Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and Duhok Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and Duhok

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $732 in Basra versus $646 in Duhok.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Basra versus $1,057 in Duhok.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,969 in Basra versus $1,468 in Duhok.

Living in Basra is roughly 13% more expensive than Duhok, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Basra 45% lower, Duhok 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.85 IQD 5,032

$3.93 IQD 5,146

-2.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.88 IQD 32.5K

$19.45 IQD 25.4K

27.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.03 IQD 9,195

$6.94 IQD 9,081

1.30%

Cappuccino

$2.06 IQD 2,693

$2.53 IQD 3,311

-18.58%

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

$0.44 IQD 573

$0.42 IQD 555

4.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 IQD 413

$0.18 IQD 237

77.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.80 IQD 4,976

$1.17 IQD 1,532

224.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 IQD 3,546

$1.93 IQD 2,524

40.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 IQD 1,556

$1.36 IQD 1,783

-12.50%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 919

$0.86 IQD 1,124

-18.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 IQD 1,925

$1.57 IQD 2,060

-6.37%

Eggs

$1.83 IQD 2,399

$1.87 IQD 2,449

-2.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.95 IQD 10.4K

$5.24 IQD 6,857

51.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.05 IQD 9,228

$2.93 IQD 3,826

140.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.29 IQD 17.4K

$12.92 IQD 16.9K

2.86%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,324

$1.12 IQD 1,469

-9.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 IQD 1,835

$1.20 IQD 1,565

16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,362

$0.82 IQD 1,070

26.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 IQD 773

$0.71 IQD 929

-16.90%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 899

$0.70 IQD 919

-1.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 IQD 745

$0.70 IQD 910

-18.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,020

$0.73 IQD 957

6.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 IQD 500

$0.56 IQD 732

-32.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.88 IQD 2,465

$1.86 IQD 2,432

1.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.04 IQD 17.1K

$12.62 IQD 16.5K

3.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 IQD 3,912

$1.44 IQD 1,884

107.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.77 IQD 4,928

$1.97 IQD 2,575

91.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 480

$0.33 IQD 431

12.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.77 IQD 29.8K

$15.86 IQD 20.7K

43.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,047

$2.23 IQD 2,919

4.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.30 IQD 3,014

$1.54 IQD 2,017

49.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.83 IQD 8,932

$6.08 IQD 7,949

12.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 IQD 777

$0.66 IQD 861

-10.61%

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

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

-29.09%

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

$22.5K IQD 29.5M

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

13.90%

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

$57.8 IQD 75.6K

$93.8 IQD 122.7K

-38.42%

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

$25.61 IQD 33.5K

$9.64 IQD 12.6K

165.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.89 IQD 50.9K

$29.60 IQD 38.7K

31.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.10 IQD 47.2K

$51.8 IQD 67.8K

-30.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.35 IQD 20.1K

$16.86 IQD 22.1K

-8.96%

Cinema Ticket

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

$7.44 IQD 9,737

3.63%

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

$95.9 IQD 125.5K

$115 IQD 150.0K

-16.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,881 IQD 5.1M

$3,332 IQD 4.4M

16.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.37 IQD 55.4K

$10.15 IQD 13.3K

317.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.39 IQD 26.7K

$19.73 IQD 25.8K

3.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.5 IQD 93.5K

$30.07 IQD 39.3K

137.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.65 IQD 53.2K

$19.79 IQD 25.9K

105.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$443 IQD 579.5K

$180 IQD 235.3K

146.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 IQD 177.6K

$124 IQD 162.5K

9.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$929 IQD 1.2M

$367 IQD 479.6K

153.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 IQD 874.3K

$346 IQD 452.3K

93.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,604 IQD 2.1M

$471 IQD 615.6K

240.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$780 IQD 1.0M

$394 IQD 515.0K

98.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$772 IQD 1.0M

$430 IQD 562.4K

79.65%

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 Basra: June 7, 2026

Last update for Duhok: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $443 in Basra and $180 in Duhok. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Basra pays 80% 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: $25.00 in Basra vs $19.00 in Duhok for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $211 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

Basra vs Duhok: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Basra and Duhok differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($732 vs $646 including rent). Duhok is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Basra pays 80% 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: $443 in Basra versus $180 in Duhok. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Basra. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Duhok – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $25.00 in Basra. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Duhok 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, Basra 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 13% less than in Basra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.