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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $739 per month in Basra vs $820 in An Nasiriyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,368 per month in Basra vs $1,150 in An Nasiriyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,996 per month in Basra vs $1,479 in An Nasiriyah, rent included.

Basra is about 10% cheaper than An Nasiriyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Basra and An Nasiriyah are more affordable than the global median – Basra 45% lower, An Nasiriyah 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.79 IQD 4,959

$3.32 IQD 4,354

14.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.30 IQD 33.1K

$12.34 IQD 16.2K

105.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.74 IQD 8,831

$6.94 IQD 9,083

-2.88%

Cappuccino

$2.03 IQD 2,656

$2.74 IQD 3,589

-25.91%

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

$0.47 IQD 612

$0.36 IQD 476

30.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 IQD 452

$0.18 IQD 241

94.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.72 IQD 4,866

$3.46 IQD 4,531

7.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 IQD 3,391

$2.82 IQD 3,688

-8.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 IQD 1,608

$0.92 IQD 1,210

33.70%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 922

$0.85 IQD 1,110

-17.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.46 IQD 1,906

$1.43 IQD 1,876

2.10%

Eggs

$1.88 IQD 2,467

$1.69 IQD 2,217

11.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.26 IQD 10.8K

$3.35 IQD 4,382

146.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.93 IQD 9,071

$3.84 IQD 5,035

80.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.13 IQD 17.2K

$8.91 IQD 11.7K

47.36%

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 IQD 1,370

$1.23 IQD 1,614

-14.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 IQD 1,756

$1.15 IQD 1,511

16.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 IQD 1,316

$0.81 IQD 1,056

23.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 IQD 774

$0.40 IQD 525

47.50%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 894

$0.38 IQD 493

78.95%

Onion (1kg)

$0.60 IQD 789

$0.51 IQD 670

17.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,022

$0.55 IQD 716

41.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 IQD 542

$0.40 IQD 523

2.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.95 IQD 2,559

$1.55 IQD 2,031

25.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.18 IQD 17.3K

$13.56 IQD 17.8K

-2.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.02 IQD 3,957

$1.86 IQD 2,434

62.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 IQD 5,139

$2.18 IQD 2,852

79.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 479

$0.21 IQD 274

76.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.11 IQD 30.3K

$30.65 IQD 40.1K

-24.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.28 IQD 2,992

$2.36 IQD 3,084

-3.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.26 IQD 2,957

$1.54 IQD 2,021

46.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.93 IQD 9,071

$3.05 IQD 3,990

127.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 732

$0.57 IQD 740

-1.75%

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

$13.1K IQD 17.2M

$19.8K IQD 26.0M

-33.72%

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

$22.6K IQD 29.6M

$14.9K IQD 19.6M

51.49%

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

$56.7 IQD 74.2K

$177 IQD 231.9K

-68.00%

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

$25.66 IQD 33.6K

$25.57 IQD 33.5K

0.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.60 IQD 50.5K

$40.66 IQD 53.2K

-5.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.33 IQD 47.6K

$18.83 IQD 24.7K

92.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.54 IQD 20.4K

$16.50 IQD 21.6K

-5.82%

Cinema Ticket

$7.82 IQD 10.2K

$7.55 IQD 9,888

3.58%

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

$98.0 IQD 128.3K

$167 IQD 219.0K

-41.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,807 IQD 5.0M

$3,521 IQD 4.6M

8.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.66 IQD 55.9K

$11.58 IQD 15.2K

268.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.58 IQD 27.0K

$31.13 IQD 40.8K

-33.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.1 IQD 91.9K

$27.29 IQD 35.7K

157.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.08 IQD 53.8K

$38.94 IQD 51.0K

5.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$445 IQD 582.7K

$241 IQD 315.4K

84.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 IQD 178.0K

$177 IQD 231.9K

-23.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$908 IQD 1.2M

$583 IQD 763.6K

55.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$650 IQD 851.8K

$338 IQD 442.9K

92.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,605 IQD 2.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$783 IQD 1.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$752 IQD 985.3K

$764 IQD 1.0M

-1.47%

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 An Nasiriyah: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $445 in Basra versus $241 in An Nasiriyah. 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 1% higher in An Nasiriyah, 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 $12.00 in An Nasiriyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $212 vs $154 – making An Nasiriyah 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 Nasiriyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $739 in Basra, $820 in An Nasiriyah – roughly 11% apart. An Nasiriyah costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,109 per month in Basra and $1,230 in An Nasiriyah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 33% less in Basra. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $98.0 per month in Basra and $167 in An Nasiriyah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Basra, where all-in costs run around $739, than in An Nasiriyah at $820. In Basra it covers expenses comfortably, while in An Nasiriyah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

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