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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $739 in Basra versus $677 in Al Kufah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,368 in Basra versus $1,056 in Al Kufah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,996 in Basra versus $1,434 in Al Kufah.

Living in Basra is roughly 9% more expensive than in Al Kufah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Basra 45% lower, Al Kufah 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.79 IQD 4,959

$5.24 IQD 6,865

-27.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.30 IQD 33.1K

$36.37 IQD 47.6K

-30.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.74 IQD 8,831

$7.74 IQD 10.1K

-12.92%

Cappuccino

$2.03 IQD 2,656

$2.99 IQD 3,919

-32.11%

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

$0.47 IQD 612

$0.39 IQD 515

20.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 IQD 452

$0.21 IQD 276

66.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.72 IQD 4,866

$3.47 IQD 4,539

7.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 IQD 3,391

$2.95 IQD 3,858

-12.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 IQD 1,608

$1.08 IQD 1,416

13.89%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 922

$0.61 IQD 801

14.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.46 IQD 1,906

$1.57 IQD 2,058

-7.01%

Eggs

$1.88 IQD 2,467

$1.73 IQD 2,262

8.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.26 IQD 10.8K

$2.24 IQD 2,932

268.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.93 IQD 9,071

$2.93 IQD 3,836

136.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.13 IQD 17.2K

$9.66 IQD 12.6K

35.92%

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 IQD 1,370

$0.52 IQD 674

101.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 IQD 1,756

$0.97 IQD 1,267

38.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 IQD 1,316

$0.73 IQD 952

36.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 IQD 774

$0.49 IQD 645

20.41%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 894

$0.38 IQD 495

78.95%

Onion (1kg)

$0.60 IQD 789

$0.31 IQD 402

93.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,022

$0.68 IQD 890

14.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 IQD 542

$0.45 IQD 587

-8.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.95 IQD 2,559

$1.95 IQD 2,555

Wine (Bottle)

$13.18 IQD 17.3K

$13.76 IQD 18.0K

-4.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.02 IQD 3,957

$1.80 IQD 2,355

67.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 IQD 5,139

$2.09 IQD 2,733

87.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 479

$0.35 IQD 454

5.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.11 IQD 30.3K

$30.86 IQD 40.4K

-25.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.28 IQD 2,992

$2.32 IQD 3,036

-1.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.26 IQD 2,957

$1.53 IQD 2,005

47.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.93 IQD 9,071

$7.75 IQD 10.1K

-10.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 732

$0.54 IQD 704

3.70%

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

$13.1K IQD 17.2M

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

-34.17%

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

$22.6K IQD 29.6M

$20.2K IQD 26.4M

12.04%

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

$56.7 IQD 74.2K

$39.68 IQD 52.0K

42.84%

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

$25.66 IQD 33.6K

$25.46 IQD 33.3K

0.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.60 IQD 50.5K

$22.60 IQD 29.6K

70.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.33 IQD 47.6K

$25.81 IQD 33.8K

40.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.54 IQD 20.4K

$16.52 IQD 21.6K

-5.93%

Cinema Ticket

$7.82 IQD 10.2K

$7.46 IQD 9,765

4.83%

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

$98.0 IQD 128.3K

$86.1 IQD 112.8K

13.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,807 IQD 5.0M

$2,377 IQD 3.1M

60.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.66 IQD 55.9K

$20.91 IQD 27.4K

104.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.58 IQD 27.0K

$29.43 IQD 38.5K

-30.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.1 IQD 91.9K

$19.98 IQD 26.2K

251.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.08 IQD 53.8K

$27.57 IQD 36.1K

49.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$445 IQD 582.7K

$213 IQD 279.0K

108.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 IQD 178.0K

$181 IQD 237.0K

-24.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$908 IQD 1.2M

$427 IQD 558.5K

112.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$650 IQD 851.8K

$296 IQD 387.1K

120.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,605 IQD 2.1M

$1,335 IQD 1.7M

20.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$783 IQD 1.0M

$380 IQD 497.8K

106.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$752 IQD 985.3K

$1,014 IQD 1.3M

-25.81%

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 Kufah: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $445 in Basra and $213 in Al Kufah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Kufah pays 35% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $25.00 in Basra vs $36.00 in Al Kufah. Groceries flip the comparison at $212 vs $145, with Al Kufah 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 Kufah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al Kufah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 35% lower in Al Kufah. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $445 in Basra versus $213 in Al Kufah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Al Kufah – a meal for two runs $36.00 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 $677 in Al Kufah – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $677 in Al Kufah versus $739 in Basra, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al Kufah but tight or insufficient in Basra. The gap between the two cities makes Al Kufah 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.

Expats usually find Al Kufah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Basra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.