Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Duhok Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdad and Duhok

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,074 in Baghdad versus $646 in Duhok.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Baghdad versus $1,057 in Duhok.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,073 in Baghdad versus $1,468 in Duhok.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 66% more expensive than Duhok, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 20% lower, Duhok 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.27 IQD 6,887

$3.93 IQD 5,146

34.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.86 IQD 48.2K

$19.45 IQD 25.4K

89.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

$6.94 IQD 9,081

12.10%

Cappuccino

$2.98 IQD 3,904

$2.53 IQD 3,311

17.79%

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

$0.39 IQD 511

$0.42 IQD 555

-7.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 216

$0.18 IQD 237

-5.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.38 IQD 4,424

$1.17 IQD 1,532

188.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 IQD 3,780

$1.93 IQD 2,524

49.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 IQD 1,700

$1.36 IQD 1,783

-4.41%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 IQD 1,085

$0.86 IQD 1,124

-3.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 IQD 2,178

$1.57 IQD 2,060

6.37%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,341

$1.87 IQD 2,449

-4.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.52 IQD 5,911

$5.24 IQD 6,857

-13.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.84 IQD 6,334

$2.93 IQD 3,826

65.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.04 IQD 18.4K

$12.92 IQD 16.9K

8.67%

Apples (1kg)

$1.28 IQD 1,678

$1.12 IQD 1,469

14.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,503

$1.20 IQD 1,565

-4.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,362

$0.82 IQD 1,070

26.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 913

$0.71 IQD 929

-1.41%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 896

$0.70 IQD 919

-1.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 812

$0.70 IQD 910

-11.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 IQD 882

$0.73 IQD 957

-8.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 IQD 823

$0.56 IQD 732

12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.13 IQD 2,782

$1.86 IQD 2,432

14.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.64 IQD 17.8K

$12.62 IQD 16.5K

8.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,345

$1.44 IQD 1,884

24.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,809

$1.97 IQD 2,575

9.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 IQD 992

$0.33 IQD 431

130.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.16 IQD 36.8K

$15.86 IQD 20.7K

77.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.78 IQD 4,948

$2.23 IQD 2,919

69.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 IQD 1,997

$1.54 IQD 2,017

-0.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.54 IQD 9,857

$6.08 IQD 7,949

24.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 IQD 749

$0.66 IQD 861

-13.64%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

4.85%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

2.56%

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

$181 IQD 236.5K

$93.8 IQD 122.7K

92.69%

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

$25.64 IQD 33.5K

$9.64 IQD 12.6K

165.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.76 IQD 53.3K

$29.60 IQD 38.7K

37.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.00 IQD 53.6K

$51.8 IQD 67.8K

-20.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

$16.86 IQD 22.1K

10.08%

Cinema Ticket

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

$7.44 IQD 9,737

4.97%

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

$166 IQD 217.6K

$115 IQD 150.0K

45.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,523 IQD 4.6M

$3,332 IQD 4.4M

5.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.27 IQD 37.0K

$10.15 IQD 13.3K

178.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.19 IQD 39.5K

$19.73 IQD 25.8K

53.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.3 IQD 82.9K

$30.07 IQD 39.3K

110.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.71 IQD 57.2K

$19.79 IQD 25.9K

120.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$553 IQD 723.8K

$180 IQD 235.3K

207.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$320 IQD 418.0K

$124 IQD 162.5K

157.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$818 IQD 1.1M

$367 IQD 479.6K

123.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$583 IQD 762.7K

$346 IQD 452.3K

68.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,017 IQD 5.3M

$471 IQD 615.6K

753.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,614 IQD 2.1M

$394 IQD 515.0K

310.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$648 IQD 847.7K

$430 IQD 562.4K

50.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

14.33

-60.43%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Baghdad: June 9, 2026

Last update for Duhok: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $553 in Baghdad and $180 in Duhok. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 51% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $37.00 in Baghdad vs $19.00 in Duhok for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $174 per month, with Duhok 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

Baghdad vs Duhok: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Duhok wins on cost – living expenses run 66% lower than in Baghdad. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Duhok the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Baghdad pays 51% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $553 in Baghdad versus $180 in Duhok. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Duhok runs roughly 78% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $166 in Baghdad versus $115 in Duhok. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $646 in Duhok versus $1,074 in Baghdad, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Duhok but tight or insufficient in Baghdad. The gap between the two cities makes Duhok 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, Baghdad and Duhok 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 Duhok gentler on the wallet – expenses run 66% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.