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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $839 in Mashhad versus $728 in Basra.

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

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

Living in Mashhad is roughly 15% more expensive than Basra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.42 IQD 7,106

$3.72 IQD 4,877

45.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.49 IQD 47.8K

$24.46 IQD 32.0K

49.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.47 IQD 9,782

$7.02 IQD 9,196

6.41%

Cappuccino

$3.00 IQD 3,930

$2.10 IQD 2,753

42.86%

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

$0.36 IQD 473

$0.46 IQD 609

-21.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 277

$0.34 IQD 449

-38.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.52 IQD 4,610

$3.76 IQD 4,927

-6.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 IQD 3,830

$2.71 IQD 3,553

7.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 IQD 1,803

$1.23 IQD 1,615

12.20%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,027

$0.70 IQD 919

11.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 IQD 2,149

$1.42 IQD 1,854

15.49%

Eggs

$0.88 IQD 1,155

$1.89 IQD 2,475

-53.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 IQD 5,876

$7.93 IQD 10.4K

-43.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.05 IQD 2,689

$7.21 IQD 9,442

-71.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.09 IQD 4,042

$12.95 IQD 17.0K

-76.14%

Apples (1kg)

$0.98 IQD 1,280

$1.01 IQD 1,317

-2.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 IQD 1,585

$1.42 IQD 1,857

-14.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,329

$1.04 IQD 1,364

-2.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 936

$0.62 IQD 814

14.52%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 852

$0.67 IQD 879

-2.99%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 878

$0.62 IQD 807

8.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 IQD 376

$0.78 IQD 1,021

-62.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.19 IQD 246

$0.42 IQD 545

-54.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.78 IQD 1,028

$1.95 IQD 2,551

-60.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.47 IQD 17.7K

$12.85 IQD 16.8K

4.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 IQD 2,438

$3.12 IQD 4,091

-40.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 IQD 2,755

$3.92 IQD 5,136

-46.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 519

$0.37 IQD 482

8.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.56 IQD 41.3K

$23.25 IQD 30.5K

35.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.73 IQD 4,893

$2.35 IQD 3,083

58.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,931

$2.31 IQD 3,033

-36.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.50 IQD 9,829

$6.97 IQD 9,134

7.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 740

$0.56 IQD 733

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

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

$13.3K IQD 17.4M

48.73%

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

$20.1K IQD 26.4M

$22.9K IQD 30.0M

-12.06%

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

$177 IQD 232.0K

$57.6 IQD 75.5K

207.39%

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

$26.01 IQD 34.1K

$25.62 IQD 33.6K

1.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.80 IQD 53.5K

$37.76 IQD 49.5K

8.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.02 IQD 47.2K

$37.25 IQD 48.8K

-3.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 IQD 22.2K

$15.13 IQD 19.8K

12.23%

Cinema Ticket

$7.51 IQD 9,834

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

-3.47%

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

$166 IQD 217.9K

$97.7 IQD 128.0K

70.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,534 IQD 4.6M

$3,869 IQD 5.1M

-8.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.46 IQD 37.3K

$42.39 IQD 55.5K

-32.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.31 IQD 39.7K

$20.70 IQD 27.1K

46.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.9 IQD 85.1K

$71.8 IQD 94.1K

-9.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.00 IQD 56.3K

$41.04 IQD 53.8K

4.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$239 IQD 313.3K

$448 IQD 587.4K

-46.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 IQD 236.9K

$136 IQD 177.8K

33.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$581 IQD 761.8K

$917 IQD 1.2M

-36.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$339 IQD 444.7K

$676 IQD 885.2K

-49.76%

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 Mashhad: April 27, 2026

Last update for Basra: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

Dining out: $36.00 in Mashhad vs $24.00 in Basra. Groceries flip the comparison at $132 vs $213, 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

Mashhad vs Basra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mashhad and Basra differ by about 15% in total monthly costs ($839 vs $728 including rent). Basra is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,259 in Mashhad and $1,092 in Basra 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: $239 in Mashhad versus $448 in Basra. 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, Mashhad and Basra 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.