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: $732 in Basra versus $895 in As Samawah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Basra versus $1,362 in As Samawah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,969 in Basra versus $1,828 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

$3.85 IQD 5,037

$5.25 IQD 6,880

-26.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.88 IQD 32.6K

$36.58 IQD 47.9K

-31.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.03 IQD 9,205

$7.56 IQD 9,893

-7.01%

Cappuccino

$2.06 IQD 2,696

$3.08 IQD 4,032

-33.12%

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

$0.44 IQD 574

$0.39 IQD 517

12.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 IQD 413

$0.17 IQD 228

88.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.80 IQD 4,982

$3.50 IQD 4,585

8.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 IQD 3,551

$2.93 IQD 3,832

-7.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 IQD 1,558

$1.35 IQD 1,770

-11.85%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 920

$0.78 IQD 1,027

-10.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 IQD 1,927

$1.65 IQD 2,157

-10.91%

Eggs

$1.83 IQD 2,401

$1.63 IQD 2,139

12.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.95 IQD 10.4K

$4.63 IQD 6,061

71.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.05 IQD 9,238

$4.99 IQD 6,536

41.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.29 IQD 17.4K

$14.23 IQD 18.6K

-6.61%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,325

$1.03 IQD 1,344

-1.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 IQD 1,837

$0.98 IQD 1,280

42.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,363

$0.71 IQD 935

46.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 IQD 774

$0.51 IQD 672

15.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 900

$0.64 IQD 845

7.81%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 IQD 746

$0.68 IQD 889

-16.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,021

$0.34 IQD 449

129.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 IQD 500

$0.62 IQD 806

-38.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.88 IQD 2,468

$2.16 IQD 2,831

-12.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.04 IQD 17.1K

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

66.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 IQD 3,916

$1.77 IQD 2,317

68.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.77 IQD 4,934

$2.19 IQD 2,868

72.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 481

$0.40 IQD 519

-7.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.77 IQD 29.8K

$30.96 IQD 40.5K

-26.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,051

$3.93 IQD 5,143

-40.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.30 IQD 3,017

$1.49 IQD 1,952

54.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.83 IQD 8,942

$7.83 IQD 10.3K

-12.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 IQD 778

$0.57 IQD 746

3.51%

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

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

$20.2K IQD 26.5M

-33.24%

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

$22.5K IQD 29.5M

$20.2K IQD 26.5M

11.38%

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

$57.8 IQD 75.6K

$175 IQD 228.8K

-66.93%

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

$25.61 IQD 33.5K

$25.47 IQD 33.4K

0.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.89 IQD 50.9K

$40.93 IQD 53.6K

-4.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.10 IQD 47.3K

$36.29 IQD 47.5K

-0.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.35 IQD 20.1K

$16.89 IQD 22.1K

-9.12%

Cinema Ticket

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

0.26%

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

$95.9 IQD 125.6K

$164 IQD 215.1K

-41.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,881 IQD 5.1M

$3,589 IQD 4.7M

8.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.37 IQD 55.5K

$28.94 IQD 37.9K

46.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.39 IQD 26.7K

$31.14 IQD 40.8K

-34.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.5 IQD 93.7K

$64.0 IQD 83.8K

11.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.65 IQD 53.2K

$44.11 IQD 57.8K

-7.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$443 IQD 580.2K

$242 IQD 316.6K

83.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 IQD 177.8K

$175 IQD 229.5K

-22.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$929 IQD 1.2M

$579 IQD 758.5K

60.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 IQD 875.3K

$348 IQD 456.2K

91.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,604 IQD 2.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$780 IQD 1.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$772 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: June 7, 2026

Last update for As Samawah: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $443 in Basra and $242 in As Samawah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $25.00 in Basra vs $37.00 in As Samawah. Groceries flip the comparison at $211 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, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,099 in Basra and $1,343 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: $443 in Basra versus $242 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 $95.9 in Basra versus $164 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.