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 $965 per month in Basra vs $645 in An Nasiriyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,480 per month in Basra vs $885 in An Nasiriyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,995 per month in Basra vs $1,125 in An Nasiriyah, rent included.

Basra costs about 50% more than An Nasiriyah, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Basra and An Nasiriyah are more affordable than the global median – Basra 30% lower, An Nasiriyah 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.66 IQD 6,109

$3.31 IQD 4,336

40.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.09 IQD 40.7K

$12.35 IQD 16.2K

151.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.83 IQD 10.3K

$7.02 IQD 9,194

11.54%

Cappuccino

$2.67 IQD 3,499

$2.66 IQD 3,478

0.38%

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

$0.47 IQD 610

$0.37 IQD 484

27.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 IQD 448

$0.17 IQD 228

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.81 IQD 4,987

$3.90 IQD 5,107

-2.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.29 IQD 5,619

$3.79 IQD 4,963

13.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 IQD 1,467

$0.98 IQD 1,282

14.29%

White Bread (500g)

$0.65 IQD 851

$0.79 IQD 1,029

-17.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 IQD 1,830

$1.04 IQD 1,364

34.62%

Eggs

$1.87 IQD 2,448

$1.82 IQD 2,378

2.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.61 IQD 9,963

$2.93 IQD 3,836

159.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.18 IQD 8,094

$4.51 IQD 5,903

37.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.83 IQD 18.1K

$9.62 IQD 12.6K

43.76%

Apples (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,277

$1.12 IQD 1,469

-13.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 IQD 1,776

$1.08 IQD 1,414

25.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,339

$0.82 IQD 1,068

24.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 856

$0.47 IQD 613

38.30%

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 975

$0.36 IQD 477

105.56%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 858

$0.59 IQD 775

11.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 IQD 1,156

$0.56 IQD 732

57.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 IQD 499

$0.50 IQD 650

-24.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.13 IQD 2,789

$1.48 IQD 1,945

43.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.99 IQD 9,160

$13.76 IQD 18.0K

-49.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 IQD 3,903

$2.16 IQD 2,830

37.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 IQD 4,853

$2.22 IQD 2,901

67.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 IQD 720

$0.28 IQD 361

96.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.15 IQD 25.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 IQD 2,932

$2.35 IQD 3,073

-4.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 IQD 3,056

$1.54 IQD 2,021

51.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.16 IQD 9,383

$2.35 IQD 3,072

204.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.55 IQD 726

$0.61 IQD 798

-9.84%

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

$13.3K IQD 17.4M

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

-31.38%

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

$22.9K IQD 30.0M

$18.7K IQD 24.4M

22.87%

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

$51.2 IQD 67.1K

$216 IQD 283.0K

-76.31%

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

$25.63 IQD 33.6K

$21.76 IQD 28.5K

17.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.53 IQD 50.5K

$42.42 IQD 55.5K

-9.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.13 IQD 47.3K

$18.86 IQD 24.7K

91.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.80 IQD 18.1K

Cinema Ticket

$7.51 IQD 9,837

$10.60 IQD 13.9K

-29.15%

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

$124 IQD 162.5K

$170 IQD 222.4K

-26.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,768 IQD 4.9M

$3,508 IQD 4.6M

7.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.0 IQD 65.5K

$11.35 IQD 14.9K

340.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.42 IQD 26.7K

$37.87 IQD 49.6K

-46.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 IQD 102.8K

$26.51 IQD 34.7K

196.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.85 IQD 54.8K

$38.23 IQD 50.1K

9.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$463 IQD 605.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$348 IQD 455.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$843 IQD 1.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$632 IQD 827.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,566 IQD 2.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$778 IQD 1.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$769 IQD 1.0M

$770 IQD 1.0M

-0.14%

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 An Nasiriyah: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 0% higher in An Nasiriyah, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Basra versus $12.00 in An Nasiriyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $194 vs $160 – 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: $965 in Basra, $645 in An Nasiriyah – roughly 50% apart. Basra costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,447 per month in Basra and $968 in An Nasiriyah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $965 in Basra and $645 in An Nasiriyah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $124 per month in Basra and $170 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 An Nasiriyah, where all-in costs run around $645, than in Basra at $965. In An Nasiriyah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Basra it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward An Nasiriyah – 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 An Nasiriyah. 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.