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: $890 in Zakho versus $728 in Basra.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,364 in Zakho versus $1,366 in Basra.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,839 in Zakho versus $2,003 in Basra.

Living in Zakho is roughly 22% more expensive than in Basra, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Zakho 33% lower, Basra 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

$3.80 IQD 4,974

104.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.31 IQD 30.5K

$24.38 IQD 31.9K

-4.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.61 IQD 11.3K

$7.09 IQD 9,289

21.44%

Cappuccino

$3.09 IQD 4,043

$2.04 IQD 2,675

51.47%

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

$0.52 IQD 677

$0.47 IQD 609

10.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 262

$0.35 IQD 454

-42.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 IQD 2,636

$3.85 IQD 5,038

-47.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 IQD 2,825

$2.58 IQD 3,382

-16.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 IQD 1,750

$1.18 IQD 1,551

13.56%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,040

$0.70 IQD 917

12.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 IQD 2,432

$1.42 IQD 1,857

30.99%

Eggs

$1.90 IQD 2,491

$1.85 IQD 2,428

2.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.42 IQD 9,721

$8.27 IQD 10.8K

-10.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.73 IQD 6,199

$6.97 IQD 9,131

-32.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.98 IQD 18.3K

$13.33 IQD 17.5K

4.88%

Apples (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,487

$1.06 IQD 1,382

7.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,551

$1.36 IQD 1,776

-13.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,479

$1.04 IQD 1,363

8.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.82 IQD 1,068

$0.59 IQD 769

38.98%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 860

$0.67 IQD 872

-1.49%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 933

$0.56 IQD 737

26.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 IQD 967

$0.80 IQD 1,044

-7.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 692

$0.42 IQD 548

26.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.73 IQD 3,569

$1.89 IQD 2,479

44.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.23 IQD 16.0K

$12.87 IQD 16.8K

-4.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 IQD 1,807

$3.15 IQD 4,125

-56.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 IQD 2,661

$3.94 IQD 5,155

-48.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 473

$0.39 IQD 511

-7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.67 IQD 40.2K

$22.72 IQD 29.7K

34.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.27 IQD 2,976

$2.31 IQD 3,025

-1.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.22 IQD 2,912

$2.31 IQD 3,028

-3.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.98 IQD 9,142

$6.80 IQD 8,900

2.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 IQD 919

$0.58 IQD 766

20.69%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

40.50%

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

$20.9K IQD 27.3M

$23.1K IQD 30.3M

-9.75%

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

$101 IQD 131.6K

$56.6 IQD 74.1K

77.74%

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

$17.58 IQD 23.0K

$25.64 IQD 33.6K

-31.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.20 IQD 39.5K

$37.70 IQD 49.4K

-19.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.33 IQD 47.6K

$36.14 IQD 47.3K

0.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.06 IQD 22.3K

$15.55 IQD 20.4K

9.71%

Cinema Ticket

$11.42 IQD 15.0K

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

48.12%

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

$267 IQD 349.6K

$95.4 IQD 124.9K

179.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,247 IQD 4.3M

$3,754 IQD 4.9M

-13.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.29 IQD 42.3K

$41.53 IQD 54.4K

-22.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.66 IQD 63.7K

$20.02 IQD 26.2K

143.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.9 IQD 109.9K

$71.7 IQD 93.8K

17.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.6 IQD 102.9K

$41.57 IQD 54.4K

89.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$238 IQD 311.3K

$453 IQD 593.2K

-47.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 IQD 236.8K

$132 IQD 172.4K

37.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$576 IQD 753.6K

$902 IQD 1.2M

-36.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$342 IQD 447.6K

$655 IQD 857.9K

-47.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,567 IQD 2.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$795 IQD 1.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$663 IQD 867.7K

$761 IQD 996.3K

-12.90%

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Basra: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $238 in Zakho and $453 in Basra. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Basra pays 15% 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 $194 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 22% in total monthly costs ($890 vs $728 including rent). Basra is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 15% lower in Basra. 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 $453 in Basra. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Zakho pay roughly 10% 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.

At $728 in Basra versus $890 in Zakho, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Basra but tight or insufficient in Zakho. The gap between the two cities makes Basra the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 22% less than in Zakho. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.