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: $965 in Basra versus $630 in Al Kufah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,480 in Basra versus $1,038 in Al Kufah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,995 in Basra versus $1,446 in Al Kufah.

Living in Basra is roughly 53% more expensive than in Al Kufah, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Basra 30% lower, Al Kufah 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.66 IQD 6,109

$4.83 IQD 6,320

-3.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.09 IQD 40.7K

$34.07 IQD 44.6K

-8.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.83 IQD 10.3K

$7.48 IQD 9,795

4.68%

Cappuccino

$2.67 IQD 3,499

$3.20 IQD 4,191

-16.56%

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

$0.47 IQD 610

$0.36 IQD 474

30.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 IQD 448

$0.24 IQD 312

41.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.81 IQD 4,987

$3.86 IQD 5,055

-1.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.29 IQD 5,619

$3.89 IQD 5,100

10.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 IQD 1,467

$1.03 IQD 1,347

8.74%

White Bread (500g)

$0.65 IQD 851

$0.79 IQD 1,035

-17.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 IQD 1,830

$1.52 IQD 1,993

-7.89%

Eggs

$1.87 IQD 2,448

$1.82 IQD 2,390

2.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.61 IQD 9,963

$2.33 IQD 3,046

226.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.18 IQD 8,094

$4.57 IQD 5,980

35.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.83 IQD 18.1K

$9.29 IQD 12.2K

48.87%

Apples (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,277

$0.75 IQD 976

29.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 IQD 1,776

$1.05 IQD 1,370

29.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,339

$0.61 IQD 801

67.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 856

$0.56 IQD 739

16.07%

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 975

$0.51 IQD 668

45.10%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 858

$0.33 IQD 431

100.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 IQD 1,156

$0.20 IQD 267

340.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 IQD 499

$0.55 IQD 716

-30.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.13 IQD 2,789

$1.59 IQD 2,077

33.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.99 IQD 9,160

$13.80 IQD 18.1K

-49.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 IQD 3,903

$2.22 IQD 2,908

34.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 IQD 4,853

$2.21 IQD 2,893

67.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 720

$0.37 IQD 482

48.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.15 IQD 25.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 IQD 2,932

$2.22 IQD 2,909

0.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 IQD 3,056

$1.55 IQD 2,027

50.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.16 IQD 9,383

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

-6.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.55 IQD 726

$0.58 IQD 762

-5.17%

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

$13.3K IQD 17.4M

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

-31.70%

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

$22.9K IQD 30.0M

$19.6K IQD 25.6M

17.18%

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

$51.2 IQD 67.1K

$218 IQD 285.9K

-76.54%

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

$25.63 IQD 33.6K

$21.02 IQD 27.5K

21.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.53 IQD 50.5K

$22.69 IQD 29.7K

69.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.13 IQD 47.3K

$15.54 IQD 20.3K

132.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.80 IQD 18.1K

Cinema Ticket

$7.51 IQD 9,837

$9.96 IQD 13.0K

-24.60%

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

$124 IQD 162.5K

$72.7 IQD 95.2K

70.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,768 IQD 4.9M

$2,401 IQD 3.1M

56.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.0 IQD 65.5K

$9.86 IQD 12.9K

407.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.42 IQD 26.7K

$29.84 IQD 39.1K

-31.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 IQD 102.8K

$20.17 IQD 26.4K

289.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.85 IQD 54.8K

$34.50 IQD 45.2K

21.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$463 IQD 605.8K

$189 IQD 247.3K

144.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$348 IQD 455.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$843 IQD 1.1M

$250 IQD 327.9K

236.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$632 IQD 827.8K

$204 IQD 266.8K

210.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,566 IQD 2.1M

$1,333 IQD 1.7M

17.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$778 IQD 1.0M

$382 IQD 499.8K

103.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$769 IQD 1.0M

$1,017 IQD 1.3M

-24.42%

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 Kufah: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $463 in Basra and $189 in Al Kufah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Kufah pays 32% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $31.00 in Basra vs $34.00 in Al Kufah. Groceries flip the comparison at $194 vs $157, 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, Getting Around. The 53% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 32% 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: $463 in Basra versus $189 in Al Kufah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 24% higher in Basra. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $965 per month in Basra versus $630 in Al Kufah – a 53% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $630 in Al Kufah versus $965 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 53% less than in Basra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.