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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $739 in Basra versus $723 in Al Kazimiyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,368 in Basra versus $1,154 in Al Kazimiyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,996 in Basra versus $1,585 in Al Kazimiyah.

Living in Basra is roughly 2% more expensive than in Al Kazimiyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Basra 45% lower, Al Kazimiyah 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.79 IQD 4,959

$3.94 IQD 5,161

-3.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.30 IQD 33.1K

$24.95 IQD 32.7K

1.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.74 IQD 8,831

$6.91 IQD 9,055

-2.46%

Cappuccino

$2.03 IQD 2,656

$2.55 IQD 3,337

-20.39%

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

$0.47 IQD 612

$0.37 IQD 483

27.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 IQD 452

$0.16 IQD 214

118.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.72 IQD 4,866

$2.99 IQD 3,917

24.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 IQD 3,391

$2.86 IQD 3,741

-9.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 IQD 1,608

$1.37 IQD 1,788

-10.22%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 922

$0.84 IQD 1,100

-16.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.46 IQD 1,906

$1.64 IQD 2,146

-10.98%

Eggs

$1.88 IQD 2,467

$1.80 IQD 2,357

4.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.26 IQD 10.8K

$4.42 IQD 5,790

86.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.93 IQD 9,071

$4.78 IQD 6,259

44.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.13 IQD 17.2K

$13.42 IQD 17.6K

-2.16%

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 IQD 1,370

$1.20 IQD 1,578

-12.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 IQD 1,756

$1.21 IQD 1,585

10.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 IQD 1,316

$1.00 IQD 1,313

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 IQD 774

$0.73 IQD 961

-19.18%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 894

$0.64 IQD 841

6.25%

Onion (1kg)

$0.60 IQD 789

$0.62 IQD 814

-3.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,022

$0.63 IQD 829

23.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 IQD 542

$0.56 IQD 737

-26.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.95 IQD 2,559

$1.88 IQD 2,457

3.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.18 IQD 17.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.02 IQD 3,957

$1.84 IQD 2,416

64.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 IQD 5,139

$2.15 IQD 2,822

82.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 479

$0.40 IQD 518

-7.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.11 IQD 30.3K

$31.10 IQD 40.7K

-25.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.28 IQD 2,992

$2.33 IQD 3,048

-2.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.26 IQD 2,957

$1.53 IQD 2,007

47.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.93 IQD 9,071

$5.96 IQD 7,801

16.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 732

$0.57 IQD 752

-1.75%

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

$13.1K IQD 17.2M

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

-30.17%

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

$22.6K IQD 29.6M

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

13.51%

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

$56.7 IQD 74.2K

$76.3 IQD 99.9K

-25.72%

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

$25.66 IQD 33.6K

$17.47 IQD 22.9K

46.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.60 IQD 50.5K

$34.12 IQD 44.7K

13.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.33 IQD 47.6K

$36.07 IQD 47.2K

0.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.54 IQD 20.4K

$16.91 IQD 22.1K

-8.10%

Cinema Ticket

$7.82 IQD 10.2K

$7.73 IQD 10.1K

1.16%

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

$98.0 IQD 128.3K

$151 IQD 197.3K

-34.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,807 IQD 5.0M

$3,327 IQD 4.4M

14.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.66 IQD 55.9K

$27.55 IQD 36.1K

54.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.58 IQD 27.0K

$25.18 IQD 33.0K

-18.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.1 IQD 91.9K

$62.0 IQD 81.2K

13.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.08 IQD 53.8K

$40.64 IQD 53.2K

1.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$445 IQD 582.7K

$241 IQD 315.8K

84.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 IQD 178.0K

$179 IQD 234.1K

-23.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$908 IQD 1.2M

$580 IQD 759.4K

56.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$650 IQD 851.8K

$348 IQD 456.2K

86.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,605 IQD 2.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$783 IQD 1.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$752 IQD 985.3K

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 Kazimiyah: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $445 in Basra and $241 in Al Kazimiyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $25.00 in Basra vs $25.00 in Al Kazimiyah. Groceries flip the comparison at $212 vs $160, with Al Kazimiyah 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 Kazimiyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al Kazimiyah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,109 in Basra and $1,084 in Al Kazimiyah 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: $445 in Basra versus $241 in Al Kazimiyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Al Kazimiyah – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $25.00 in Basra. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $739 per month in Basra versus $723 in Al Kazimiyah – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $723 in Al Kazimiyah versus $739 in Basra, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al Kazimiyah but tight or insufficient in Basra. The gap between the two cities makes Al Kazimiyah 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.

Safety-wise, Basra and Al Kazimiyah are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Al Kazimiyah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Basra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.