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: $728 in Basra versus $886 in As Samawah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,340 in Basra versus $1,349 in As Samawah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,953 in Basra versus $1,813 in As Samawah.

Living in Basra costs roughly 18% less than in As Samawah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Basra 46% lower, As Samawah 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.72 IQD 4,877

$5.37 IQD 7,038

-30.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.46 IQD 32.0K

$35.74 IQD 46.8K

-31.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.02 IQD 9,196

$7.63 IQD 10.0K

-7.99%

Cappuccino

$2.10 IQD 2,753

$3.00 IQD 3,925

-30.00%

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

$0.46 IQD 609

$0.39 IQD 513

17.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 IQD 449

$0.17 IQD 216

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.76 IQD 4,927

$3.51 IQD 4,594

7.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 IQD 3,553

$2.91 IQD 3,816

-6.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 IQD 1,615

$1.31 IQD 1,719

-6.11%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 919

$0.82 IQD 1,080

-14.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 IQD 1,854

$1.63 IQD 2,136

-12.88%

Eggs

$1.89 IQD 2,475

$1.61 IQD 2,110

17.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.93 IQD 10.4K

$4.39 IQD 5,746

80.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.21 IQD 9,442

$5.06 IQD 6,625

42.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.95 IQD 17.0K

$13.83 IQD 18.1K

-6.36%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,317

$1.02 IQD 1,333

-0.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 IQD 1,857

$0.99 IQD 1,294

43.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,364

$0.69 IQD 903

50.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 814

$0.49 IQD 639

26.53%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 879

$0.66 IQD 862

1.52%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 807

$0.63 IQD 822

-1.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,021

$0.32 IQD 418

143.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 IQD 545

$0.67 IQD 878

-37.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.95 IQD 2,551

$2.11 IQD 2,765

-7.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.85 IQD 16.8K

$7.59 IQD 9,945

69.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 IQD 4,091

$1.84 IQD 2,413

69.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 IQD 5,136

$2.18 IQD 2,858

79.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 482

$0.40 IQD 521

-7.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.25 IQD 30.5K

$31.26 IQD 40.9K

-25.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 IQD 3,083

$3.73 IQD 4,885

-37.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.31 IQD 3,033

$1.54 IQD 2,019

50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.97 IQD 9,134

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

-9.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 733

$0.54 IQD 704

3.70%

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

$13.3K IQD 17.4M

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

-33.39%

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

$22.9K IQD 30.0M

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

14.06%

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

$57.6 IQD 75.5K

$176 IQD 230.0K

-67.19%

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

$25.62 IQD 33.6K

$25.49 IQD 33.4K

0.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.76 IQD 49.5K

$40.86 IQD 53.5K

-7.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.25 IQD 48.8K

$37.44 IQD 49.0K

-0.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.13 IQD 19.8K

$16.54 IQD 21.7K

-8.52%

Cinema Ticket

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$7.82 IQD 10.2K

-0.51%

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

$97.7 IQD 128.0K

$166 IQD 217.7K

-41.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,869 IQD 5.1M

$3,567 IQD 4.7M

8.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.39 IQD 55.5K

$28.20 IQD 36.9K

50.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.70 IQD 27.1K

$31.03 IQD 40.6K

-33.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.8 IQD 94.1K

$65.3 IQD 85.5K

10.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.04 IQD 53.8K

$43.89 IQD 57.5K

-6.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$448 IQD 587.4K

$243 IQD 318.0K

84.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 IQD 177.8K

$176 IQD 230.2K

-22.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$917 IQD 1.2M

$576 IQD 755.1K

59.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$676 IQD 885.2K

$347 IQD 455.0K

94.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,608 IQD 2.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$777 IQD 1.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$767 IQD 1.0M

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for As Samawah: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $448 in Basra and $243 in As Samawah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $24.00 in Basra vs $36.00 in As Samawah. Groceries flip the comparison at $213 vs $172, 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

Basra is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,092 in Basra and $1,329 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: $448 in Basra versus $243 in As Samawah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Basra runs roughly 34% less than in As Samawah. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $97.7 in Basra versus $166 in As Samawah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Basra gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 Basra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in As Samawah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.