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: $728 in Basra versus $839 in Mashhad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,340 in Basra versus $1,267 in Mashhad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,953 in Basra versus $1,695 in Mashhad.

Living in Basra costs roughly 13% less than in Mashhad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Basra 46% lower, Mashhad 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.72 IQD 4,877

$5.42 IQD 7,106

-31.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.46 IQD 32.0K

$36.49 IQD 47.8K

-32.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.02 IQD 9,196

$7.47 IQD 9,782

-6.02%

Cappuccino

$2.10 IQD 2,753

$3.00 IQD 3,930

-30.00%

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

$0.46 IQD 609

$0.36 IQD 473

27.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 IQD 449

$0.21 IQD 277

61.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.76 IQD 4,927

$3.52 IQD 4,610

6.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 IQD 3,553

$2.92 IQD 3,830

-7.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 IQD 1,615

$1.38 IQD 1,803

-10.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 919

$0.78 IQD 1,027

-10.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 IQD 1,854

$1.64 IQD 2,149

-13.41%

Eggs

$1.89 IQD 2,475

$0.88 IQD 1,155

114.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.93 IQD 10.4K

$4.49 IQD 5,876

76.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.21 IQD 9,442

$2.05 IQD 2,689

251.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.95 IQD 17.0K

$3.09 IQD 4,042

319.09%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,317

$0.98 IQD 1,280

3.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 IQD 1,857

$1.21 IQD 1,585

17.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,364

$1.01 IQD 1,329

2.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 814

$0.71 IQD 936

-12.68%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 879

$0.65 IQD 852

3.08%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 807

$0.67 IQD 878

-7.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,021

$0.29 IQD 376

168.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 IQD 545

$0.19 IQD 246

121.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.95 IQD 2,551

$0.78 IQD 1,028

150.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.85 IQD 16.8K

$13.47 IQD 17.7K

-4.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 IQD 4,091

$1.86 IQD 2,438

67.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 IQD 5,136

$2.10 IQD 2,755

86.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 482

$0.40 IQD 519

-7.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.25 IQD 30.5K

$31.56 IQD 41.3K

-26.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 IQD 3,083

$3.73 IQD 4,893

-37.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.31 IQD 3,033

$1.47 IQD 1,931

57.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.97 IQD 9,134

$7.50 IQD 9,829

-7.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 733

$0.56 IQD 740

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

$13.3K IQD 17.4M

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

-32.77%

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

$22.9K IQD 30.0M

$20.1K IQD 26.4M

13.72%

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

$57.6 IQD 75.5K

$177 IQD 232.0K

-67.47%

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

$25.62 IQD 33.6K

$26.01 IQD 34.1K

-1.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.76 IQD 49.5K

$40.80 IQD 53.5K

-7.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.25 IQD 48.8K

$36.02 IQD 47.2K

3.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.13 IQD 19.8K

$16.98 IQD 22.2K

-10.90%

Cinema Ticket

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$7.51 IQD 9,834

3.60%

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

$97.7 IQD 128.0K

$166 IQD 217.9K

-41.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,869 IQD 5.1M

$3,534 IQD 4.6M

9.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.39 IQD 55.5K

$28.46 IQD 37.3K

48.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.70 IQD 27.1K

$30.31 IQD 39.7K

-31.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.8 IQD 94.1K

$64.9 IQD 85.1K

10.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.04 IQD 53.8K

$43.00 IQD 56.3K

-4.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$448 IQD 587.4K

$239 IQD 313.3K

87.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 IQD 177.8K

$181 IQD 236.9K

-24.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$917 IQD 1.2M

$581 IQD 761.8K

57.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$676 IQD 885.2K

$339 IQD 444.7K

99.06%

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 Mashhad: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $448 in Basra and $239 in Mashhad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $24.00 in Basra vs $36.00 in Mashhad. Groceries flip the comparison at $213 vs $132, 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 15% in total monthly costs ($728 vs $839 including rent). Basra is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,092 in Basra and $1,259 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $448 in Basra versus $239 in Mashhad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Mashhad pay roughly 62% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Basra – a meal for two runs $24.00 versus $36.00 in Mashhad. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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.

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 Basra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Mashhad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.