Cost of Living Comparison Between Boracay and An Najaf Cost of Living Comparison Between Boracay and An Najaf

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $797 per month in Boracay vs $688 in An Najaf, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,392 per month in Boracay vs $1,013 in An Najaf, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,987 per month in Boracay vs $1,338 in An Najaf, rent included.

Boracay costs about 16% more than An Najaf, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Boracay and An Najaf are more affordable than the global median – Boracay 40% lower, An Najaf 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.16 ₱194

$4.06 IQD 5,317

-22.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.07 ₱1,297

$23.20 IQD 30.4K

-9.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.81 ₱296

$4.88 IQD 6,384

-1.43%

Cappuccino

$2.37 ₱146

$2.75 IQD 3,600

-13.82%

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

$1.27 ₱78.4

$0.37 IQD 484

243.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 ₱15.86

$0.17 IQD 226

52.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.31 ₱80.5

$3.37 IQD 4,411

-61.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 ₱134

$2.86 IQD 3,739

-24.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.31 IQD 1,716

37.40%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 ₱77.4

$0.84 IQD 1,103

50.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 ₱53.8

$1.58 IQD 2,071

-44.94%

Eggs

$2.60 ₱160

$1.78 IQD 2,337

46.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.88 ₱485

$2.40 IQD 3,140

228.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.13 ₱254

$4.81 IQD 6,300

-14.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.83 ₱482

$10.78 IQD 14.1K

-27.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.99 ₱184

$1.27 IQD 1,665

135.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 ₱91.2

$1.17 IQD 1,528

26.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 ₱159

$1.00 IQD 1,313

158.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.44 ₱88.6

$0.74 IQD 966

94.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 ₱110

$0.64 IQD 838

179.69%

Onion (1kg)

$2.60 ₱160

$0.64 IQD 832

306.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 ₱65.2

$0.66 IQD 863

60.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₱43.94

$0.40 IQD 518

77.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.87 ₱238

$1.49 IQD 1,954

159.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.26 ₱508

$13.54 IQD 17.7K

-39.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ₱74.6

$1.86 IQD 2,437

-34.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ₱125

$2.19 IQD 2,871

-7.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₱22.34

$0.37 IQD 483

-2.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.61 IQD 45.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.82 ₱50.7

$1.97 IQD 2,575

-58.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.80

$1.52 IQD 1,993

-84.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.07 ₱127

$4.92 IQD 6,448

-57.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ₱78.7

$0.45 IQD 586

184.44%

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

$26.6K ₱1.6M

$11.5K IQD 15.1M

131.11%

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

$20.5K ₱1.3M

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

4.08%

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

$117 ₱7,185

$58.8 IQD 77.0K

98.54%

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

$8.78 ₱540

$23.18 IQD 30.3K

-62.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.13 ₱2,409

$34.93 IQD 45.7K

12.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.7 ₱3,306

$29.32 IQD 38.4K

83.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.30 ₱265

$14.81 IQD 19.4K

-70.97%

Cinema Ticket

$4.23 ₱261

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

-45.63%

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

$149 ₱9,181

$164 IQD 214.2K

-8.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,041 ₱248.8K

$918 IQD 1.2M

340.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.67 ₱2,873

$16.28 IQD 21.3K

186.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.65 ₱1,641

$24.95 IQD 32.7K

6.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.6 ₱4,654

$65.8 IQD 86.2K

14.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.9 ₱3,254

$43.72 IQD 57.2K

20.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$261 ₱16.1K

$243 IQD 318.4K

7.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 ₱11.0K

$133 IQD 173.9K

34.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$581 ₱35.7K

$388 IQD 508.7K

49.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$742 ₱45.7K

$152 IQD 198.6K

389.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,397 ₱147.6K

$1,274 IQD 1.7M

88.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$957 ₱58.9K

$479 IQD 627.0K

99.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$238 ₱14.7K

$736 IQD 964.4K

-67.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

5.67

17.64%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Boracay: July 13, 2026

Last update for An Najaf: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $261 in Boracay versus $243 in An Najaf. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 209% higher in An Najaf, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 in Boracay versus $23.00 in An Najaf. Groceries tell a different story – $204 in Boracay vs $171 in An Najaf – so An Najaf wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Boracay vs An Najaf: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Boracay costs about 16% more than An Najaf, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,195 per month in Boracay and $1,031 in An Najaf. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in An Najaf, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $797 in Boracay and $688 in An Najaf. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $149 per month in Boracay and $164 in An Najaf. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $797 in Boracay and $688 in An Najaf, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. An Najaf costs $688 versus $797 in Boracay. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with An Najaf. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Boracay makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.