Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and Kalar Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and Kalar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $742 in Basra versus $519 in Kalar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Basra versus $776 in Kalar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,960 in Basra versus $1,034 in Kalar.

Living in Basra is roughly 43% more expensive than Kalar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Basra 45% lower, Kalar 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.81 IQD 4,990

$1.86 IQD 2,435

104.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.77 IQD 32.4K

$12.16 IQD 15.9K

103.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.02 IQD 9,193

$3.61 IQD 4,722

94.46%

Cappuccino

$2.06 IQD 2,695

$1.04 IQD 1,365

98.08%

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

$0.44 IQD 572

$0.49 IQD 637

-10.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 IQD 452

$0.15 IQD 200

133.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.86 IQD 5,061

$1.93 IQD 2,528

100.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 IQD 3,532

$2.06 IQD 2,700

31.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 IQD 1,607

$1.05 IQD 1,374

17.14%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 919

$0.85 IQD 1,107

-17.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 IQD 1,850

$1.56 IQD 2,042

-9.62%

Eggs

$1.92 IQD 2,512

$1.32 IQD 1,730

45.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.05 IQD 10.5K

$3.52 IQD 4,604

128.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.22 IQD 9,457

$2.35 IQD 3,079

207.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.20 IQD 17.3K

$12.29 IQD 16.1K

7.40%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,321

$0.92 IQD 1,204

9.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 IQD 1,858

$1.14 IQD 1,495

24.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,331

$1.00 IQD 1,309

2.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 820

$0.75 IQD 980

-16.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 932

$0.70 IQD 920

1.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 IQD 744

$0.72 IQD 941

-20.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 IQD 1,085

$0.71 IQD 934

16.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 IQD 541

$0.44 IQD 581

-6.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.88 IQD 2,458

$2.65 IQD 3,468

-29.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.76 IQD 16.7K

$12.66 IQD 16.6K

0.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.97 IQD 3,892

$1.43 IQD 1,877

107.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 IQD 4,947

$1.95 IQD 2,550

93.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 516

$0.59 IQD 776

-33.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.21 IQD 30.4K

$31.03 IQD 40.6K

-25.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.31 IQD 3,028

$2.33 IQD 3,054

-0.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.21 IQD 2,891

$1.88 IQD 2,456

17.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.76 IQD 8,847

$3.79 IQD 4,966

78.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.58 IQD 762

$0.64 IQD 840

-9.38%

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

$13.3K IQD 17.4M

$16.9K IQD 22.2M

-21.58%

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

$23.2K IQD 30.4M

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

23.54%

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

$56.6 IQD 74.1K

$54.5 IQD 71.3K

3.91%

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

$25.19 IQD 33.0K

$13.55 IQD 17.7K

85.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.41 IQD 50.3K

$23.89 IQD 31.3K

60.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.07 IQD 48.5K

$19.20 IQD 25.1K

93.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.48 IQD 20.3K

$17.14 IQD 22.4K

-9.68%

Cinema Ticket

$7.75 IQD 10.2K

$7.55 IQD 9,881

2.65%

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

$97.0 IQD 127.0K

$52.0 IQD 68.1K

86.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,772 IQD 4.9M

$1,522 IQD 2.0M

147.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.85 IQD 54.8K

$12.83 IQD 16.8K

226.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.30 IQD 26.6K

$13.93 IQD 18.2K

45.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 IQD 95.4K

$26.51 IQD 34.7K

174.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.68 IQD 53.3K

$32.27 IQD 42.3K

26.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 IQD 595.7K

$174 IQD 228.0K

161.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$133 IQD 174.1K

$105 IQD 137.0K

27.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$918 IQD 1.2M

$282 IQD 368.6K

226.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$671 IQD 878.0K

$146 IQD 190.5K

360.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,581 IQD 2.1M

$3,312 IQD 4.3M

-52.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$800 IQD 1.0M

$456 IQD 597.7K

75.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$763 IQD 998.7K

$337 IQD 441.8K

126.05%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kalar: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $455 in Basra and $174 in Kalar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Basra pays 126% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $25.00 in Basra vs $12.00 in Kalar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $213 vs $157 per month, with Kalar cheaper across the board.

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 Kalar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Basra and Kalar differ by about 43% in total monthly costs ($742 vs $519 including rent). Kalar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Basra pays 126% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $455 in Basra versus $174 in Kalar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 36% higher in Basra. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Kalar – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $25.00 in Basra. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $519 in Kalar versus $742 in Basra, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kalar but tight or insufficient in Basra. The gap between the two cities makes Kalar 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 Kalar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Basra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.