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: $893 in Zakho versus $728 in Basra.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,364 in Zakho versus $1,340 in Basra.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,834 in Zakho versus $1,953 in Basra.

Living in Zakho is roughly 23% more expensive than Basra, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Zakho 33% lower, Basra 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.72 IQD 10.1K

$3.72 IQD 4,876

107.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.91 IQD 30.0K

$24.46 IQD 32.0K

-6.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.68 IQD 11.4K

$7.02 IQD 9,194

23.65%

Cappuccino

$3.13 IQD 4,095

$2.10 IQD 2,753

49.05%

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

$0.48 IQD 628

$0.46 IQD 608

4.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 288

$0.34 IQD 449

-35.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 IQD 2,629

$3.76 IQD 4,926

-46.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 IQD 2,722

$2.71 IQD 3,553

-23.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 IQD 1,789

$1.23 IQD 1,614

11.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 IQD 1,056

$0.70 IQD 918

15.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.79 IQD 2,351

$1.42 IQD 1,854

26.06%

Eggs

$1.97 IQD 2,585

$1.89 IQD 2,474

4.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.57 IQD 9,916

$7.93 IQD 10.4K

-4.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.79 IQD 6,274

$7.21 IQD 9,440

-33.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.95 IQD 18.3K

$12.95 IQD 17.0K

7.72%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,502

$1.01 IQD 1,316

13.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,493

$1.42 IQD 1,856

-19.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,537

$1.04 IQD 1,364

12.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,064

$0.62 IQD 814

30.65%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 879

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 990

$0.62 IQD 806

22.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 IQD 1,013

$0.78 IQD 1,021

-1.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 IQD 687

$0.42 IQD 545

23.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.73 IQD 3,576

$1.95 IQD 2,550

40.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.23 IQD 16.0K

$12.85 IQD 16.8K

-4.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 IQD 1,871

$3.12 IQD 4,090

-54.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 IQD 2,668

$3.92 IQD 5,135

-47.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 522

$0.37 IQD 482

8.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.69 IQD 41.5K

$23.25 IQD 30.5K

36.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.32 IQD 3,034

$2.35 IQD 3,083

-1.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.30 IQD 3,013

$2.31 IQD 3,032

-0.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.74 IQD 8,823

$6.97 IQD 9,133

-3.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 IQD 913

$0.56 IQD 733

25.00%

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

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

$13.3K IQD 17.4M

41.07%

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

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

$22.9K IQD 30.0M

-10.87%

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

$99.3 IQD 130.1K

$57.6 IQD 75.5K

72.44%

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

$17.84 IQD 23.4K

$25.62 IQD 33.6K

-30.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.52 IQD 38.7K

$37.76 IQD 49.5K

-21.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.43 IQD 49.0K

$37.25 IQD 48.8K

0.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.78 IQD 22.0K

$15.13 IQD 19.8K

10.91%

Cinema Ticket

$11.46 IQD 15.0K

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

47.30%

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

$266 IQD 348.1K

$97.7 IQD 128.0K

172.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,229 IQD 4.2M

$3,869 IQD 5.1M

-16.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.39 IQD 43.7K

$42.39 IQD 55.5K

-21.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.02 IQD 62.9K

$20.70 IQD 27.1K

131.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.8 IQD 105.9K

$71.8 IQD 94.1K

12.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.5 IQD 102.8K

$41.04 IQD 53.8K

91.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$238 IQD 311.4K

$448 IQD 587.3K

-46.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$178 IQD 233.2K

$136 IQD 177.7K

31.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 IQD 764.9K

$917 IQD 1.2M

-36.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$343 IQD 449.7K

$676 IQD 885.0K

-49.18%

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)

$646 IQD 846.6K

$767 IQD 1.0M

-15.76%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Basra: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $238 in Zakho and $448 in Basra. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Basra pays 19% 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 $24.00 in Basra for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $195 vs $213 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 23% in total monthly costs ($893 vs $728 including rent). Basra is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Basra earns 19% 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: $238 in Zakho versus $448 in Basra. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Zakho pay roughly 9% 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 $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 23% less than in Zakho. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.