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: $1,124 in Baghdad versus $663 in Duhok.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,692 in Baghdad versus $1,064 in Duhok.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,259 in Baghdad versus $1,466 in Duhok.

Living in Baghdad is roughly 70% more expensive than in Duhok, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baghdad 18% lower, Duhok 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.74 IQD 6,209

$3.84 IQD 5,024

23.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.69 IQD 44.1K

$18.93 IQD 24.8K

77.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 IQD 10.1K

$8.62 IQD 11.3K

-10.09%

Cappuccino

$3.07 IQD 4,024

$2.81 IQD 3,684

9.25%

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

$0.40 IQD 521

$0.40 IQD 518

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 IQD 313

$0.21 IQD 269

14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.87 IQD 5,071

$1.88 IQD 2,464

105.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 IQD 4,911

$2.35 IQD 3,074

59.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 IQD 1,423

$1.23 IQD 1,611

-11.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 IQD 1,042

$0.78 IQD 1,027

2.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 IQD 1,982

$1.76 IQD 2,311

-14.20%

Eggs

$1.82 IQD 2,386

$1.85 IQD 2,429

-1.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.90 IQD 5,106

$4.91 IQD 6,436

-20.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.70 IQD 6,149

$3.09 IQD 4,041

52.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.34 IQD 18.8K

$12.88 IQD 16.9K

11.34%

Apples (1kg)

$1.12 IQD 1,465

$1.08 IQD 1,408

3.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,389

$1.11 IQD 1,450

-4.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.07 IQD 1,400

$0.81 IQD 1,065

32.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 967

$0.69 IQD 904

7.25%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 860

$0.75 IQD 976

-12.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 915

$0.69 IQD 901

1.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 813

$0.80 IQD 1,045

-22.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 IQD 845

$0.59 IQD 772

10.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.78 IQD 2,333

$1.92 IQD 2,517

-7.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.68 IQD 17.9K

$12.55 IQD 16.4K

9.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,798

$1.64 IQD 2,147

30.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 IQD 2,971

$2.05 IQD 2,686

10.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 IQD 838

$0.36 IQD 466

77.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.99 IQD 30.1K

$15.53 IQD 20.3K

48.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,941

$1.86 IQD 2,436

20.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 IQD 1,944

$1.43 IQD 1,875

3.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

$5.83 IQD 7,629

33.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 876

$0.67 IQD 879

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

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

$18.3K IQD 24.0M

5.81%

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

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

$20.2K IQD 26.4M

-5.27%

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

$214 IQD 280.5K

$92.3 IQD 120.8K

132.17%

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

$21.41 IQD 28.0K

$9.76 IQD 12.8K

119.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.10 IQD 55.1K

$28.23 IQD 37.0K

49.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.30 IQD 61.9K

$53.3 IQD 69.8K

-11.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.04 IQD 28.9K

$30.88 IQD 40.4K

-28.63%

Cinema Ticket

$10.76 IQD 14.1K

$7.55 IQD 9,883

42.52%

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

$165 IQD 215.5K

$111 IQD 145.6K

48.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,445 IQD 4.5M

$3,151 IQD 4.1M

9.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.79 IQD 39.0K

$10.17 IQD 13.3K

192.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 IQD 50.2K

$20.16 IQD 26.4K

90.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.4 IQD 97.5K

$30.16 IQD 39.5K

146.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.59 IQD 62.3K

$20.11 IQD 26.3K

136.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$566 IQD 741.7K

$179 IQD 234.5K

216.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 IQD 453.5K

$125 IQD 163.7K

177.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$959 IQD 1.3M

$366 IQD 479.6K

161.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$679 IQD 889.1K

$338 IQD 442.9K

100.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,665 IQD 6.1M

$477 IQD 625.2K

877.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,599 IQD 2.1M

$391 IQD 512.6K

308.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$615 IQD 805.6K

$455 IQD 595.5K

35.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

2.53

62.85%

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

Last update for Baghdad: September 6, 2026

Last update for Duhok: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $566 in Baghdad and $179 in Duhok. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 35% 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: $34.00 in Baghdad vs $19.00 in Duhok for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $186 vs $173 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 70% 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 35% 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: $566 in Baghdad versus $179 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 48% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $165 in Baghdad versus $111 in Duhok. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $663 in Duhok versus $1,124 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 70% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.