Cost of Living Comparison Between Zakho and Basra Cost of Living Comparison Between Zakho and Basra

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $864 in Zakho versus $732 in Basra.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,359 in Zakho versus $1,351 in Basra.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,854 in Zakho versus $1,969 in Basra.

Living in Zakho is roughly 18% more expensive than Basra, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Zakho 36% lower, Basra 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.58 IQD 9,926

$3.85 IQD 5,037

96.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.64 IQD 29.7K

$24.88 IQD 32.6K

-9.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.88 IQD 11.6K

$7.03 IQD 9,205

26.32%

Cappuccino

$3.19 IQD 4,184

$2.06 IQD 2,696

54.85%

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

$0.48 IQD 628

$0.44 IQD 574

9.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 288

$0.32 IQD 413

-31.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.03 IQD 2,656

$3.80 IQD 4,982

-46.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 IQD 2,673

$2.71 IQD 3,551

-24.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 IQD 1,739

$1.19 IQD 1,558

11.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,039

$0.70 IQD 920

12.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 IQD 2,434

$1.47 IQD 1,927

26.53%

Eggs

$1.90 IQD 2,489

$1.83 IQD 2,401

3.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.27 IQD 9,524

$7.95 IQD 10.4K

-8.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.81 IQD 6,294

$7.05 IQD 9,238

-31.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.09 IQD 18.5K

$13.29 IQD 17.4K

6.02%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,510

$1.01 IQD 1,325

13.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,558

$1.40 IQD 1,837

-15.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,541

$1.04 IQD 1,363

13.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,062

$0.59 IQD 774

37.29%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 864

$0.69 IQD 900

-4.35%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 933

$0.57 IQD 746

24.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 IQD 947

$0.78 IQD 1,021

-7.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 727

$0.38 IQD 500

47.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.62 IQD 3,430

$1.88 IQD 2,468

39.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.35 IQD 16.2K

$13.04 IQD 17.1K

-5.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 IQD 1,898

$2.99 IQD 3,916

-51.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 IQD 2,542

$3.77 IQD 4,934

-48.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 521

$0.37 IQD 481

8.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.88 IQD 40.4K

$22.77 IQD 29.8K

35.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.26 IQD 2,965

$2.33 IQD 3,051

-3.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.23 IQD 2,921

$2.30 IQD 3,017

-3.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.00 IQD 9,165

$6.83 IQD 8,942

2.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 IQD 912

$0.59 IQD 778

18.64%

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

$19.2K IQD 25.1M

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

42.11%

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

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

$22.5K IQD 29.5M

-8.69%

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

$100 IQD 131.0K

$57.8 IQD 75.6K

73.15%

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

$17.47 IQD 22.9K

$25.61 IQD 33.5K

-31.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.69 IQD 38.9K

$38.89 IQD 50.9K

-23.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.17 IQD 48.7K

$36.10 IQD 47.3K

2.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.01 IQD 22.3K

$15.35 IQD 20.1K

10.81%

Cinema Ticket

$11.66 IQD 15.3K

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

51.23%

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

$272 IQD 355.7K

$95.9 IQD 125.6K

183.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,319 IQD 4.3M

$3,881 IQD 5.1M

-14.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.98 IQD 43.2K

$42.37 IQD 55.5K

-22.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.77 IQD 65.2K

$20.39 IQD 26.7K

144.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.0 IQD 107.4K

$71.5 IQD 93.7K

14.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.1 IQD 99.6K

$40.65 IQD 53.2K

87.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$246 IQD 321.7K

$443 IQD 580.2K

-44.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 IQD 236.0K

$136 IQD 177.8K

32.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$580 IQD 759.4K

$929 IQD 1.2M

-37.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$343 IQD 448.6K

$668 IQD 875.3K

-48.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,604 IQD 2.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$780 IQD 1.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$659 IQD 863.5K

$772 IQD 1.0M

-14.64%

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 Zakho: June 7, 2026

Last update for Basra: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $246 in Zakho and $443 in Basra. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Basra pays 17% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $23.00 in Zakho vs $25.00 in Basra for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $195 vs $211 per month, with Zakho cheaper across the board.

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

Zakho vs Basra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zakho and Basra differ by about 18% in total monthly costs ($864 vs $732 including rent). Basra is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Basra earns 17% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $246 in Zakho versus $443 in Basra. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Zakho pay roughly 8% 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 $23.00 in Zakho. 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, Zakho 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 18% less than in Zakho. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.