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: $1,072 in Baghdad versus $646 in Duhok.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,607 in Baghdad versus $1,042 in Duhok.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,141 in Baghdad versus $1,437 in Duhok.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.26 IQD 6,884

$3.82 IQD 4,994

37.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.67 IQD 48.0K

$18.86 IQD 24.7K

94.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 IQD 9,724

$7.18 IQD 9,392

3.48%

Cappuccino

$3.01 IQD 3,942

$2.64 IQD 3,452

14.02%

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

$0.37 IQD 478

$0.40 IQD 522

-7.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 278

$0.18 IQD 233

16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.40 IQD 4,451

$1.13 IQD 1,482

200.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 IQD 3,789

$1.87 IQD 2,449

55.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 IQD 1,778

$1.37 IQD 1,786

-0.73%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 IQD 1,106

$0.82 IQD 1,067

3.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 IQD 2,162

$1.57 IQD 2,050

5.10%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,346

$1.88 IQD 2,462

-4.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.46 IQD 5,831

$5.22 IQD 6,825

-14.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.93 IQD 6,443

$2.94 IQD 3,840

67.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.23 IQD 18.6K

$12.62 IQD 16.5K

12.76%

Apples (1kg)

$1.21 IQD 1,589

$1.12 IQD 1,460

8.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 IQD 1,584

$1.14 IQD 1,494

6.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,363

$0.82 IQD 1,071

26.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 959

$0.75 IQD 977

-2.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 904

$0.72 IQD 939

-4.17%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 826

$0.71 IQD 924

-11.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 IQD 867

$0.77 IQD 1,011

-14.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 IQD 815

$0.56 IQD 726

10.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.04 IQD 2,668

$1.87 IQD 2,450

9.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.33 IQD 17.4K

$12.22 IQD 16.0K

9.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 IQD 2,325

$1.38 IQD 1,802

28.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 IQD 2,852

$2.00 IQD 2,610

9.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 IQD 1,030

$0.35 IQD 460

125.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.68 IQD 37.5K

$15.87 IQD 20.8K

80.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.80 IQD 4,977

$2.35 IQD 3,079

61.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 IQD 1,939

$1.51 IQD 1,979

-1.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

$6.04 IQD 7,901

28.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 IQD 735

$0.64 IQD 835

-12.50%

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

$20.1K IQD 26.2M

$18.9K IQD 24.7M

6.34%

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

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

$19.7K IQD 25.7M

0.58%

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

$178 IQD 232.9K

$93.3 IQD 122.0K

90.97%

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

$25.40 IQD 33.2K

$9.99 IQD 13.1K

154.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.59 IQD 53.1K

$30.31 IQD 39.6K

33.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.76 IQD 54.6K

$52.1 IQD 68.1K

-19.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.55 IQD 24.3K

$16.82 IQD 22.0K

10.29%

Cinema Ticket

$7.82 IQD 10.2K

$7.68 IQD 10.0K

1.82%

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

$169 IQD 221.1K

$112 IQD 146.9K

50.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,646 IQD 4.8M

$3,223 IQD 4.2M

13.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.95 IQD 36.6K

$9.90 IQD 12.9K

182.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.28 IQD 39.6K

$19.68 IQD 25.7K

53.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.6 IQD 83.2K

$29.75 IQD 38.9K

113.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.49 IQD 56.9K

$20.14 IQD 26.3K

115.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$545 IQD 713.3K

$181 IQD 236.5K

201.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$316 IQD 412.9K

$123 IQD 160.4K

157.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$816 IQD 1.1M

$374 IQD 489.8K

117.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$588 IQD 769.7K

$345 IQD 450.6K

70.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,709 IQD 6.2M

$460 IQD 601.6K

923.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,569 IQD 2.1M

$385 IQD 503.8K

307.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$625 IQD 817.6K

$431 IQD 564.3K

44.90%

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Duhok: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $545 in Baghdad and $181 in Duhok. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 45% 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 $191 vs $172 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.

Average pay runs 45% higher in Baghdad, 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: $545 in Baghdad versus $181 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 81% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $169 in Baghdad versus $112 in Duhok. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $646 in Duhok versus $1,072 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.