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 $957 per month in Basra vs $631 in An Najaf, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,450 per month in Basra vs $969 in An Najaf, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,944 per month in Basra vs $1,308 in An Najaf, rent included.

Basra costs about 52% more than An Najaf, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Basra and An Najaf are more affordable than the global median – Basra 30% lower, An Najaf 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.51 IQD 5,906

$4.48 IQD 5,867

0.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.88 IQD 40.4K

$23.11 IQD 30.3K

33.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.42 IQD 9,712

$5.03 IQD 6,589

47.51%

Cappuccino

$2.55 IQD 3,345

$2.57 IQD 3,360

-0.78%

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

$0.44 IQD 571

$0.39 IQD 514

12.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 IQD 445

$0.26 IQD 342

30.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.90 IQD 5,113

$3.86 IQD 5,061

1.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.12 IQD 5,398

$1.98 IQD 2,587

108.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 IQD 1,462

$1.02 IQD 1,341

9.80%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 917

$0.84 IQD 1,095

-16.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 IQD 1,919

$1.51 IQD 1,976

-2.65%

Eggs

$1.82 IQD 2,380

$1.73 IQD 2,263

5.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.53 IQD 9,861

$3.78 IQD 4,954

99.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.36 IQD 8,333

$4.61 IQD 6,035

37.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.04 IQD 18.4K

$10.37 IQD 13.6K

35.39%

Apples (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,273

$1.17 IQD 1,528

-17.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 IQD 1,776

$1.08 IQD 1,413

25.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,274

$1.02 IQD 1,330

-4.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 856

$0.73 IQD 954

-10.96%

Potato (1kg)

$0.77 IQD 1,013

$0.65 IQD 855

18.46%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 856

$0.70 IQD 920

-7.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 IQD 1,133

$0.62 IQD 816

40.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 IQD 509

$0.49 IQD 645

-20.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 IQD 2,726

$1.62 IQD 2,120

28.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.74 IQD 8,823

$13.83 IQD 18.1K

-51.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.11 IQD 4,073

$2.21 IQD 2,900

40.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 IQD 5,135

$2.21 IQD 2,888

77.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 IQD 784

$0.35 IQD 461

71.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 IQD 24.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 IQD 3,089

$1.52 IQD 1,990

55.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.27 IQD 2,967

$1.55 IQD 2,032

46.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.06 IQD 9,240

$5.43 IQD 7,107

30.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 IQD 783

$0.44 IQD 578

36.36%

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

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

$12.1K IQD 15.9M

11.13%

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

$23.2K IQD 30.4M

$18.1K IQD 23.7M

28.51%

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

$51.4 IQD 67.3K

$38.48 IQD 50.4K

33.65%

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

$25.89 IQD 33.9K

$17.19 IQD 22.5K

50.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.73 IQD 52.0K

$36.50 IQD 47.8K

8.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.24 IQD 47.5K

$29.23 IQD 38.3K

23.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.93 IQD 18.2K

Cinema Ticket

$7.60 IQD 9,955

$9.28 IQD 12.1K

-18.10%

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

$127 IQD 166.6K

$165 IQD 216.6K

-23.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,881 IQD 5.1M

$914 IQD 1.2M

324.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.97 IQD 65.4K

$16.19 IQD 21.2K

208.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.04 IQD 26.2K

$26.49 IQD 34.7K

-24.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.1 IQD 101.0K

$71.4 IQD 93.5K

8.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.43 IQD 54.3K

$46.55 IQD 61.0K

-11.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 IQD 624.8K

$258 IQD 338.1K

84.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 IQD 453.0K

$140 IQD 183.5K

146.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$853 IQD 1.1M

$343 IQD 448.6K

149.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$626 IQD 819.5K

$203 IQD 265.8K

208.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,578 IQD 2.1M

$1,237 IQD 1.6M

27.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$786 IQD 1.0M

$488 IQD 639.3K

61.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$777 IQD 1.0M

$726 IQD 951.3K

6.89%

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 14, 2026

Last update for An Najaf: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Basra versus $258 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 7% 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 $31.00 in Basra versus $23.00 in An Najaf. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $197 vs $172 – 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 52% 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 $1,436 per month in Basra and $946 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 $957 in Basra and $631 in An Najaf. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $127 per month in Basra and $165 in An Najaf. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in An Najaf, where all-in costs run around $631, than in Basra at $957. 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.