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 $965 per month in Basra vs $802 in Al Hillah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,480 per month in Basra vs $1,239 in Al Hillah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,995 per month in Basra vs $1,677 in Al Hillah, rent included.

Basra costs about 20% more than Al Hillah, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Basra and Al Hillah are more affordable than the global median – Basra 30% lower, Al Hillah 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.66 IQD 6,109

$4.76 IQD 6,238

-2.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.09 IQD 40.7K

$30.94 IQD 40.5K

0.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.83 IQD 10.3K

$6.22 IQD 8,147

25.88%

Cappuccino

$2.67 IQD 3,499

$3.04 IQD 3,984

-12.17%

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

$0.47 IQD 610

$0.36 IQD 477

30.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 IQD 448

$0.20 IQD 261

70.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.81 IQD 4,987

$2.89 IQD 3,780

31.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.29 IQD 5,619

$3.93 IQD 5,145

9.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 IQD 1,467

$1.07 IQD 1,407

4.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.65 IQD 851

$0.74 IQD 970

-12.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 IQD 1,830

$1.57 IQD 2,062

-10.83%

Eggs

$1.87 IQD 2,448

$1.86 IQD 2,434

0.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.61 IQD 9,963

$3.97 IQD 5,201

91.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.18 IQD 8,094

$4.82 IQD 6,316

28.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.83 IQD 18.1K

$14.51 IQD 19.0K

-4.69%

Apples (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,277

$1.13 IQD 1,486

-14.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 IQD 1,776

$1.12 IQD 1,466

21.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,339

$1.05 IQD 1,380

-2.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 856

$0.79 IQD 1,031

-17.72%

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 975

$0.71 IQD 934

4.23%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 858

$0.64 IQD 839

3.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 IQD 1,156

$0.56 IQD 732

57.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 IQD 499

$0.55 IQD 720

-30.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.13 IQD 2,789

$1.76 IQD 2,306

21.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.99 IQD 9,160

$13.44 IQD 17.6K

-47.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 IQD 3,903

$2.13 IQD 2,793

39.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 IQD 4,853

$2.27 IQD 2,968

63.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 720

$0.40 IQD 521

37.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.15 IQD 25.1K

$65.7 IQD 86.0K

-70.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 IQD 2,932

$2.31 IQD 3,025

-3.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 IQD 3,056

$1.54 IQD 2,021

51.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.16 IQD 9,383

$3.39 IQD 4,439

111.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.55 IQD 726

$0.54 IQD 710

1.85%

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

$13.3K IQD 17.4M

$17.4K IQD 22.8M

-23.97%

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

$22.9K IQD 30.0M

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

20.61%

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

$51.2 IQD 67.1K

$76.8 IQD 100.6K

-33.32%

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

$25.63 IQD 33.6K

$15.23 IQD 19.9K

68.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.53 IQD 50.5K

$37.47 IQD 49.1K

2.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.13 IQD 47.3K

$22.76 IQD 29.8K

58.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.80 IQD 18.1K

$19.21 IQD 25.2K

-28.16%

Cinema Ticket

$7.51 IQD 9,837

$7.79 IQD 10.2K

-3.59%

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

$124 IQD 162.5K

$95.1 IQD 124.5K

30.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,768 IQD 4.9M

$776 IQD 1.0M

385.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.0 IQD 65.5K

$21.89 IQD 28.7K

128.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.42 IQD 26.7K

$24.96 IQD 32.7K

-18.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 IQD 102.8K

$67.9 IQD 88.8K

15.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.85 IQD 54.8K

$46.44 IQD 60.8K

-9.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$463 IQD 605.8K

$283 IQD 371.0K

63.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$348 IQD 455.2K

$179 IQD 234.3K

94.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$843 IQD 1.1M

$493 IQD 645.0K

71.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$632 IQD 827.8K

$290 IQD 379.3K

118.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,566 IQD 2.1M

$1,725 IQD 2.3M

-9.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$778 IQD 1.0M

$562 IQD 735.6K

38.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$769 IQD 1.0M

$509 IQD 666.8K

50.95%

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 Hillah: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $463 in Basra versus $283 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 51% higher in Basra, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Basra versus $31.00 in Al Hillah. Groceries tell a different story – $194 in Basra vs $186 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 – Basra is pricier by about 20%, 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 $1,447 per month in Basra and $1,203 in Al Hillah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Al Hillah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 243% less in Al Hillah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $124 per month in Basra and $95.1 in Al Hillah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al Hillah, where all-in costs run around $802, than in Basra at $965. In Al Hillah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Basra it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Al Hillah – 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 Al Hillah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Basra makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.