD 9,193

$6.00 IQD 7,851

17.00%

Cappuccino

$2.06 IQD 2,695

$3.11 IQD 4,073

-33.76%

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

$0.44 IQD 572

$0.40 IQD 518

10.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 IQD 452

$0.20 IQD 265

75.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.86 IQD 5,061

$2.97 IQD 3,896

29.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 IQD 3,532

$2.83 IQD 3,706

-4.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 IQD 1,607

$1.31 IQD 1,713

-6.11%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 919

$0.74 IQD 967

-5.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 IQD 1,850

$1.64 IQD 2,151

-14.02%

Eggs

$1.92 IQD 2,512

$1.74 IQD 2,280

10.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.05 IQD 10.5K

$4.38 IQD 5,733

83.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.22 IQD 9,457

$5.06 IQD 6,623

42.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.20 IQD 17.3K

$13.96 IQD 18.3K

-5.44%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,321

$1.28 IQD 1,673

-21.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 IQD 1,858

$1.16 IQD 1,516

22.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,331

$1.06 IQD 1,385

-3.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 820

$0.70 IQD 920

-10.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 932

$0.66 IQD 862

7.58%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 IQD 744

$0.68 IQD 890

-16.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 IQD 1,085

$0.55 IQD 720

50.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 IQD 541

$0.55 IQD 722

-25.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.88 IQD 2,458

$1.95 IQD 2,552

-3.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.76 IQD 16.7K

$13.56 IQD 17.8K

-5.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.97 IQD 3,892

$1.76 IQD 2,300

68.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 IQD 4,947

$2.19 IQD 2,863

72.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 516

$0.40 IQD 522

-2.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.21 IQD 30.4K

$63.8 IQD 83.6K

-63.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.31 IQD 3,028

$2.26 IQD 2,957

2.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.21 IQD 2,891

$1.54 IQD 2,016

43.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.76 IQD 8,847

$3.33 IQD 4,358

103.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.58 IQD 762

$0.53 IQD 689

9.43%

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

$13.3K IQD 17.4M

$17.0K IQD 22.2M

-21.89%

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

$23.2K IQD 30.4M

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

15.70%

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

$56.6 IQD 74.1K

$76.0 IQD 99.6K

-25.58%

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

$25.19 IQD 33.0K

$15.24 IQD 20.0K

65.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.41 IQD 50.3K

$37.99 IQD 49.8K

1.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.07 IQD 48.5K

$23.35 IQD 30.6K

58.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.48 IQD 20.3K

$19.37 IQD 25.4K

-20.08%

Cinema Ticket

$7.75 IQD 10.2K

$7.55 IQD 9,883

2.65%

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

$97.0 IQD 127.0K

$96.5 IQD 126.4K

0.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,772 IQD 4.9M

$754 IQD 986.7K

400.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.85 IQD 54.8K

$27.29 IQD 35.7K

53.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.30 IQD 26.6K

$27.83 IQD 36.4K

-27.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 IQD 95.4K

$61.2 IQD 80.1K

19.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.68 IQD 53.3K

$43.90 IQD 57.5K

-7.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 IQD 595.7K

$378 IQD 494.8K

20.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$133 IQD 174.1K

$191 IQD 249.6K

-30.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$918 IQD 1.2M

$662 IQD 867.5K

38.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$671 IQD 878.0K

$322 IQD 422.1K

108.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,581 IQD 2.1M

$1,702 IQD 2.2M

-7.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$800 IQD 1.0M

$562 IQD 736.0K

42.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$763 IQD 998.7K

$515 IQD 674.7K

48.02%

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 Hillah: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $455 in Basra versus $378 in Al Hillah. 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 48% higher in Basra, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Basra versus $31.00 in Al Hillah. Groceries tell a different story – $213 in Basra vs $188 in Al Hillah – so Al Hillah wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Hillah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Al Hillah is pricier by about 10%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,113 per month in Basra and $1,228 in Al Hillah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Public transport costs about 175% less in Basra. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $97.0 per month in Basra and $96.5 in Al Hillah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Basra, where all-in costs run around $742, than in Al Hillah at $819. In Basra it covers expenses comfortably, while in Al Hillah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Basra. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Al Hillah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.