Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and Mashhad Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and Mashhad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $957 in Basra versus $640 in Mashhad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,450 in Basra versus $931 in Mashhad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,944 in Basra versus $1,223 in Mashhad.

Living in Basra is roughly 50% more expensive than in Mashhad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Basra 30% lower, Mashhad 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.51 IQD 5,906

$4.67 IQD 6,120

-3.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.88 IQD 40.4K

$34.11 IQD 44.7K

-9.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.42 IQD 9,712

$7.65 IQD 10.0K

-3.01%

Cappuccino

$2.55 IQD 3,345

$3.08 IQD 4,035

-17.21%

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

$0.44 IQD 571

$0.40 IQD 519

10.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 IQD 445

$0.24 IQD 312

41.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.90 IQD 5,113

$3.88 IQD 5,082

0.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.12 IQD 5,398

$3.89 IQD 5,088

5.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 IQD 1,462

$1.05 IQD 1,371

6.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 917

$0.82 IQD 1,076

-14.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 IQD 1,919

$1.58 IQD 2,067

-6.96%

Eggs

$1.82 IQD 2,380

$0.81 IQD 1,063

124.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.53 IQD 9,861

$3.80 IQD 4,980

98.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.36 IQD 8,333

$2.04 IQD 2,676

211.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.04 IQD 18.4K

$2.92 IQD 3,820

380.82%

Apples (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,273

$1.01 IQD 1,325

-3.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 IQD 1,776

$1.12 IQD 1,467

21.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,274

$0.98 IQD 1,281

-1.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 856

$0.68 IQD 889

-4.41%

Potato (1kg)

$0.77 IQD 1,013

$0.67 IQD 873

14.93%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 856

$0.64 IQD 837

1.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 IQD 1,133

$0.31 IQD 407

180.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 IQD 509

$0.21 IQD 274

85.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 IQD 2,726

$0.76 IQD 996

173.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.74 IQD 8,823

$13.55 IQD 17.7K

-50.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.11 IQD 4,073

$2.14 IQD 2,799

45.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 IQD 5,135

$2.26 IQD 2,953

73.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 IQD 784

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 IQD 24.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 IQD 3,089

$2.25 IQD 2,947

4.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.27 IQD 2,967

$1.51 IQD 1,979

50.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.06 IQD 9,240

$7.52 IQD 9,851

-6.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 IQD 783

$0.65 IQD 857

-7.69%

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

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

-28.74%

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

$23.2K IQD 30.4M

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

22.88%

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

$51.4 IQD 67.3K

$215 IQD 281.7K

-76.09%

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

$25.89 IQD 33.9K

$21.21 IQD 27.8K

22.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.73 IQD 52.0K

$42.34 IQD 55.4K

-6.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.24 IQD 47.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.93 IQD 18.2K

Cinema Ticket

$7.60 IQD 9,955

$10.60 IQD 13.9K

-28.30%

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

$127 IQD 166.6K

$165 IQD 216.6K

-23.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,881 IQD 5.1M

$3,514 IQD 4.6M

10.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.97 IQD 65.4K

$29.67 IQD 38.8K

68.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.04 IQD 26.2K

$38.11 IQD 49.9K

-47.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.1 IQD 101.0K

$74.5 IQD 97.6K

3.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.43 IQD 54.3K

$46.47 IQD 60.8K

-10.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 IQD 624.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 IQD 453.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$853 IQD 1.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$626 IQD 819.5K

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 Mashhad: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $31.00 in Basra vs $34.00 in Mashhad. Groceries flip the comparison at $197 vs $127, with Mashhad 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 Mashhad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Basra and Mashhad differ by about 50% in total monthly costs ($957 vs $640 including rent). Mashhad is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,436 in Basra and $960 in Mashhad 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.

Childcare runs $127 in Basra versus $165 in Mashhad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Mashhad – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $31.00 in Basra. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $640 in Mashhad versus $957 in Basra, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mashhad but tight or insufficient in Basra. The gap between the two cities makes Mashhad 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.

Safety-wise, Basra and Mashhad are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Mashhad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 50% less than in Basra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.