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 $739 per month in Basra vs $810 in Al Hillah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,368 per month in Basra vs $1,264 in Al Hillah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,996 per month in Basra vs $1,718 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

$3.79 IQD 4,959

$5.45 IQD 7,132

-30.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.30 IQD 33.1K

$31.09 IQD 40.7K

-18.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.74 IQD 8,831

$6.12 IQD 8,019

10.13%

Cappuccino

$2.03 IQD 2,656

$3.06 IQD 4,005

-33.66%

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

$0.47 IQD 612

$0.40 IQD 518

17.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 IQD 452

$0.18 IQD 242

94.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.72 IQD 4,866

$2.93 IQD 3,833

26.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 IQD 3,391

$2.90 IQD 3,793

-10.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 IQD 1,608

$1.37 IQD 1,800

-10.22%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 922

$0.74 IQD 963

-5.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.46 IQD 1,906

$1.65 IQD 2,156

-11.52%

Eggs

$1.88 IQD 2,467

$1.80 IQD 2,359

4.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.26 IQD 10.8K

$4.49 IQD 5,874

83.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.93 IQD 9,071

$4.80 IQD 6,290

44.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.13 IQD 17.2K

$14.01 IQD 18.3K

-6.28%

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 IQD 1,370

$1.23 IQD 1,607

-14.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 IQD 1,756

$1.19 IQD 1,564

12.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 IQD 1,316

$1.04 IQD 1,368

-3.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 IQD 774

$0.69 IQD 899

-14.49%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 894

$0.66 IQD 863

3.03%

Onion (1kg)

$0.60 IQD 789

$0.63 IQD 820

-4.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,022

$0.59 IQD 778

32.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 IQD 542

$0.55 IQD 721

-25.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.95 IQD 2,559

$1.90 IQD 2,485

2.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.18 IQD 17.3K

$13.82 IQD 18.1K

-4.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.02 IQD 3,957

$1.84 IQD 2,415

64.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 IQD 5,139

$2.17 IQD 2,840

80.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 479

$0.40 IQD 520

-7.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.11 IQD 30.3K

$65.4 IQD 85.6K

-64.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.28 IQD 2,992

$2.36 IQD 3,092

-3.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.26 IQD 2,957

$1.55 IQD 2,031

45.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.93 IQD 9,071

$3.37 IQD 4,414

105.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 732

$0.54 IQD 703

3.70%

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

$13.1K IQD 17.2M

$17.4K IQD 22.8M

-24.59%

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

$22.6K IQD 29.6M

$20.3K IQD 26.5M

11.57%

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

$56.7 IQD 74.2K

$75.8 IQD 99.3K

-25.25%

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

$25.66 IQD 33.6K

$15.12 IQD 19.8K

69.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.60 IQD 50.5K

$39.00 IQD 51.1K

-1.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.33 IQD 47.6K

$23.41 IQD 30.7K

55.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.54 IQD 20.4K

$19.19 IQD 25.1K

-19.02%

Cinema Ticket

$7.82 IQD 10.2K

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

0.64%

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

$98.0 IQD 128.3K

$95.6 IQD 125.2K

2.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,807 IQD 5.0M

$779 IQD 1.0M

388.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.66 IQD 55.9K

$27.22 IQD 35.6K

56.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.58 IQD 27.0K

$27.73 IQD 36.3K

-25.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.1 IQD 91.9K

$61.6 IQD 80.7K

13.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.08 IQD 53.8K

$43.71 IQD 57.2K

-6.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$445 IQD 582.7K

$364 IQD 476.8K

22.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 IQD 178.0K

$196 IQD 256.8K

-30.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$908 IQD 1.2M

$667 IQD 874.0K

36.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$650 IQD 851.8K

$313 IQD 410.0K

107.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,605 IQD 2.1M

$1,746 IQD 2.3M

-8.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$783 IQD 1.0M

$545 IQD 713.5K

43.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$752 IQD 985.3K

$517 IQD 677.5K

45.41%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Al Hillah: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $445 in Basra versus $364 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 45% 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 – $212 in Basra vs $189 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 $1,109 per month in Basra and $1,215 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 183% less in Basra. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $98.0 per month in Basra and $95.6 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 $739, than in Al Hillah at $810. 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.