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 $728 per month in Basra vs $680 in An Najaf, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,366 per month in Basra vs $999 in An Najaf, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,003 per month in Basra vs $1,319 in An Najaf, rent included.

Basra costs about 7% 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 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.80 IQD 4,974

$4.00 IQD 5,232

-5.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.38 IQD 31.9K

$22.74 IQD 29.8K

7.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 IQD 9,289

$4.71 IQD 6,173

50.53%

Cappuccino

$2.04 IQD 2,675

$2.76 IQD 3,617

-26.09%

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

$0.47 IQD 609

$0.36 IQD 478

30.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 IQD 454

$0.20 IQD 268

75.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.85 IQD 5,038

$3.45 IQD 4,521

11.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 IQD 3,382

$2.92 IQD 3,828

-11.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 IQD 1,551

$1.32 IQD 1,732

-10.61%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 917

$0.82 IQD 1,077

-14.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 IQD 1,857

$1.64 IQD 2,153

-13.41%

Eggs

$1.85 IQD 2,428

$1.74 IQD 2,276

6.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.27 IQD 10.8K

$2.37 IQD 3,110

248.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.97 IQD 9,131

$4.99 IQD 6,536

39.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.33 IQD 17.5K

$10.52 IQD 13.8K

26.71%

Apples (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,382

$1.23 IQD 1,605

-13.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 IQD 1,776

$1.20 IQD 1,573

13.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,363

$1.06 IQD 1,388

-1.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 IQD 769

$0.73 IQD 962

-19.18%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 872

$0.65 IQD 855

3.08%

Onion (1kg)

$0.56 IQD 737

$0.67 IQD 883

-16.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 IQD 1,044

$0.65 IQD 846

23.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 IQD 548

$0.39 IQD 514

7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.89 IQD 2,479

$1.51 IQD 1,983

25.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.87 IQD 16.8K

$13.38 IQD 17.5K

-3.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.15 IQD 4,125

$1.79 IQD 2,338

75.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 IQD 5,155

$2.09 IQD 2,733

88.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 511

$0.36 IQD 475

8.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.72 IQD 29.7K

$33.79 IQD 44.3K

-32.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.31 IQD 3,025

$1.96 IQD 2,561

17.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.31 IQD 3,028

$1.53 IQD 1,999

50.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.80 IQD 8,900

$5.12 IQD 6,706

32.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.58 IQD 766

$0.47 IQD 619

23.40%

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

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

$11.3K IQD 14.8M

19.61%

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

$23.1K IQD 30.3M

$20.2K IQD 26.5M

14.51%

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

$56.6 IQD 74.1K

$60.1 IQD 78.7K

-5.94%

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

$25.64 IQD 33.6K

$23.36 IQD 30.6K

9.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.70 IQD 49.4K

$34.30 IQD 44.9K

9.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.14 IQD 47.3K

$29.48 IQD 38.6K

22.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.55 IQD 20.4K

$14.89 IQD 19.5K

4.43%

Cinema Ticket

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

$7.43 IQD 9,726

3.77%

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

$95.4 IQD 124.9K

$169 IQD 221.0K

-43.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,754 IQD 4.9M

$929 IQD 1.2M

304.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.53 IQD 54.4K

$16.63 IQD 21.8K

149.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.02 IQD 26.2K

$25.08 IQD 32.8K

-20.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.7 IQD 93.8K

$64.7 IQD 84.7K

10.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.57 IQD 54.4K

$43.02 IQD 56.3K

-3.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$453 IQD 593.2K

$238 IQD 311.3K

90.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$132 IQD 172.4K

$135 IQD 176.3K

-2.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$902 IQD 1.2M

$378 IQD 495.3K

138.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$655 IQD 857.9K

$156 IQD 204.3K

320.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,567 IQD 2.1M

$1,242 IQD 1.6M

26.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$795 IQD 1.0M

$495 IQD 648.3K

60.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$761 IQD 996.3K

$734 IQD 961.5K

3.62%

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 26, 2026

Last update for An Najaf: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $453 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 4% 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 $24.00 in Basra versus $23.00 in An Najaf. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $213 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 7% 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 $1,092 per month in Basra and $1,019 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 $728 in Basra and $680 in An Najaf. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 49% less in An Najaf. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in An Najaf, where all-in costs run around $680, than in Basra at $728. In An Najaf it covers expenses comfortably, while in Basra it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.