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: $1,352 in Basra versus $1,042 in Duhok.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,972 in Basra versus $1,437 in Duhok.

Living in Basra is roughly 13% more expensive than in 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 5,030

$3.82 IQD 4,994

0.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.43 IQD 32.0K

$18.86 IQD 24.7K

29.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.79 IQD 8,881

$7.18 IQD 9,392

-5.43%

Cappuccino

$2.11 IQD 2,756

$2.64 IQD 3,452

-20.08%

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

$0.46 IQD 605

$0.40 IQD 522

15.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 IQD 411

$0.18 IQD 233

72.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.84 IQD 5,028

$1.13 IQD 1,482

239.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 IQD 3,544

$1.87 IQD 2,449

44.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 IQD 1,595

$1.37 IQD 1,786

-10.95%

White Bread (500g)

$0.66 IQD 861

$0.82 IQD 1,067

-19.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 IQD 1,839

$1.57 IQD 2,050

-10.19%

Eggs

$1.91 IQD 2,498

$1.88 IQD 2,462

1.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.22 IQD 10.7K

$5.22 IQD 6,825

57.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.29 IQD 9,537

$2.94 IQD 3,840

147.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.24 IQD 17.3K

$12.62 IQD 16.5K

4.91%

Apples (1kg)

$1.00 IQD 1,310

$1.12 IQD 1,460

-10.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 IQD 1,781

$1.14 IQD 1,494

19.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,330

$0.82 IQD 1,071

24.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 827

$0.75 IQD 977

-16.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 897

$0.72 IQD 939

-4.17%

Onion (1kg)

$0.61 IQD 797

$0.71 IQD 924

-14.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 IQD 1,009

$0.77 IQD 1,011

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 IQD 502

$0.56 IQD 726

-32.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 IQD 2,485

$1.87 IQD 2,450

1.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.05 IQD 17.1K

$12.22 IQD 16.0K

6.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.15 IQD 4,121

$1.38 IQD 1,802

128.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 IQD 5,078

$2.00 IQD 2,610

94.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 479

$0.35 IQD 460

5.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.40 IQD 30.6K

$15.87 IQD 20.8K

47.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 IQD 3,078

$2.35 IQD 3,079

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.24 IQD 2,925

$1.51 IQD 1,979

48.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.79 IQD 8,886

$6.04 IQD 7,901

12.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.55 IQD 723

$0.64 IQD 835

-14.06%

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

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

$18.9K IQD 24.7M

-28.40%

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

$22.7K IQD 29.7M

$19.7K IQD 25.7M

15.16%

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

$58.7 IQD 76.8K

$93.3 IQD 122.0K

-37.03%

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

$25.26 IQD 33.0K

$9.99 IQD 13.1K

152.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.13 IQD 49.9K

$30.31 IQD 39.6K

25.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.41 IQD 48.9K

$52.1 IQD 68.1K

-28.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.24 IQD 19.9K

$16.82 IQD 22.0K

-9.39%

Cinema Ticket

$7.79 IQD 10.2K

$7.68 IQD 10.0K

1.43%

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

$99.0 IQD 129.5K

$112 IQD 146.9K

-11.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,894 IQD 5.1M

$3,223 IQD 4.2M

20.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.63 IQD 55.8K

$9.90 IQD 12.9K

330.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.09 IQD 26.3K

$19.68 IQD 25.7K

2.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.7 IQD 95.1K

$29.75 IQD 38.9K

144.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.56 IQD 54.4K

$20.14 IQD 26.3K

106.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$454 IQD 593.4K

$181 IQD 236.5K

150.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$134 IQD 175.3K

$123 IQD 160.4K

9.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$918 IQD 1.2M

$374 IQD 489.8K

145.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$656 IQD 857.6K

$345 IQD 450.6K

90.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,602 IQD 2.1M

$460 IQD 601.6K

248.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$789 IQD 1.0M

$385 IQD 503.8K

104.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$760 IQD 994.4K

$431 IQD 564.3K

76.23%

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Duhok: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $454 in Basra and $181 in Duhok. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Basra pays 76% 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: $24.00 in Basra vs $19.00 in Duhok for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $214 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

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.

Average pay runs 76% higher in Basra, 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: $454 in Basra versus $181 in Duhok. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 24% 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 $24.00 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.