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: $742 in Basra versus $732 in Al Kazimiyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Basra versus $1,160 in Al Kazimiyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,960 in Basra versus $1,589 in Al Kazimiyah.

Living in Basra is roughly 1% more expensive than Al Kazimiyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.81 IQD 4,990

$3.99 IQD 5,226

-4.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.77 IQD 32.4K

$24.69 IQD 32.3K

0.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.02 IQD 9,193

$6.81 IQD 8,912

3.08%

Cappuccino

$2.06 IQD 2,695

$2.64 IQD 3,455

-21.97%

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

$0.44 IQD 572

$0.37 IQD 483

18.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 IQD 452

$0.21 IQD 280

66.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.86 IQD 5,061

$2.89 IQD 3,779

33.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 IQD 3,532

$2.81 IQD 3,683

-3.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 IQD 1,607

$1.33 IQD 1,741

-7.52%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 919

$0.78 IQD 1,015

-10.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 IQD 1,850

$1.58 IQD 2,064

-10.76%

Eggs

$1.92 IQD 2,512

$1.72 IQD 2,258

11.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.05 IQD 10.5K

$4.48 IQD 5,860

79.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.22 IQD 9,457

$4.64 IQD 6,082

55.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.20 IQD 17.3K

$13.08 IQD 17.1K

0.92%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,321

$1.15 IQD 1,510

-12.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 IQD 1,858

$1.15 IQD 1,505

23.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,331

$1.05 IQD 1,380

-2.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 820

$0.75 IQD 979

-16.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 932

$0.68 IQD 892

4.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 IQD 744

$0.67 IQD 875

-14.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 IQD 1,085

$0.68 IQD 884

22.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 IQD 541

$0.55 IQD 720

-25.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.88 IQD 2,458

$1.88 IQD 2,460

Wine (Bottle)

$12.76 IQD 16.7K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.97 IQD 3,892

$1.86 IQD 2,438

59.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 IQD 4,947

$2.07 IQD 2,714

82.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 516

$0.40 IQD 518

-2.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.21 IQD 30.4K

$31.41 IQD 41.1K

-26.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.31 IQD 3,028

$2.34 IQD 3,069

-1.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.21 IQD 2,891

$1.50 IQD 1,960

47.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.76 IQD 8,847

$5.86 IQD 7,678

15.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.58 IQD 762

$0.54 IQD 704

7.41%

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

$13.3K IQD 17.4M

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

-29.25%

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

$23.2K IQD 30.4M

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

17.52%

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

$56.6 IQD 74.1K

$76.2 IQD 99.8K

-25.78%

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

$25.19 IQD 33.0K

$17.58 IQD 23.0K

43.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.41 IQD 50.3K

$34.07 IQD 44.6K

12.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.07 IQD 48.5K

$37.20 IQD 48.7K

-0.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.48 IQD 20.3K

$16.68 IQD 21.8K

-7.19%

Cinema Ticket

$7.75 IQD 10.2K

$7.56 IQD 9,905

2.51%

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

$97.0 IQD 127.0K

$152 IQD 199.3K

-36.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,772 IQD 4.9M

$3,248 IQD 4.3M

16.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.85 IQD 54.8K

$26.60 IQD 34.8K

57.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.30 IQD 26.6K

$25.38 IQD 33.2K

-20.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 IQD 95.4K

$60.1 IQD 78.7K

21.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.68 IQD 53.3K

$41.64 IQD 54.5K

-2.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 IQD 595.7K

$247 IQD 322.9K

84.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$133 IQD 174.1K

$177 IQD 232.4K

-25.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$918 IQD 1.2M

$572 IQD 748.4K

60.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$671 IQD 878.0K

$350 IQD 458.5K

91.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,581 IQD 2.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$800 IQD 1.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$763 IQD 998.7K

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 Kazimiyah: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $455 in Basra and $247 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 $213 vs $157, 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 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,113 in Basra and $1,098 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: $455 in Basra versus $247 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 $742 per month in Basra versus $732 in Al Kazimiyah – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $732 in Al Kazimiyah versus $742 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 1% less than in Basra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.