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: $738 in Basra versus $846 in Mashhad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,359 in Basra versus $1,258 in Mashhad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,980 in Basra versus $1,669 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 45% lower, Mashhad 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.78 IQD 4,953

$5.51 IQD 7,214

-31.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.85 IQD 32.5K

$36.40 IQD 47.7K

-31.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.82 IQD 8,926

$7.47 IQD 9,786

-8.70%

Cappuccino

$2.02 IQD 2,650

$3.01 IQD 3,944

-32.89%

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

$0.44 IQD 572

$0.37 IQD 480

18.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 IQD 418

$0.18 IQD 232

77.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.86 IQD 5,056

$3.47 IQD 4,550

11.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.62 IQD 3,430

$2.95 IQD 3,858

-11.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 IQD 1,609

$1.32 IQD 1,732

-6.82%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 IQD 885

$0.83 IQD 1,087

-18.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.43 IQD 1,868

$1.67 IQD 2,181

-14.37%

Eggs

$1.83 IQD 2,393

$0.86 IQD 1,130

112.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.98 IQD 10.5K

$4.41 IQD 5,770

80.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.25 IQD 9,500

$1.95 IQD 2,550

271.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.91 IQD 16.9K

$2.96 IQD 3,873

336.15%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,326

$1.02 IQD 1,342

-0.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 IQD 1,772

$1.20 IQD 1,576

12.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,317

$1.03 IQD 1,348

-1.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 814

$0.68 IQD 888

-8.82%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 877

$0.65 IQD 857

3.08%

Onion (1kg)

$0.60 IQD 789

$0.63 IQD 829

-4.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.84 IQD 1,098

$0.31 IQD 410

170.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 IQD 509

$0.22 IQD 294

77.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.89 IQD 2,479

$0.83 IQD 1,088

127.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.21 IQD 17.3K

$13.54 IQD 17.7K

-2.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.97 IQD 3,894

$1.85 IQD 2,424

60.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.77 IQD 4,943

$2.09 IQD 2,741

80.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 512

$0.36 IQD 475

8.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.27 IQD 30.5K

$30.56 IQD 40.0K

-23.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.32 IQD 3,037

$3.78 IQD 4,956

-38.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.25 IQD 2,942

$1.48 IQD 1,943

52.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.82 IQD 8,926

$7.46 IQD 9,775

-8.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 IQD 776

$0.57 IQD 751

3.51%

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

$13.4K IQD 17.6M

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

-32.86%

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

$22.9K IQD 30.0M

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

12.80%

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

$58.0 IQD 75.9K

$178 IQD 233.6K

-67.49%

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

$25.67 IQD 33.6K

$26.12 IQD 34.2K

-1.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.62 IQD 49.3K

$40.13 IQD 52.5K

-6.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.24 IQD 48.8K

$37.37 IQD 48.9K

-0.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.23 IQD 19.9K

$16.76 IQD 21.9K

-9.13%

Cinema Ticket

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

-1.28%

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

$98.3 IQD 128.7K

$164 IQD 215.4K

-40.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,819 IQD 5.0M

$3,644 IQD 4.8M

4.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.75 IQD 56.0K

$28.72 IQD 37.6K

48.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.73 IQD 27.1K

$30.70 IQD 40.2K

-32.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.7 IQD 92.6K

$65.3 IQD 85.5K

8.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.48 IQD 53.0K

$42.54 IQD 55.7K

-4.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$445 IQD 582.2K

$245 IQD 320.6K

81.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$132 IQD 173.5K

$181 IQD 237.4K

-26.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$903 IQD 1.2M

$578 IQD 757.3K

56.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$661 IQD 865.1K

$339 IQD 444.4K

94.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,590 IQD 2.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$802 IQD 1.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$777 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 14, 2026

Last update for Mashhad: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $445 in Basra and $245 in Mashhad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $25.00 in Basra vs $36.00 in Mashhad. Groceries flip the comparison at $211 vs $131, 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 ($738 vs $846 including rent). Basra is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,107 in Basra and $1,270 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: $445 in Basra versus $245 in Mashhad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Mashhad pay roughly 61% 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 $25.00 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.