Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and An Najaf Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and An Najaf

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $732 per month in Basra vs $677 in An Najaf, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Basra vs $997 in An Najaf, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,969 per month in Basra vs $1,317 in An Najaf, rent included.

Basra costs about 8% more than An Najaf, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Basra and An Najaf are more affordable than the global median – Basra 45% lower, An Najaf 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.85 IQD 5,037

$4.01 IQD 5,251

-3.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.88 IQD 32.6K

$23.23 IQD 30.4K

7.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.03 IQD 9,205

$4.82 IQD 6,311

45.85%

Cappuccino

$2.06 IQD 2,696

$2.67 IQD 3,500

-22.85%

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

$0.44 IQD 574

$0.36 IQD 476

22.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 IQD 413

$0.18 IQD 233

77.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.80 IQD 4,982

$3.41 IQD 4,462

11.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 IQD 3,551

$2.93 IQD 3,840

-7.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 IQD 1,558

$1.38 IQD 1,804

-13.77%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 920

$0.78 IQD 1,021

-10.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 IQD 1,927

$1.57 IQD 2,058

-6.37%

Eggs

$1.83 IQD 2,401

$1.72 IQD 2,258

6.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.95 IQD 10.4K

$2.38 IQD 3,121

234.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.05 IQD 9,238

$4.80 IQD 6,281

46.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.29 IQD 17.4K

$10.53 IQD 13.8K

26.21%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,325

$1.27 IQD 1,658

-20.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 IQD 1,837

$1.16 IQD 1,513

20.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,363

$1.06 IQD 1,387

-1.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 IQD 774

$0.74 IQD 963

-20.27%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 900

$0.69 IQD 905

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 IQD 746

$0.68 IQD 889

-16.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,021

$0.62 IQD 806

25.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 IQD 500

$0.37 IQD 479

2.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.88 IQD 2,468

$1.49 IQD 1,951

26.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.04 IQD 17.1K

$13.65 IQD 17.9K

-4.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 IQD 3,916

$1.84 IQD 2,404

62.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.77 IQD 4,934

$2.08 IQD 2,719

81.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 481

$0.40 IQD 522

-7.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.77 IQD 29.8K

$34.74 IQD 45.5K

-34.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,051

$1.92 IQD 2,515

21.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.30 IQD 3,017

$1.48 IQD 1,939

55.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.83 IQD 8,942

$4.89 IQD 6,398

39.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 IQD 778

$0.48 IQD 632

22.92%

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

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

$11.6K IQD 15.2M

16.40%

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

$22.5K IQD 29.5M

$19.6K IQD 25.7M

14.77%

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

$57.8 IQD 75.6K

$59.8 IQD 78.3K

-3.33%

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

$25.61 IQD 33.5K

$22.94 IQD 30.0K

11.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.89 IQD 50.9K

$34.50 IQD 45.2K

12.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.10 IQD 47.3K

$29.33 IQD 38.4K

23.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.35 IQD 20.1K

$15.05 IQD 19.7K

1.99%

Cinema Ticket

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

$7.67 IQD 10.0K

0.52%

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

$95.9 IQD 125.6K

$165 IQD 216.6K

-42.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,881 IQD 5.1M

$917 IQD 1.2M

323.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.37 IQD 55.5K

$16.27 IQD 21.3K

160.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.39 IQD 26.7K

$25.45 IQD 33.3K

-19.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.5 IQD 93.7K

$64.7 IQD 84.8K

10.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.65 IQD 53.2K

$42.71 IQD 55.9K

-4.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$443 IQD 580.2K

$238 IQD 311.7K

86.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 IQD 177.8K

$132 IQD 173.4K

2.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$929 IQD 1.2M

$383 IQD 501.1K

142.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 IQD 875.3K

$151 IQD 198.2K

341.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,604 IQD 2.1M

$1,276 IQD 1.7M

25.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$780 IQD 1.0M

$480 IQD 628.7K

62.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$772 IQD 1.0M

$752 IQD 984.2K

2.77%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for An Najaf: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $443 in Basra versus $238 in An Najaf. 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 3% higher in Basra, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Basra versus $23.00 in An Najaf. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $211 vs $170 – making An Najaf the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 An Najaf: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Basra costs about 8% more than An Najaf, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,099 per month in Basra and $1,016 in An Najaf. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in An Najaf, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $732 in Basra and $677 in An Najaf. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 53% less in An Najaf. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $732 in Basra and $677 in An Najaf, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward An Najaf – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with An Najaf. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Basra makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.