Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and As Samawah Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and As Samawah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $957 in Basra versus $675 in As Samawah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,450 in Basra versus $969 in As Samawah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,944 in Basra versus $1,263 in As Samawah.

Living in Basra is roughly 42% more expensive than in As Samawah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Basra 30% lower, As Samawah 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.51 IQD 5,906

$4.84 IQD 6,341

-6.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.88 IQD 40.4K

$34.74 IQD 45.5K

-11.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.42 IQD 9,712

$7.56 IQD 9,900

-1.85%

Cappuccino

$2.55 IQD 3,345

$3.08 IQD 4,036

-17.21%

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

$0.44 IQD 571

$0.40 IQD 522

10.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 IQD 445

$0.19 IQD 254

78.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.90 IQD 5,113

$3.72 IQD 4,877

4.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.12 IQD 5,398

$3.73 IQD 4,883

10.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 IQD 1,462

$1.08 IQD 1,409

3.70%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 917

$0.77 IQD 1,013

-9.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 IQD 1,919

$1.51 IQD 1,978

-2.65%

Eggs

$1.82 IQD 2,380

$1.75 IQD 2,298

4.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.53 IQD 9,861

$1.51 IQD 1,976

398.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.36 IQD 8,334

$4.83 IQD 6,320

31.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.04 IQD 18.4K

$13.91 IQD 18.2K

0.93%

Apples (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,273

$1.09 IQD 1,431

-11.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 IQD 1,776

$1.08 IQD 1,418

25.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,274

$0.94 IQD 1,236

3.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 856

$0.42 IQD 548

54.76%

Potato (1kg)

$0.77 IQD 1,013

$0.55 IQD 719

40.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 856

$0.67 IQD 874

-2.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 IQD 1,133

$0.67 IQD 884

29.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 IQD 509

$0.68 IQD 893

-42.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 IQD 2,726

$1.85 IQD 2,421

12.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.74 IQD 8,823

$7.48 IQD 9,793

-9.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.11 IQD 4,073

$2.22 IQD 2,910

40.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 IQD 5,135

$2.26 IQD 2,963

73.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 IQD 784

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 IQD 24.5K

$22.50 IQD 29.5K

-16.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 IQD 3,089

$2.24 IQD 2,929

5.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.27 IQD 2,967

$1.49 IQD 1,946

52.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.06 IQD 9,240

$3.13 IQD 4,097

125.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 IQD 783

$0.62 IQD 811

-3.23%

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

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

-28.27%

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

$23.2K IQD 30.4M

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

23.64%

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

$51.4 IQD 67.3K

$82.3 IQD 107.8K

-37.52%

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

$25.89 IQD 33.9K

$19.13 IQD 25.1K

35.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.73 IQD 52.0K

$19.37 IQD 25.4K

105.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.24 IQD 47.5K

$7.80 IQD 10.2K

364.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.93 IQD 18.2K

$19.36 IQD 25.3K

-28.05%

Cinema Ticket

$7.60 IQD 9,955

$9.14 IQD 12.0K

-16.85%

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

$127 IQD 166.6K

$57.4 IQD 75.2K

121.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,881 IQD 5.1M

$1,506 IQD 2.0M

157.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.97 IQD 65.4K

$29.18 IQD 38.2K

71.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.04 IQD 26.2K

$37.61 IQD 49.3K

-46.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.1 IQD 101.0K

$74.7 IQD 97.8K

3.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.43 IQD 54.3K

$47.79 IQD 62.6K

-13.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 IQD 624.8K

$122 IQD 159.1K

292.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 IQD 453.0K

$117 IQD 152.8K

196.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$853 IQD 1.1M

$180 IQD 235.3K

374.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$626 IQD 819.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,578 IQD 2.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$786 IQD 1.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$777 IQD 1.0M

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 As Samawah: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $477 in Basra and $122 in As Samawah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $31.00 in Basra vs $35.00 in As Samawah. Groceries flip the comparison at $197 vs $164, with As Samawah cheaper for home cooking.

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 As Samawah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

As Samawah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 42% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,436 in Basra and $1,013 in As Samawah to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $477 in Basra versus $122 in As Samawah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in As Samawah runs roughly 20% less than in Basra. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $127 in Basra versus $57.4 in As Samawah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $675 in As Samawah versus $957 in Basra, a $1,500 budget is realistic in As Samawah but tight or insufficient in Basra. The gap between the two cities makes As Samawah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find As Samawah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Basra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.