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 $892 in As Samawah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,366 in Basra versus $1,353 in As Samawah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,003 in Basra versus $1,814 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 45% lower, As Samawah 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.80 IQD 4,974

$5.24 IQD 6,866

-27.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.38 IQD 31.9K

$36.43 IQD 47.7K

-33.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 IQD 9,289

$7.73 IQD 10.1K

-8.28%

Cappuccino

$2.04 IQD 2,675

$3.04 IQD 3,987

-32.89%

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

$0.47 IQD 609

$0.37 IQD 484

27.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 IQD 454

$0.20 IQD 265

75.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.85 IQD 5,038

$3.48 IQD 4,553

10.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 IQD 3,382

$2.93 IQD 3,837

-11.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 IQD 1,551

$1.37 IQD 1,799

-13.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 917

$0.82 IQD 1,074

-14.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 IQD 1,857

$1.60 IQD 2,089

-11.25%

Eggs

$1.85 IQD 2,428

$1.64 IQD 2,146

12.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.27 IQD 10.8K

$4.60 IQD 6,022

79.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.97 IQD 9,131

$4.83 IQD 6,329

44.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.33 IQD 17.5K

$14.18 IQD 18.6K

-5.99%

Apples (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,382

$1.03 IQD 1,347

2.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 IQD 1,776

$1.02 IQD 1,339

33.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,363

$0.68 IQD 893

52.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 IQD 769

$0.51 IQD 673

15.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 872

$0.70 IQD 916

-4.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.56 IQD 737

$0.62 IQD 817

-9.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 IQD 1,044

$0.31 IQD 411

158.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 IQD 548

$0.62 IQD 806

-32.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.89 IQD 2,479

$2.08 IQD 2,723

-9.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.87 IQD 16.8K

$7.73 IQD 10.1K

66.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.15 IQD 4,125

$1.80 IQD 2,352

75.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 IQD 5,155

$2.07 IQD 2,716

90.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 511

$0.39 IQD 516

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.72 IQD 29.7K

$30.89 IQD 40.5K

-26.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.31 IQD 3,025

$3.91 IQD 5,117

-40.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.31 IQD 3,028

$1.54 IQD 2,021

50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.80 IQD 8,900

$7.62 IQD 9,979

-10.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.58 IQD 766

$0.56 IQD 734

3.57%

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

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

-31.52%

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

$23.1K IQD 30.3M

$19.8K IQD 26.0M

16.66%

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

$56.6 IQD 74.1K

$179 IQD 234.3K

-68.39%

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

$25.64 IQD 33.6K

$26.15 IQD 34.2K

-1.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.70 IQD 49.4K

$40.39 IQD 52.9K

-6.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.14 IQD 47.3K

$36.08 IQD 47.2K

0.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.55 IQD 20.4K

$16.91 IQD 22.1K

-8.04%

Cinema Ticket

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

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

$95.4 IQD 124.9K

$169 IQD 220.9K

-43.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,754 IQD 4.9M

$3,635 IQD 4.8M

3.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.53 IQD 54.4K

$28.02 IQD 36.7K

48.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.02 IQD 26.2K

$30.35 IQD 39.7K

-34.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.7 IQD 93.8K

$63.5 IQD 83.1K

12.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.57 IQD 54.4K

$43.10 IQD 56.4K

-3.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$453 IQD 593.2K

$239 IQD 312.9K

89.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$132 IQD 172.4K

$182 IQD 238.1K

-27.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$902 IQD 1.2M

$579 IQD 758.4K

55.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$655 IQD 857.9K

$349 IQD 457.2K

87.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,567 IQD 2.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$795 IQD 1.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$761 IQD 996.3K

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 26, 2026

Last update for As Samawah: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $453 in Basra and $239 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 $173, 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, Getting Around. The 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,092 in Basra and $1,338 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: $453 in Basra versus $239 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 36% less than in As Samawah. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $95.4 in Basra versus $169 in As Samawah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $728 in Basra versus $892 in As Samawah, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Basra but tight or insufficient in As Samawah. The gap between the two cities makes Basra 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 Basra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in As Samawah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.