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: $846 in Mashhad versus $738 in Basra.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.51 IQD 7,214

$3.78 IQD 4,953

45.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.40 IQD 47.7K

$24.85 IQD 32.5K

46.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.47 IQD 9,786

$6.82 IQD 8,926

9.53%

Cappuccino

$3.01 IQD 3,944

$2.02 IQD 2,650

49.01%

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

$0.37 IQD 480

$0.44 IQD 572

-15.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 232

$0.32 IQD 418

-43.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.47 IQD 4,550

$3.86 IQD 5,056

-10.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 IQD 3,858

$2.62 IQD 3,430

12.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,732

$1.23 IQD 1,609

7.32%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,087

$0.68 IQD 885

22.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 IQD 2,181

$1.43 IQD 1,868

16.78%

Eggs

$0.86 IQD 1,130

$1.83 IQD 2,393

-53.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.41 IQD 5,770

$7.98 IQD 10.5K

-44.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.95 IQD 2,550

$7.25 IQD 9,500

-73.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.96 IQD 3,873

$12.91 IQD 16.9K

-77.07%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,342

$1.01 IQD 1,326

0.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.20 IQD 1,576

$1.35 IQD 1,772

-11.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 IQD 1,348

$1.01 IQD 1,317

1.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 888

$0.62 IQD 814

9.68%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 857

$0.67 IQD 877

-2.99%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 829

$0.60 IQD 789

5.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 IQD 410

$0.84 IQD 1,098

-63.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 294

$0.39 IQD 509

-43.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.83 IQD 1,088

$1.89 IQD 2,479

-56.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.54 IQD 17.7K

$13.21 IQD 17.3K

2.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 IQD 2,424

$2.97 IQD 3,894

-37.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 IQD 2,741

$3.77 IQD 4,943

-44.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 475

$0.39 IQD 512

-7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.56 IQD 40.0K

$23.27 IQD 30.5K

31.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.78 IQD 4,956

$2.32 IQD 3,037

62.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 IQD 1,943

$2.25 IQD 2,942

-34.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.46 IQD 9,775

$6.82 IQD 8,926

9.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 IQD 751

$0.59 IQD 776

-3.39%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

$13.4K IQD 17.6M

48.93%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$22.9K IQD 30.0M

-11.35%

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

$178 IQD 233.6K

$58.0 IQD 75.9K

207.55%

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

$26.12 IQD 34.2K

$25.67 IQD 33.6K

1.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.13 IQD 52.5K

$37.62 IQD 49.3K

6.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.37 IQD 48.9K

$37.24 IQD 48.8K

0.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.76 IQD 21.9K

$15.23 IQD 19.9K

10.05%

Cinema Ticket

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

1.30%

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

$164 IQD 215.4K

$98.3 IQD 128.7K

67.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,644 IQD 4.8M

$3,819 IQD 5.0M

-4.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.72 IQD 37.6K

$42.75 IQD 56.0K

-32.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.70 IQD 40.2K

$20.73 IQD 27.1K

48.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.3 IQD 85.5K

$70.7 IQD 92.6K

-7.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.54 IQD 55.7K

$40.48 IQD 53.0K

5.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$245 IQD 320.6K

$445 IQD 582.2K

-44.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 IQD 237.4K

$132 IQD 173.5K

36.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$578 IQD 757.3K

$903 IQD 1.2M

-35.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$339 IQD 444.4K

$661 IQD 865.1K

-48.63%

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 Mashhad: June 14, 2026

Last update for Basra: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

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

You'd need roughly $1,270 in Mashhad and $1,107 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: $245 in Mashhad versus $445 in Basra. 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, 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.